Apple buys lightweight AR startup Mira

The Verge reports that Apple bought AR headset startup Mira for an undisclosed amount.

Mira, founded in 2016 by Los Angeles entrepreneur Ben Taft, makes AR headsets for Universal Studios’ Nintendo World theme parks. Before the acquisition, Blue Bear Capital, Happiness Ventures, and Sequoia invested $17 million in the startup to create AR apps, games, and experiences with its heads-up displays and software.

In 2020, Mira, pitched its hardware as a consumer-app-focused AR introduction. However, it switched to industrial rollouts, a more lucrative market.

Mira had military contracts with the Air Force and Navy, according to The Verge. We asked the company if Apple will honor those contracts.

The acquisition follows Apple’s first AR headset, the Vision Pro. The Verge reports that Jony Ive, Apple’s former product designer, advised Mira. It’s unclear how much Mira will factor into Apple’s AR roadmap.