Apple Delays Launching Headset AR/VR Until Second End Of 2023

JAKARTA - Apple's Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) mixed headsets are unlikely to slide into the market until the second half of 2023. Allegedly this is due to software problems.

reliable technology analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously stated Apple's AR/VR headset shipments were claimed to start in the first half of this year, but apparently there were no signs from the company.

"My latest survey shows that Apple's mass delivery schedule of MR headsets may be delayed by up to 2H23 due to software-related issues (compared to previous estimates at 2Q23)," Kuo tweeted.

(6/8)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).

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) December 4, 2022

The delay in the headset's mass shipment could affect the optical industry supplying components to Apple's new hardware, such as Primer for the eyeball tracking module, Cowell for camera modules, Genius for▁tajamgwitting optics, and Largan for lensing.

Kuo takes into account component mass shipments for the device are likely to be made in the first half or half of 2023, but delays will see Apple only deliver less than 500,000 units, totaling 800,000 to 1.2 million units.

Previously, Kuo claimed Apple plans to unveil a headset at a media event in January and begin mass shipments in the second half of 2023. However, Kuo is not sure whether the delay will result in an announcement in January being postponed as well.

"It still needs to be determined whether the media event schedule (previously estimated in January 2023) will also be delayed, but usually if the time frame between the event media and mass delivery end products is too long, it will be detrimental to promotion and sales," explained Kuo.

For information, Apple has applied for trademark applications in several countries for the names of Reality One, Reality Pro and Reality Processor this year. The company also has the name RealityOS, which is claimed to be the headset operating system.

Launching ZDNet, Tuesday, December 6, this will be the first major new hardware category in seven years, the last time is Apple Watch.

Apple's new headset is claimed to be more expensive than Meta Quest 2, where Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg journalist, estimates that Apple's headset will cost between US $ 2,000 for IDR 31 million and US $ 3,000 for IDR 46 million.

The price price price is quite appropriate because this headset is claimed to be equipped with an M2 chip, Mac level, more than 10 cameras outside and inside the device, as well as a very high resolution screen.