Apple's mixed reality headset release date pushed back – but it's still expected in 2023
We may have to wait a little bit longer for Apple’s debut mixed reality headset, with supply chain sources indicating that the company is facing issues that could delay it until the second half of 2023.
According to information gathered by renowned Apple tipster Ming-Chi Kuo, software issues appear to have pushed the announcement and shipping dates deeper into next year.
Previously, it was expected that the headset would be available in Q2 2023.
As Kuo noted on Twitter, changes and bugs to the operating system are at the heart of this latest delay, though this doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t see a reveal in the first half of the year.
And given that this would represent a new frontier for Apple, an announcement at an event like WWDC in June has been hinted as a potentially perfect stage for the headset.
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The mass shipment schedule of components is still likely 1H23/2Q23, but due to postponed mass shipment schedule of the end product, Apple MR headset shipment forecast in 2023 will likely be less than 500k units, which is lower than the market consensus of 800k-1,200k units.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) December 4, 2022
Whenever we do receive all the official details – and it’s important to remember this is all speculation for now – it’s also been heavily reported that the platform will be known as ‘xrOS’, which stands ‘Extended Reality Operating System’.
This jives with previous reports, which suggested the AR/VR headset’s operating system would be known as ‘realityOS’.
Still, then, there’s plenty we don’t know about Apple’s debut headset. As we begin journeying through 2023, though, it’s likely that the picture will continue to grow clearer.
Stay tuned for more details on the official release date, as well as more info regarding features and design.
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable’s considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.
