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It is “likely” that Apple will announce its mixed reality headset as early as January 2023, as Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now pointed out again.
In a detailed Contribution On Medium, Kuo explains that Apple's headset will transform the augmented and virtual reality market. Describing some of the headset's features, Kuo said that while Apple has repeatedly emphasized its focus on AR, the headset will also offer an "excellent immersive experience" and a "video see-thru" mode. The headset is expected to drive demand for immersive gaming and multimedia entertainment experiences.
Apple will lead the industry
Kuo said the device is "the most complicated product Apple has ever developed," which requires Apple to use components from many of its existing suppliers. Kuo also believes Apple will be an industry leader in the headset space, have "significant competitive advantages," and won't need to join the Metaverse Standards Forum. Kuo expects competitors to imitate the Apple headset after its launch, propelling the headset hardware industry into the next phase of rapid growth.
Mass production could start soon
While it was widely assumed that the Apple headset would be launched this year, a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has cast doubt on the chances of the device being unveiled this year due to development issues. According to DigiTimes, Apple completed key production tests for the headset in February 2022 and is reportedly planning to start mass production in August or September. Kuo's prediction of an announcement in January 2023 therefore seems to be largely in line with other rumors about when the device could be launched.
Apple AR/VR headset: two 4K micro OLED displays and much more
Regardless of the exact timing, Apple's headset project is believed to be "close to launch," with the device mirroring the Apple Watch's development schedule in the period leading up to its launch. Rumors of Apple's work on the headset's operating system, "realityOS," have been circulating since 2017, but the operating system's existence was confirmed when references to it were found in App Store upload logs and Apple's open source code. Rumors suggest the headset will feature a lightweight design, two 4K micro-OLED displays, 15 optical modules, two main processors, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, eye and object tracking, hand gesture control, and more. The approximate price of the device is still unclear, but some reports suggest it could cost around $3,000. (Photo by digitalista / Bigstockphoto)
