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It looks like Apple’s mixed reality headset is moving from the rumor realm to a real product you can start buying: the device’s mass production will reportedly begin in March 2023.
That’s like DigiTimes (opens in new tab) (through MacRumors (opens in new tab)), where Pegatron would be the manufacturing partner for this particular piece of hardware. A disclosure could then take place in April 2023, according to the report citing internal sources.
The initial production run would be relatively low, with less than a million units being made to begin with. The report also mentions a high price point for the headset, noting that it will target “commercial markets” when it finally launches.
Choose your reality
DigiTimes refers to the device as an “extended reality” or “XR” headset. It will combine both virtual reality (VR), meaning completely closed virtual worlds, and augmented reality (AR), digital elements about the real world.
Another term for this kind of AR/VR hybrid is mixed reality, although different companies often use different terms. Something like the Microsoft HoloLens 2 might give us the best idea of what exactly Apple is going to reveal.
It sounds like future AR/VR devices will come in the future, but the first will be an expensive piece of hardware that won’t necessarily be readily available to consumers.
Analysis: what we think we know so far
It appears that there are currently two different devices in development: a VR or mixed reality headset and a lighter AR-based Apple Glasses gadget, which are the same in design and functionality.
At this stage, it is a surprise that the Apple Glasses have not appeared. They were widely tipped to appear in 2022, but as we approach the end of the year, there is no sign. Now it looks like the mixed reality headset will be the first product.
Everything we’ve heard so far suggests that the mixed reality headset will come with premium parts and come with a hefty price tag. We’ve heard rumors of an OLED display and user authentication will apparently be handled via an iris scanning system.
What we do know for sure is that Apple CEO Tim Cook is very interested in AR and VR technology, suggesting it’s only a matter of time before we see products in these categories appearing in 2023.