In Brief
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s mixed-reality headset may not be ready for its originally planned release date at the company’s June WWDC event.
The headset is being delayed due to a combination of factors, including decreased optimism about its market appeal and concerns over the device’s high selling price.
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As technology enthusiasts eagerly await the release of Apple’s mixed-reality headset, speculations surrounding its launch have taken an unexpected turn. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known supply chain analyst, has revealed on Twitter that the highly anticipated device may not be unveiled at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June as previously rumored.
Kuo’s recent tweet suggests that Apple has scaled back its expectations for the headset and is delaying its release due to concerns about its ability to replicate the game-changing success of the iPhone. With this news, many are left wondering what the future holds for Apple’s foray into the mixed reality world.
Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities in the Asia-Pacific region and is widely recognized as one of the most reliable sources for predicting Apple’s product releases. His accurate predictions in the past have been based on monitoring the movement of Apple’s supply chain. Kuo reports that Apple’s mixed-reality headset is experiencing a delay in its assembly and is now expected to launch up to two months later than initially anticipated in the mid-to-late third quarter of 2023.
Kuo explained that the delay in mass production for assembly has resulted in a lower shipment forecast for this year, estimated to be between 200,000 to 300,000 units. This number is lower than the company had anticipated, which was 500,000 units or more.
He cited several factors that have contributed to Apple’s reduced optimism about the market feedback for the headset announcement. These include the economic downturn, compromises made on some hardware specifications to facilitate mass production (such as reducing weight), the readiness of the ecosystem and applications, and the high selling price, which is expected to be between $3,000-$4,000 or even higher.
Apple’s designers have previously suggested the company delay the mixed-reality device to create a more lightweight version. The high headset price also raised concerns; Apple may face challenges in generating strong consumer demand.
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