We’ve been waiting a long time for the Apple VR headset to break the cover, but the latest unofficial and unconfirmed information says that the device will finally get its big reveal at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
This comes from sources saying to Wall Street Journal (opens in a new tab) (By 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab)), but the report also notes that Apple “anticipates production issues” – the headset won’t go on sale until later in the year, and mass production won’t start until December.
Previous rumors had suggested Apple would miss the WWDC 2023 deadline with this hardware – the keynote will be on June 5 – but now it looks like we’ll get an announcement, if not an actual device in our hands.
Rumors again
The WSJ repeats many of the leaks we’ve already heard about: support for both closed VR (virtual reality) worlds and AR (augmented reality) interaction with the real world, an external battery pack, and ski goggles – a style design.
We also get another mention of a high asking price which will apparently be around $3,000 / £3,000 / AU$5,000. It’s unlikely these headsets will change in the numbers we see with the iPhone and iPad, but you never know.
Apple at least seems committed to the technology, even if it took a while to release the first product: according to reliable sources, more AR/VR headsets are planned in the coming years, which may be cheaper. .
Analysis: Apple’s next bold move
Meta now has several versions of its VR goggle series, while other companies like HTC have no problems producing these devices, so what exactly took Apple so long? Rumors of Apple’s entry into the AR or VR space have been circulating for the decade leading up to this one.
Clearly, Tim Cook and his team are interested in getting the right technology, not launching something that doesn’t meet certain quality standards. When a headset comes out, you can expect it to be an impressive and reliable piece of kit, even if it costs you a significant amount of money.
However, it is an interesting market for Apple. It’s safe to say that AR and VR haven’t gone mainstream yet, so with tech giant Apple stepping into the fray, it’s a real test of whether anyone really wants this kind of hardware. It may remain a niche technology.
Part of the problem is that there’s no truly killer app or game for AR or VR, making these headsets a must-have. Perhaps the strong software library Apple can offer will make a difference here – for example, we may see Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on the headset when it launches.