Apple has again delayed mass production of its mixed reality headset. The device may not be seen at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.
In a tweet explained Kuo said Apple is "not very optimistic" that the headset can create an "iPhone moment," so the company has decided to delay mass production of the device until mid-to-late third quarter of 2023. Kuo believes this delay increases uncertainty "about whether the new device will appear at WWDC 2023, as the market generally expects." The delay also means that forecasts for shipments of the headset in 2023 will be even lower than previously thought, at just 200,000 to 300,000 units. Previously, it was expected that around half a million units would be shipped this year.
Apple Mixed Reality Headset Presentation: Until now, WWDC 2023 was considered a possible date
The reasons for Apple's concern about the device are the poor market response due to the economic downturn, the compromises in hardware specifications, the weight of the device, the readiness of the ecosystem and applications for the headset, and the high selling price. Kuo expects the headset to be priced at $3,000 to $4,000 or even higher. Kuo's comments echo a recent New York Times report that said Apple employees were seriously concerned about the headset's prospects, calling it "a solution to a problem." Apple has yesterday announced that WWDC 2023 will take place between June 5th and 9th. Until now, everything indicated that Apple would present the headset at this time. (Photo by Ivochkina / Bigstockphoto)
