Apple acquires AR headset startup Mira

Apple has acquired Mira, a Los Angeles based AR startup that makes headsets for other companies and the US military.

The news was broken by The Verge, who saw a post from the CEO on a private Instagram account. Apple have since confirmed the acquisition.

The news comes after Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset srt to be a new ‘spatial’ computing platform.

Apple hasn’t given much away about the purpose or plans of the acquisition. It’s also unclear how much Apple paid for Mira, which has raised around $17 million in funding to date.

It’s unclear if Apple will continue Mira’s military contracts, but knowing how the company operates, it’s highly unlikely that work will continue.

Mira’s military contracts include a small agreement with the US Air Force and a $702,351 agreement with the Navy, according to government records and press releases. The Air Force contract is for military pilots at Travis Air Force Base to use the startup’s Prism Pro headset for displaying things like heads-up equipment instructions.

“Mira builds the most scalable augmented reality hardware + software solutions in the market- enabling frontline workforces with communication tools and information when they need it most,” according to the company’s website.

Another Mira contract is with Nintendo World, which uses its headsets for the Mario Kart ride at its theme parks in Japan and LA’s Universal Studios. Mira’s headset displays virtual characters and items from the game to augment the ride as you progress through it.

Apple has brought on at least 11 of Mira’s employees as part of the acquisition, according to a private post on CEO Ben Taft’s Instagram account, which displayed a number of employee badges. “Excited for Mira’s next chapter, at Apple :),” he wrote in the caption. “7 year journey from dorm room to acquisition.”