The Apple VR headset is still rumored to be launching at WWDC in June
But there are “production issues”
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It’s been a long, long wait for theApple VR headsetto break cover, but the latest unofficial and unconfirmedintelis that the device is finally going to get its grand unveiling atApple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
This comes from sources speaking to theWall Street Journal(via9to5Mac), but the report also notes that Apple is “anticipating production issues” – the headset won’t go on sale until later in the year, and mass production won’t start until December.
Previous rumorssuggested that Apple wasn’t going to hit the deadline of WWDC 2023 with this piece of hardware – the keynote presentation is on June 5 – but it now seems that we will get an announcement if not the actual device in our hands.
Those rumors again
The WSJ goes on to reiterate a lot of the leaks that we’ve heard already: support for both enclosed VR (virtual reality) worlds and AR (augmented reality) interactions with the real world,an external battery pack, and a ski goggle-style design.
We also get another mention of the high asking price, which isapparently going to bearound the $3,000 / £3,000 / AU$5,000 mark. It’s unlikely that these headsets will shift in the sort of numbers we see with the iPhone and the iPad, but you never know.
Apple does at least seem committed to this technology, even if it’s taken a while to get its first product out there: according to reliable sources,more AR/VR headsets are plannedin the coming years, which may well come in at cheaper price points.
Analysis: another bold move for Apple
Meta is now several versions into its VR headset series, while other companies like HTC have no problems manufacturing these devices, so what exactly has taken Apple so long? Rumors about Apple entering the AR or VR space have been swirling sincethe decade before this one.
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ClearlyTim Cookand his team are keen to get the technology right and not launch something that falls below certain standards of quality. When the headset does appear, you can expect it to bean impressive and reliable bit of kit, even if it does cost you a substantial amount of money.
It’s an interesting market for Apple to enter though. It’s fair to say AR and VR haven’t exactly gone mainstream yet, so with the tech behemoth that is Apple entering the fray, it’s a real test of whether or not anyone actuallywants this sort of hardware. It’s possible that it stays as a niche technology.
Part of the problem is that there’s no real killer application or game for AR or VR, something that makes these headsets a must-buy. Perhaps the strong library of software that Apple can offer will make a difference here – we mightsee Final Cut Pro and Logic Proon the headset when it arrives, for example.
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
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