Apple mixed-reality headset may not be unveiled at WWDC: Here’s why

The ‘iPhone moment’ here is a reference to back when the first iPhone was unveiled, which took the world by storm because of Steve Jobs’ radical take on the future of smartphones. Apple seems intent on bringing about a similar reaction with the MR headset, which from the leaks is already shaping up to be perhaps one of the most innovative products from the Cupertino company in a decade.

“The delay also adds uncertainty to whether the new device will appear at WWDC 2023, as the market widely expects,” Kuo added.

The Apple analyst cited the “economic downturn, compromises on some hardware specifications for mass production (such as weight), the readiness of the ecosystem and applications, a high selling price ($3,000-4,000 or even higher)” as being the main reasons for the company not being very optimistic regarding the market feedback for the headset.

Additionally, the delay in mass production is also expected to affect the number of units to be shipped this year, dropping the number of units to be manufactured from the alleged initial goal of 5 lakh units to between 2 lakh and 3 lakh units.

The WWDC has been confirmed to be hosted in an online format from June 5 through June 9.

Apple’s MR headset is said to be a stepping stone for the company’s larger plan to replace iPhones with augmented-reality glasses in the future. The headset is reportedly designed to offer both virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, with advanced features such as eye-tracking, hand-tracking, and spatial audio.

Apple has not officially confirmed or denied any details about its mixed-reality headset. However, some clues have emerged from its recent patents, acquisitions, and hires. For example, Apple has acquired several companies related to VR and AR technologies, such as NextVR, Spaces, Akonia Holographics, and Vrvana. It has also hired several experts in the field, such as Arthur van Hoff, the co-founder of Jaunt VR.