Apple’s mixed reality headset was originally expected to be launched in January 2023, but a new report claims the date will be pushed back.
Apple‘s upcoming AR/VR headset has been delayed yet again, according to a new report by a reliable source. Apple’s mixed reality headset will be its first new product category in years. The headset, which still doesn’t have an official name, will be going up against the recently launched Meta Quest Pro, which also boasts mixed-reality capabilities.
Apple’s headset has been in the works for several years. Multiple reports claimed that it would launch this year, but there have been repeated delays. That’s understandable given that Apple isn’t just creating new hardware, but also the software to power it. This software will be the bedrock of its future mixed reality devices, and while it won’t be perfect on the first release, it’s expected to be far more advanced than what other AR/VR headsets currently offer.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now claimed that the mixed reality headset may be delayed until the second half of 2023. In a series of tweets, Kuo said that mass shipments of the headset may be pushed back to the second half of 2023, a noticeable delay from the previous estimate of the second quarter of 2023. The delay is reportedly due to issues related to the xrOS software that the device will run on. However, Kuo believes that the mass shipment of components will likely remain set for the first half of the year. The headset was previously expected to be shipped in the first half of 2023, with the launch event expected to take place in January.
Fewer Units Will Be Available
With a delay in the pipeline, the chances of Apple announcing its mixed reality headset early next year are pretty slim, as that would mean a wide gap between announcement and availability. While that is not unusual in the tech industry, Apple may not be willing to go this route for a device as high profile as this. According to Kuo, if the delay between the launch event and mass shipment is too long, it will negatively affect promotions and sales.
The analyst also revealed that the postponement in shipments will likely affect the shipment forecast for the mixed reality headset. So rather than the “market consensus” of between 800,000 to 1.2 million units, the numbers are likely be less than 500,000 units. The headset is expected to cost more than the Meta Quest Pro which was launched for $1,500. It has also been reported that Apple‘s headset will be powered by an M2 chip, the same one found inside the 2022 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Source: Ming-Chi Kuo/Twitter
