Ming-Chi Kuo, the highly reliable Apple analyst who provided the exact display resolution of the iPhone X six months before its launch, says the tech giant will release its highly anticipated mixed reality headset by mid-2022.
Speaking to the Mac Rumours forum recently, Kuo stated Apple is currently developing a three-phase “MR/AR roadmap” that begins with “helmet type by 2022, glasses type by 2025, and contact lens type by 2030–2040.”
“We foresee that the helmet product will provide AR and VR experiences, while glasses and contact lens types of products are more likely to focus on AR applications,” he added.
According to Kuo, Apple is currently working on several prototypes weighing between 200-300 grams but could reduce that weight to as little as 100-200 grams – a staggering 366-466 grams lighter than Microsoft’s flagship HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset.
Concerning pricing, Kuo told Mac Rumours he believes the headset will sell for approximately USD 1,000 or the same price as a high-end iPhone X Pro handset. While this is considerably more expensive than the Oculus Quest 2’s USD 299 price tag, history has proved that fans of Apple are willing to pay well over the odds for high-quality goods – and we expect the MR headset will not disappoint.
Kuo continues, “although Apple has been focusing on AR, we think the hardware specifications of this product can provide an immersive experience that is significantly better than existing VR products. We believe that Apple may highly integrate this helmet with video-related applications (e.g., Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, etc.) as one of the key selling points.”
While Facebook Oculus has continued to dominate the VR consumer market over the last six months since the release of its flagship Quest 2 headset in October 2020, the tide could very well be about to turn now that Apple is gearing up to enter the marketplace.
As for Apple’s smart glasses, Kuo believes the company will launch the product some time in 2025. Unlike the mixed reality headset, however, Kuo added Apple AR glasses will more than likely “focus on providing a ‘mobile + AR’ experience” rather than great immersive experiences alone.
Though Kuo didn’t mention anything about the enterprise when making his predictions, it’s safe to assume that whatever innovations Apple brings into the consumer space will strongly influence the business world, too – and XR Today will be here reporting on each update every step of the way.
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