Skip to main content

Apple mixed reality headset may launch in 2022 after all

After months of rumors and speculation, the new augmented reality and virtual reality headset from Apple has completed production tests, according to MacRumors.

The production tests were part of ongoing efforts to make sure the headset meets Apple’s design standards. The news comes from one of the component suppliers for the headset, and the device is expected to launch late this year. However, that timeline is hardly a consensus among industry experts. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, for example, doubts it will happen, citing issues with the design process.

Related Videos
Apple VR Headset Concept by Antonio De Rosa
Apple VR Headset Concept Antonio De Rosa

However, since the headset has completed its second round of tests, it is on track for a very similar timeline as the Apple Watch when it was first being produced. That’s a good sign for anyone eagerly waiting for the release of this product.

Apple has more than just design issues to face, though. COVID-19 and its effects on the global supply chain are still being felt in nearly every sector, especially the tech industry. However, there are signs that things are improving on that front.

All of that being said, you can reasonably expect the Apple headset sometime between 2022 and mid-2023, if all goes well.

Apple’s mixed reality headset is expected to be expensive at $3,000. But Apple is expected to deliver a super lightweight headset, an 8K display, and the awesome power of Apple’s silicon, among other things. The headset is expected to run on “realityOS,” based on rumors and Apple’s naming conventions.

Apple is expected to announce a slew of devices this year, with up to seven new Macs on the horizon. On top of that, there may be a new iPad Pro, and of course, the iPhone 14.

Apple’s push into AR/VR is indicative of the industry at large’s shift toward the new technology. VR has been growing in the video game industry for some time, but it’s only just now becoming more mainstream. With pushes from other tech giants like Meta toward virtual experiences, AR/VR devices will become more mainstream over the next several years.

Editors' Recommendations

Apple spring event: massive Mac launch, XR headset, and more
Tim Cook at WWDC 2022.

Apple only held one event in the second half of 2022: its iPhone 14 launch show. That meant a bunch of expected devices, from Macs to a mixed-reality headset, never saw the light of day. But that could soon change.

That’s because rumors have been swirling that Apple is planning a product extravaganza this spring where it will unveil a host of new devices to the world. If that’s true, what should we expect to see? Well, you’re in the right place to find out, as we’ve collected all the latest rumors here. Wondering what’s next on Apple’s 2023 calendar? Read on to find out.
Mixed-reality headset
Apple AR/VR headset render Ian Zelbo

Read more
Apple Reality Pro: everything we know about Apple’s VR headset
Apple VR Headset Concept by Antonio De Rosa

In recent months, rumors about Apple working on a top-secret headset project have reached a fever pitch. But at the same time, the chatter has become increasingly convoluted -- Apple is reportedly planning to use mixed reality (MR) rather than solely augmented reality (AR) or VR, but how exactly that will work is unknown. What will the device look like? And what features will it have?

That is where this roundup comes in. We combed through the rumors and reports to find all the latest key information, then combined it in one convenient location. Here is everything we know about Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset, including price, features, and more.

Read more
Apple delays unveiling of mixed-reality headset, report claims
A rendering of an Apple mixed-reality headset (Reality Pro) in a gray color seen from the front.

Apple’s highly anticipated mixed-reality headset is expected to be unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, according to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

A Bloomberg report last month suggested the headset would land in April, but according to Gurman’s sources Apple has now delayed its appearance by three months after testing of the device surfaced software and hardware issues.

Read more