Following high expectations for a 2022 launch, Apple’s rumored VR/AR headset is looking to be delayed to 2023 according to Bloomberg‘s reliable analyst and reporter Mark Gurman.
Apple has been rumored to be in the development of a VR/AR glasses/headset that will be the latest and priciest addition to the Apple family of products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. And while it is uncertain what type of headset it will be (VR or AR), some reports are noting that the device could feature Mixed-Reality.
Development Issues
Citing in his latest report, Gurman states that Apple is considering giving its upcoming VR/AR headset a delay and more time for final developments, pushing back the planned unveiling at June’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2022). Gurman also notes that the Cupertino giant will likely announce the product at the end of 2022 with sales starting in 2023.
Gurman notes that the core issue forcing Apple to delay the headset is development challenges with overheating, cameras, and software. If these issues were solved earlier, the rumored headset product would’ve been unveiled this summer.
“The headset — a high-end device that blends virtual and augmented reality — was targeted for an unveiling at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, followed by a release later in the year. But development challenges related to overheating, cameras, and software have made it harder to stay on track,”
“That could push the announcement until the end of 2022 or later, with the product hitting shelves by 2023.”
Reports from last year cited that Apple was planning to launch the VR/AR headset in the middle of 2021 ”“ likely following Worldwide Developers Conference in June ”“. However, the company had to delay it to at least this year due to the chip shortage and numerous other issues relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The report continues, stating that the core issue can be credited to thermal challenges with the headset stem heating due to the usage of a powerful SoC similar to Apple’s M1 Pro chip that is founded on the latest MacBook Pros. The Cupertino-based giant is planning to add two processors with one of them being comparable to the previously mentioned chip.
The Future is Almost Here
Finally, Gurman reports what Apple is planning to unveil during next year’s WWDC event in relation to the upcoming headset:
“Apple is planning to focus its 2023 developers conference on building virtual and augmented reality apps for the device, which will have an App Store, according to the people.
It’s also laying other groundwork for the headset. That includes building in support for the device in iOS 16, codenamed Sydney, a new version of the iPhone’s operating system that’s set to be unveiled in June.
That means Apple could still theoretically preview technical aspects of the headset or its software, without showcasing the full device, as early as this year’s developer conference.”
Looks like 2022 will be the year of the Mac while 2023 will be the year of Apple’s upcoming VR/AR headset, with the product reportedly featuring three displays from numerous display suppliers.
Perhaps from this report, waiting and giving the company more time for developments will make the headset a major competitor to Meta‘s forthcoming “metaverse” with its integration between the many social media platforms and its VR Oculus products.
