Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset has encountered delays that could push the headset’s launch to the end of 2022 or 2023, according to a new report. The Cupertino-based company is working on an augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) headset that has reportedly been in development since 2015, and the company is reportedly priced at over $2,000 (approximately Rs. 1,49,000) . The company is reportedly adding support for the device in iOS 16, which is expected to be unveiled later this year.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is considering delaying the launch of its mixed-reality headset, which was previously expected to launch during the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) conference in June. The report cites a source claiming that the headset’s development has brought up issues including “overheating, cameras and software.” As a result, the company is now expected to announce the headset in late 2022 or later, while the product could be available in 2023.
The company’s mixed reality headset, codenamed N301, has been in development since 2015, according to the report, and the company had previously scheduled its debut in 2021 with availability in 2022. According to older reports, Apple plans to replace the iPhone with its mixed reality headset. headset in a decade. Apple last launched a major new product in 2015 with the arrival of the Apple Watch, while the company has since launched products such as the HomePod speaker in 2018 and the AirTags tracker in 2021.
Previous reports suggested that the company’s upcoming mixed reality headset would use two chips, one of which is as powerful as the company’s M1 Pro chip on the MacBook Pro launched in 2021. According to the Bloomberg report, the heating problems seem to stem from the use of these chips. Apple had previously planned to transfer processing to a secondary device, but the plan was reportedly scrapped. The headset also has issues with its AR cameras, which are expected to come from LG Innotek, according to the report.
Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset is being tipped as a step towards the company’s rumored N421 AR glasses, which are expected to debut in the coming years. However, the upcoming AR/VR headset may come with an expensive price tag as the company is considering price points above $2,000 (approximately Rs. 1.49,000), according to the report, and is expected to be higher than an upcoming AR/VR headset from Meta, called Project Cambria. However, the company expects to sell between 7 and 10 million mixed reality headsets in its first year, the report said.