Apple AR/VR headset launch delay may be due to software-related issues

The long-rumoured Apple augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) device has been making headlines recently. According to a report from MacRumors, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the company’s upcoming Mixed Reality headset could face delays due to software-related issues. The report does not specify the nature of these issues, but it suggests that they could cause the device’s mass shipments to be pushed back to the second half of 2023.

Kuo predicts that Apple may unveil the AR/VR headset at the WWDC conference in June 2023, if it is not officially announced earlier in the year. The analyst also expects Apple to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) at the same time, which would enable developers to create AR/VR apps for the device.

While component shipments for the AR/VR device are anticipated to begin in the first half of 2023, Kuo believes that Apple may not start shipping the fully assembled device until the latter half of the year. This potential delay could result in a postponed launch, even if the Mixed Reality headset is announced early in 2023.

Kuo also predicts that the upcoming Apple AR/VR device will come with a high price tag. Additionally, he estimates that the company may ship fewer than 500,000 units in 2023. More details about the device’s pricing and features are expected to emerge in the coming days.

Previously, Kuo suggested that Apple might announce its Mixed Reality headset at a media event in January 2023 and commence mass shipments in the second quarter of the year. The report does not clarify if the delayed shipments would affect the device’s announcement date.