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Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revised his prediction for the official debut of the highly anticipated Apple augmented reality device, suggesting that the company will now announce it in spring 2023.
According to the analyst, Apple still faces delays with its mixed-reality headset. He cites issues “with mechanical component drop testing and the availability of software development tools.”
Because of this, it’s increasingly unlikely that Apple would announce it during a January media event.
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As a result, it is increasingly unlikely that Apple will hold a media event for the new device in January. At this point, it seems more likely that Apple will announce the AR/MR headset at a spring media event or WWDC based on the current development progress.— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 6, 2023
Kuo predicts that the company will instead announce it during an Apple Event in spring or during the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
While he believes that the device may be announced in the first half of 2023, he expects that it will not begin shipping until the end of the second or third quarter of 2023.
In December, Apple reportedly changed the name of its mixed-reality operating system to “xrOS,” signaling that the company could be close to releasing a mixed-reality headset.
Currently anticipated to be in an “advanced” stage of development, Apple’s first headset launch could include a pair of 4K OLED displays, 15 camera modules dotted around the outside, and potential support for eye tracking and hand gestures. The first wave could also be an expensive headset, with prices up to $3,000 proposed.