What you need to know
- A new leak has reiterated Apple's AR/VR headset is coming at the end of next year.
- Ming-Chi Kuo says mass production will begin in Q4 2022.
- He has further stated that Apple's second-gen headset will arrive in 2024.
A new leak says Apple's AR/VR headset will get an upgrade in 2024, featuring a lighter design and better battery life.
In a note seen by iMore prolific analyst Ming-Chi Kuo writes:
Apple has begun planning the second generation of AR/MR headsets, and the delivery schedule is 2H24. Compared with the first generation, which is expected to be mass-produced at the end of 4Q22, the improvements of the second generation include lighter weight, appearance design, battery system, and processor.
The headset, as previously reported, is expected to support both augmented and virtual reality with "seamless" switching according to Kuo. He says the first design will weigh between 300-400 grams and the improvement in weight "will be one of the key selling points of the second-generation product."
A new battery design for the headsets will be reportedly be optimized by 2024-26, but that the focus for 2022 is the development of the first generation. Kuo reckons in 2023 and 2024, Apple could sell some 2.5-3.5 million and 8-10 million units respectively.
Earlier this week Bloomberg reported that Apple's headset would have multiple processors and be focused on gaming, media, and communication, as well as content consumption. From the report:
Apple's first headset will be of the mixed reality variety. That means it will have both AR and VR capabilities. While gaming can be done in both environments, virtual reality is what you want for seriously high-performance games with top-tier graphics. For Apple's first headset, that's what it's shooting for: a mixed reality experience that can handle games in high-quality virtual reality with snappy chips and high-end displays.
Kuo also says that Apple will release a new iPhone SE in 2023, three Apple watches in 2022, and new AirPods Pro at the end of next year. Kuo has a proven track record when it comes to sharing Apple's future plans and is one of the most reliable sources of inside information pertaining to the company.
