Apple Acquires AR Company Mira, Enters Competitive Headset Market

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has acquired Mira, an AR headset startup based in Los Angeles, the Verge said on Tuesday, citing a post from Mira CEO's private Instagram account and a source familiar with the situation.

This comes a day after Apple launched the Vision Pro, an expensive augmented-reality headgear that is one of the company's riskiest bets since the introduction of the iPhone more than a decade ago, charging into a market dominated by Meta Platforms (META.O).

Apple's headset will compete with Facebook-owned Meta in a sector cluttered with gadgets that have failed to garner consumer adoption. The firms have clashed for years over concerns such as user privacy and control of developer platforms.

Official records and news releases indicate that Mira has secured military contracts, including a modest agreement with the US Air Force and a noteworthy $702,351 contract with the Navy, as reported by The Verge.

The Verge reported that Apple has confirmed its acquisition of Mira, stating that the company occasionally acquires smaller technology firms without disclosing specific intentions or plans.

As per the report, Apple has assimilated at least 11 employees from Mira as part of the acquisition. When approached by Reuters for comments, Apple, Mira, and its CEO Ben Taft did not respond immediately.