Almer Arc 2 AR Headset Takes on Apple’s Vision Pro

The augmented reality (AR) headset market continues to grow with the arrival of the Almer Arc 2, a new player from the 2021 startup Almer. This company is the brainchild of two unique individuals: Sebastian Beetschen, a former engineer at Microsoft, and Timon Binder, an ex-jet fighter pilot.

One of Almer Arc 2’s distinctive attributes is its relatively light weight of only 138 grams. This characteristic is particularly noteworthy due to numerous complaints from users about the more significant weight of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, making the Arc 2’s lightweight feature a welcome change for many.

Diving deeper into its specifications, the Almer Arc 2 is equipped with a high-definition 25MP camera. It also includes beamforming microphones that can selectively capture sound from specific directions while minimizing background noise. The device comes with built-in speakers for clear audio output. In addition, the Arc 2 also features a see-through screen that gives it holographic capabilities. Another notable feature is its battery life, which goes up to a substantial eight hours on a single charge. Unlike Apple’s Vision Pro, Almer Arc 2’s transparent display allows it to be used in dynamic settings, both indoor and outdoor, providing users with substantial flexibility.

In a strategic move, Almer announced its partnership with TeamViewer, the globally recognized remote IT support provider. The primary purpose behind this collaboration is to tap into the industrial market segment, where TeamViewer can provide users with remote support through the Arc 2 headset.

The Almer Arc 2 is designed to facilitate remote collaboration by mimicking an environment where all collaborating parties are physically present. The device achieves this by providing augmented information layered onto the user’s environment. This feature can be likened to a jet fighter’s visor.

According to market predictions, the AR market could surge from $62.75 billion in 2023 to an astonishing $1.1 trillion in 2030. As a subsection of this market, the AR headset market is anticipated to attain a market value of around $120 billion by 2026.

Per Beetschen, “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year, so the opportunity is very real.”