Apple's mixed-reality headset rumored to arrive in late 2023
Apple's in-development mixed-reality headset could see its launch pushed back from early 2023 to later in the year, indicates analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, with software issues causing an extended delay.
![A render of a potential Apple headset [AppleInsider]](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/51744-102531-51350-101493-50209-98618-49777-97523-apple-ar-headset-xl-xl-xl-xl.jpg)
A render of a potential Apple headset [AppleInsider]
Apple's long-rumored and highly anticipated first headset release was thought to be on the horizon, with mass production of the augmented reality and virtual reality headwear slated to begin in early 2023. However, while hardware's getting prepared for manufacturing, another element may slow down its actual release.
According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Apple AR and VR headset may delay to the second half of 2023 because of "software-related issues." Kuo doesn't say what these issues could be, but it may relate to its operating system, known as realityOS or xrOS.
The delay seems to only impact the mass shipment of finished products, rather than manufacturing itself. Kuo reckons the shipment schedule for components will still be in the first half of 2023, possibly the second quarter.
However, the delay in shipments could be a pain for suppliers, with the headset thought to be the "next critical growth driver for the optical industry." Suppliers including Largan, Genius, Cowell, Primax, and others thought to be in the headset supply chain may be hurt by the "near-term market sentiment" over the delay.
Despite the late shipment, Kuo doesn't know if there will be a delayed media event to match the delayed headset shipments, which would put such an event later than the previously-estimated January. Kuo warns that if the timeframe between the event and shipments of products is too long, "it's detrimental to promotion and sales."
As to how many headsets Apple could produce, Kuo offers that the forecast will "likely be less than 500k units" for 2023, down from the market consensus of 800,000 to 1.2 million units.
Read on AppleInsider
A render of a potential Apple headset [AppleInsider]
Apple's long-rumored and highly anticipated first headset release was thought to be on the horizon, with mass production of the augmented reality and virtual reality headwear slated to begin in early 2023. However, while hardware's getting prepared for manufacturing, another element may slow down its actual release.
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My latest survey indicates that the mass shipment schedule of Apple's MR headset may delay to 2H23 because of software-related issues (vs. the previous estimate of 2Q23).-- (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo)
According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Apple AR and VR headset may delay to the second half of 2023 because of "software-related issues." Kuo doesn't say what these issues could be, but it may relate to its operating system, known as realityOS or xrOS.
The delay seems to only impact the mass shipment of finished products, rather than manufacturing itself. Kuo reckons the shipment schedule for components will still be in the first half of 2023, possibly the second quarter.
However, the delay in shipments could be a pain for suppliers, with the headset thought to be the "next critical growth driver for the optical industry." Suppliers including Largan, Genius, Cowell, Primax, and others thought to be in the headset supply chain may be hurt by the "near-term market sentiment" over the delay.
Despite the late shipment, Kuo doesn't know if there will be a delayed media event to match the delayed headset shipments, which would put such an event later than the previously-estimated January. Kuo warns that if the timeframe between the event and shipments of products is too long, "it's detrimental to promotion and sales."
As to how many headsets Apple could produce, Kuo offers that the forecast will "likely be less than 500k units" for 2023, down from the market consensus of 800,000 to 1.2 million units.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
A few years ago, Six Flags Magic Mountain had VR goggles for The Revolution rollercoaster. You had the option of wearing them for an enhanced virtual ride experience. Didn't last long. Why? No one wanted to wear them. They got rid of them. VR was featured in 1994's Disclosure with Michael Douglas. At the time, it was a cool scene. 28 years later, it still never caught on and has been pretty much non-existent. This is like AirPower part 2. Or like the rumor of the Apple-branded TV that never happened.
Apple should just give up on this idea that people would want to walk around with big goggles on their head.
This technology has been around for a long time in one form or another. Each new generation nudges the idea forward a little more and reduces the inconveniences.
Do you remember the days when people pointed their phones at the night sky to see an overlay of the names of planetary objects?
Imagine seeing a 70 inch equivalent virtual screen on a visor with all your mobile apps displaying content whenever you want. Using it as a viewfinder for your camera. Having directions projected onto it to get you to your destination. That could be in a hospital, airport, train station etc.
Imagine seeing which screws need taking out/putting back and in which order while repairing something. Imagine being guided as you work, through as many processes as you can think up.
Imagine all the donkey work being done in the cloud/edge and then being pumped over 5G into your visor.
Imagine images being sent out for AI recognition.
The use cases are immense.
We aren't there yet. Not by a long shot but we aren't talking about something that is so far over the horizon that you'll never see it in your lifetime.
It's very likely you will end up with such a device even before the technology becomes ubiquitous in the developed world. It could be due to quality of life issues or something similar.
OpenXR is seeing more members, several new related technologies are being looked at (battery, charging, processing...). Designs will follow the same path as mobile phones (bulky at first but getting smaller).
It won't all be easy, though. We've already seen the ethical and privacy related issues that such devices can bring to the fore. An always on camera, recording your life to the cloud etc. Those will get dealt with.
But the technology is too far along to say it won't succeed.
Remember when people couldn't see a use for the internet? That all changed when 'data' started hitting it. Look where we are now in such a short time.