Apple would have made the decision to postpone the launch of its mixed headphones to January 2023. According to a reputable source, the development of the accessory has been delayed.
Apple’s mixed reality headset is said to be postponed once more. According to information shared by Ming-Chi Kuo, a famous specialist analyst, the Californian giant would have been forced to shift the presentation of the accessory of several months.
“I believe Apple’s AR/VR headset shipping date will be postponed to Q2 2023 as Shanghai lockdown halts development”argues Ming-Chi Kuo on his Twitter account.
Coronavirus would disrupt Apple’s plans
Faced with the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, China has indeed decreed new containment measures. The country is also paying the price for the “zero Covid” policy, a strategy which consists of imposing strict confinements as soon as a patient is identified. In this context, several cities have been put under cover, including the economic capital Shanghai, Beijing or the city of Zhengzhou.
These measures forced several manufacturers, including Apple’s partner Foxconn, to close their doors for a few days. Despite the gradual lifting of restrictions, notably in Beijing and Shanghai in June, production lines are running behind schedule.
However, many rumors prophesied the imminent launch of Apple’s hybrid headphones. According to Mark Gurman, journalist at Bloomberg, Apple presented a prototype of the accessory to its board of directors a few weeks ago.
All eyes were on of WWDC 2022, the annual conference for developers. Several leaks expected the company to talk regarding the arrival of the AR / VR headset or its operating system, realityOS. Finally, Apple was careful not to mention the mixed helmet. The group focused on updates to its existing systems, namely iOS 16, watchOS 9, macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16.
Keynote in January 2023?
The production of the virtual and augmented reality headset would only start in the course of the 3rd quarter of the year. For Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple would have made the decision to unveil the helmet next January. The analyst assures that a “media event” devoted to the product will be organised. You should obviously not expect to discover the accessory during the September keynote devoted to the iPhone 14.
As expected, Apple would wait several weeks between the presentation of the helmet and its arrival on the market. The analyst ensures that the accessory will be available for pre-order in the 2nd quarter next year. It would eventually hit stores ahead of WWDC 2023, which is expected to take place in early June.
Despite this new delay, Apple is tirelessly preparing for the arrival of the mixed reality headset. The Cupertino giant would work on the content that will be offered on release. To produce this content in AR/VR, Apple would have turned to Jon Favreau in particularthe creator, head writer and executive producer of The Mandalorian series on Disney+.
Ming-Chi Kuo
