It is "likely" that Apple will announce its mixed reality headset as early as January 2023, as Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now emphasized once again.
In a detailed Contribution on Medium, Kuo explains that Apple's headset will change the market for augmented and virtual reality. 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 increase demand for immersive gaming and multimedia entertainment experiences.
Apple will lead the industry
Kuo said that the device is "the most complicated product Apple has ever developed", resulting in Apple using components from many of its existing suppliers. Kuo also believes that Apple will be an industry leader in the headset space, will have "significant competitive advantages" and will not need to join the Metaverse Standards Forum. Kuo believes that competitors will imitate the Apple headset after its launch to lead 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 reflecting the development timeline of the Apple Watch in the period leading up to its launch. Rumors of Apple's work on the headset's operating system, "realityOS", have been around since 2017, but the existence of the operating system was confirmed when references to it were found in App Store upload logs and in Apple's open source code. According to rumors, the headset features a lightweight design, two 4K micro OLED displays, 15 optical modules, two main processors, WiFi 6E connectivity, eye and object tracking, hand gesture control and more. The approximate price of the device is still unclear. However, some reports suggest that it could cost around 3,000 US dollars. (Photo by digitalista / Bigstockphoto)
