A new report by DigiTimes reconfirms the early 2023 launch time of Apple’s new mixed reality headset with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
For a while now, rumor mills have been reporting on the development, design, and capabilities of Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset. In May it was reported that the tech company gave its board a preview of the upcoming device which indicated it making headway for the early 2023 launch.
Apple to produce limited shipments of its mixed reality headset, below one million units
Reiterating industry reports, DigiTimes claims that the first-generation mixed-reality headset would go into mass production at the end of the first quarter of 2023 in March. It is likely that Apple might launch it at the WWDC 2023 event in June.
Apple is currently crafting its first XR (extended reality) headset. Supply chain sources hinted that this XR device, codename N301, will be exclusively assembled by Pegatron. Mass production is expected to begin at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Previously, tech analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu reported that the AR/VR headset would launch in early 2023.
The report also details that a small volume of the first-gen mixed-reality headset would be produced likely because of the high price point.
Industry sources stated this XR headset mainly targets the commercial markets. The price is higher and the shipment quantity is limited. Previous estimates said that the annual shipment for this device would reach 2.5 million units.
However, right now, rough estimates placed the annual shipment at around 0.7 to 0.8 million units. For supply chain manufacturers that benefit from quantity, this is not a particularly profitable order.
Although the new AR/VR headset will not be profitable for the company’s manufacturing partners, it would put them in a good position for the production of the second-generation AR/VR headset coming out in 2024 with a cheaper price tag.
Recently, it was reported that Apple hired game developers behind Playdeo Studio to work on its mixed reality headset.
