Apple Mixed Reality headset rumored to launch at WWDC 2023

AppleInsider

Rumors had pointed to a spring 2023 reveal for Apple's VR/AR headset, but a new report says it has been pushed back to at or around June's WWDC.

Apple's headset could arrive at WWDC

Apple's next product category is expected to be a wearable visor with mixed reality software. It would be an at-home computer capable of transporting the user to different locations for work or play.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is aiming to reveal the new headset during its Worldwide Developer Conference held in June. The information was revealed by people familiar with the matter who wished to remain anonymous.

This is a two-month delay if previous reports of an April reveal were accurate. Analyst and leaker Ming-Chi Kuo previously shared that the headset wouldn't ship until the second half of 2023, which aligns with a June reveal.

Apple's push into virtual reality or a form of mixed reality that adds augmented reality aspects has been rumored for years. Apple CEO Tim Cook has commented on Apple's interest in AR regularly, likely relating to an eventual release of a Google Glass-like product dubbed Apple Glass.

The stepping stone to a wearable AR experience is expected to be a virtual reality headset. It would run its own xrOS operating system and display information via powerful displays that sit over a user's eyes, obscuring the world around them.

The device is expected to launch in 2023 after numerous rumored schedule changes. It could carry a price tag as high as $3,000.

Read on AppleInsider

ravnorodom

$3000!!! 😅 Typical Apple. It would be nice to incorporate that with Apple Fitness so user can wear it while jogging on treadmill or on stationary bike. It would feel like you were there and it can seriously compete with Peloton.

designr

It will be interesting to see Apple's take on what problem they are solving—or what need/desire they're fulfilling—with this.

We can all speculate, but I'm fascinated to hear Apple's philosophy on this.

Personally, I'm fine with being wrong but I am very skeptical and I fail to see what a product/technology like this does that will compel millions of units to be sold—year after year for at least a decade.

rmusikantow

ravnorodom said:

$3000!!! 😅 Typical Apple. It would be nice to incorporate that with Apple Fitness so user can wear it while jogging on treadmill or on stationary bike. It would feel like you were there and it can seriously compete with Peloton.

You do realize that $3000 is just a wild guess.? Apple has not even announced this device let alone told us what it will cost.

danox

Whatever it is, it won’t be cheap. It can’t possibly be cheap and be able to do things that it needs to do to be a success, however, if they don’t release the full range of Mac computers, that includes a larger screen iMac, and the fabled Mac Pro at the same time then what is the point.

eightzero

AppleInsider said:

 It could carry a price tag as high as $3,000.

We laughed at a $14,000 iWatch rumor. And yet...we knew they would sell at least some of those; and knew what they would do and who would be buying. Unlike...

I do wonder where those gold edition apple watches are today. In a sealed box as in investment? 

Japhey

JP234 said:

ravnorodom said:

$3000!!! 😅 Typical Apple. It would be nice to incorporate that with Apple Fitness so user can wear it while jogging on treadmill or on stationary bike. It would feel like you were there and it can seriously compete with Peloton.

Maybe. Or maybe bouncing around on a treadmill would make it painful on the neck or face. On a stationary bike, though, not a bad idea. I'm sure the OS will include most or all of the Apple apps, including Fitness.

For once I agree with you. Wearing one of these on a treadmill sounds like the quickest way to the Genius Bar. 

designr

JP234 said:

designr said:

Personally, I'm fine with being wrong but I am very skeptical and I fail to see what a product/technology like this does that will compel millions of units to be sold—year after year for at least a decade.

That's almost word for word exactly what many people said when Jobs announced the iPad. I bet you're as wrong as they were.

Possibly. And I'll be fine being wrong—if it turns out that way.

The thing about every product to date (phone, watch, tablet, etc.) there's actually a clear problem being solved and a clear value proposition (even if some people didn't see it). I might be in that group this time. Time will tell.

P.S. For the record, I did not have that same reaction to iPad.

entropys

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

 It could carry a price tag as high as $3,000.

We laughed at a $14,000 iWatch rumor. And yet...we knew they would sell at least some of those; and knew what they would do and who would be buying. Unlike...

I do wonder where those gold edition apple watches are today. In a sealed box as in investment? 

I suspect there were more given away to rich and famous people as a promotional tool than actually sold. They were always a halo device.

roundaboutnow

I can't imagine that Apple would be bothering with something like the VR goggles shown in the concept picture in this article. It seems to me more likely that Apple would go all-in on AR at the outset. I guess MR with goggles is a possibility, but that seems too stop-gap. Apple has that history of waiting until all the pieces fall together to do it right...

I recently came across a one year old press release from ams Osram, a company big on optics, mentioning their super compact "Vegalas RGB laser modules" suitable for near-to-eye displays in "smart glasses." In the release, they mention "Volume production of the Vegalas™ module is expected to begin in the first half of 2023." If true, this would be quite timely.

https://ams-osram.com/news/press-releases/ams-osram-vegalas%E2%84%A2-rgb-laser-module-prototype-demonstrates-a-0.7cm%C2%B3-light-engine-for-smart-glasses-that-fits-in-standard-consumer-fashion-frames

There is a link in the release to an ams Osram webpage about their near-to-eye projection components, where they write in bold letters: "Stay tuned: Laser diodes from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors are key to enable the next consumer revolution." Maybe that is just hype, but I'd say things do seem to be falling into place for AR to finally get off the ground.

Skeptical

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

mac_dog

rmusikantow said:

ravnorodom said:

$3000!!! 😅 Typical Apple. It would be nice to incorporate that with Apple Fitness so user can wear it while jogging on treadmill or on stationary bike. It would feel like you were there and it can seriously compete with Peloton.

You do realize that $3000 is just a wild guess.? Apple has not even announced this device let alone told us what it will cost.

He’s already decided. Looks like a google product for him. Wa-wa…

mac_dog

JP234 said:

ravnorodom said:

$3000!!! 😅 Typical Apple. It would be nice to incorporate that with Apple Fitness so user can wear it while jogging on treadmill or on stationary bike. It would feel like you were there and it can seriously compete with Peloton.

Maybe. Or maybe bouncing around on a treadmill would make it painful on the neck or face. On a stationary bike, though, not a bad idea. I'm sure the OS will include most or all of the Apple apps, including Fitness.

Gyms will probably ban them—with good reason. 

lkrupp

I think we might be underestimating the addiction to technology going on in our current generation. They can’t even put their phones down for two seconds let alone talk to each other face-to-face. My wife and I were at a ballgame. In front of us were a couple who were texting each other during the game while sitting beside each other. No shit.

Everybody is hoping this will be the next big thing and every company is betting the farm on it. This will be boom or bust, only time will tell. VR has been a bust so far, being made fun of in movies and comedy skits.

mike1

designr said:

JP234 said:

designr said:

Personally, I'm fine with being wrong but I am very skeptical and I fail to see what a product/technology like this does that will compel millions of units to be sold—year after year for at least a decade.

That's almost word for word exactly what many people said when Jobs announced the iPad. I bet you're as wrong as they were.

Possibly. And I'll be fine being wrong—if it turns out that way.

The thing about every product to date (phone, watch, tablet, etc.) there's actually a clear problem being solved and a clear value proposition (even if some people didn't see it). I might be in that group this time. Time will tell.

P.S. For the record, I did not have that same reaction to iPad.

The Watch was never certain either. There was a generation or two that never or rarely wore watches unless they had a specific need. Now you can't turn around without seeing younger people wearing a watch, usually an Apple Watch.

designr

mike1 said:

designr said:

JP234 said:

designr said:

Personally, I'm fine with being wrong but I am very skeptical and I fail to see what a product/technology like this does that will compel millions of units to be sold—year after year for at least a decade.

That's almost word for word exactly what many people said when Jobs announced the iPad. I bet you're as wrong as they were.

Possibly. And I'll be fine being wrong—if it turns out that way.

The thing about every product to date (phone, watch, tablet, etc.) there's actually a clear problem being solved and a clear value proposition (even if some people didn't see it). I might be in that group this time. Time will tell.

P.S. For the record, I did not have that same reaction to iPad.

The Watch was never certain either. There was a generation or two that never or rarely wore watches unless they had a specific need. Now you can't turn around without seeing younger people wearing a watch, usually an Apple Watch.

I didn't necessarily think it was a certain success. And yes it took time for Apple to uncover the right use cases. But I could see the applications and potential. I'm having a much harder time seeing that with these VR/AR/XR glasses/goggles/headsets. That said, we all honestly have no idea whatsoever what Apple has planned for this space. It may surprise all of us. But the ideas that have been bandied about so far don't inspire me with confidence or convince me of widespread usefulness. I'd love to be proven wrong.

narwhal

If Apple has 2 big products for release this spring -- a cheaper 15" laptop and an over-priced goggles -- I would release the laptop ASAP (it should be a big seller) and the goggles at the developer conference. Releasing the goggles earlier will take away from the laptop, which will be a big product win.

dewme

designr said:

mike1 said:

designr said:

JP234 said:

designr said:

Personally, I'm fine with being wrong but I am very skeptical and I fail to see what a product/technology like this does that will compel millions of units to be sold—year after year for at least a decade.

That's almost word for word exactly what many people said when Jobs announced the iPad. I bet you're as wrong as they were.

Possibly. And I'll be fine being wrong—if it turns out that way.

The thing about every product to date (phone, watch, tablet, etc.) there's actually a clear problem being solved and a clear value proposition (even if some people didn't see it). I might be in that group this time. Time will tell.

P.S. For the record, I did not have that same reaction to iPad.

The Watch was never certain either. There was a generation or two that never or rarely wore watches unless they had a specific need. Now you can't turn around without seeing younger people wearing a watch, usually an Apple Watch.

I didn't necessarily think it was a certain success. And yes it took time for Apple to uncover the right use cases. But I could see the applications and potential. I'm having a much harder time seeing that with these VR/AR/XR glasses/goggles/headsets. That said, we all honestly have no idea whatsoever what Apple has planned for this space. It may surprise all of us. But the ideas that have been bandied about so far don't inspire me with confidence or convince me of widespread usefulness. I'd love to be proven wrong.

I could not agree more. I can’t even think of any subtle hints that previous Apple or competitor products, successful or failed, offer up as evidence of what’s possible in this domain. You know, like the Newton and iPad or the Blackberry and iPhone. To add to what Lkrupp mentioned with respect to the isolating influences of smartphones, strapping an interactive display on your face would only take the “I’m physically next to you, but I am totally ignoring you” factor up several notches higher. Maybe Apple is going at this with a healthcare angle, like an electronic alternative to magic mushrooms, a meditation or sensory deprivation device, or something crazy like that. Highly unlikely.

The answer to the mystery and the grand awakening is still in Apple’s court. Can’t wait to see what it is.

aderutter

It’s going to be intriguing for sure.

PSVR2 might be the better product for gaming, but I expect to be buying the first Apple AR/VR head gear.

I’m more of a rower than a biker so it would be neat for that if not too heavy.

9secondkox2

This timing is the only thing that makes sense. 

Announce, get folks to build apps for it, with training workshops right there at wwdc, and launch in the fall.