Apple’s mixed reality headset launch has been pushed back to spring 2023
According to a recent report by Bloomberg, after nearly seven years of development, the tech giant is currently “aiming to unveil it this spring ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.”
This is in line with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s update last week, which said mass shipments of the device could be pushed back to between June and September this year.
“As a result, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Apple will hold a media event for the new device in January,” Kuo said in a tweet.
“As of this writing, it seems more likely that Apple will announce the AR/MR headset at a spring media event or at WWDC based on current development progress.”
Bloomberg’s report also claimed that Apple had already handed the headset over to a “small number of high-profile software developers” for testing so they could start developing third-party apps for the device.
The headset’s operating system is said to be called “Borealis” internally, but is marketed as “xrOS”.
The delay was attributed to issues with mechanical component drop testing and the availability of software development tools.
With Apple “betting on the product as its hot new launch for this year,” it looks certain users will be able to get their hands on the headsets this year.
The headset, rumored to be called “Reality Pro,” wasn’t on display at last year’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, and enthusiasts sorely missed any reference to the rumored headset.
Last year, Kuo offered a timeline for Apple’s headset with a product launch in January and tools for developers to ship “within 2-4 weeks of the event.”
The headset, which combines elements of virtual and augmented reality (hence mixed reality), is Apple’s answer to this VR headset by Mark Zuckerberg. The VR space is currently dominated by Facebook owner Meta.
The iPhone maker’s VR device would be its first new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015.
Apple’s mixed reality headset is expected to be a niche device, costing around £2,400.
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https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/09/apples-mixed-reality-headset-launch-pushed-to-spring-2023-18064189/ Apple's mixed reality headset launch has been pushed back to spring 2023