According to a new report from DigiTimes, an Apple supplier plans to start shipping lenses for Apple’s planned AR/VR headset as early as next month.
Apple’s mixed-reality headset is on track to be launched this year
According to the report, Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) will provide lens modules for Apple’s rumored “Reality Pro” headset, with shipments beginning as early as next month and a launch scheduled for the fall.
Genius Electronic Optical (GSEO) will supply lens modules for VR head-mounted devices, to be launched by Apple in 2023, with shipments to begin in February-March 2023, according to GSEO’s supply chain makers.
The AR/VR headset that Apple has been developing for a number of years is anticipated to be released this year. According to a timeline provided by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may unveil the headset before WWDC, which is in June. Before releasing the headset in the autumn, Apple will discuss its new xrOS operating system and introduce developers to its new features at WWDC.
Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that while mass shipments of components for the device will likely begin in the first half of 2023, mass production of the headsets will not start until the second half of the year. Kuo cites “software-related issues,” as the reason for the delay.
It is widely believed that Apple’s debut AR/VR headset will be a high-end, specialized item targeted at experts and developers. The headset is believed to feature a number of cutting-edge technology, including two 4K micro-LED displays, iris scanning, facial expression tracking, powerful Apple silicon CPUs, and over a dozen cameras to capture and translate real-world movements to virtual movements.
Because of how sophisticated the headset is, it will be expensive; estimates place the cost at around $3,000. The headgear is just the beginning of Apple’s roadmap and will be the company’s first foray into the emerging AR/VR industry. This week, a new report claimed that Apple is developing a lighter, more inexpensive headset while continuing to delay the release of its augmented reality glasses.
