by After rumors pinned the Apple VR headset for an April announcement, a new report suggests that Apple will instead be showcasing the device at this year’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) — and if it does, it could be one of the be the best steps Apple has taken this year.
While it hasn’t been officially announced, rumors and leaks from the past few years strongly suggest that some sort of Apple VR headset is in development that will perform both virtual and mixed reality capabilities.
According to various leaks, it will feature an ultra-sharp 2,800 pixels-per-inch Micro-OLED display and two chipsets — one for the XR capabilities (XR is short for Extended Reality, a term that encompasses VR, MR, and AR includes ) and an Apple M2 chip to enable laptop-style functionality. And instead of controllers, it will reportedly rely on voice commands and hand gestures.
The headset’s release date has reportedly been pushed back a few times, with the device originally expected to arrive in 2021 or 2022, but 2023 actually seems to be the year we see the long-rumored VR headset – although judging by the form it looks true to that Device is facing a final delay, being pushed back from April to WWDC 2023, which is expected to take place in June (via Bloomberg (opens in new tab)).
As with all rumours, we have to take this claim with a pinch of salt; This schedule shift makes a lot of sense though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if WWDC 2023 is the event that finally delivers the Apple headset we’ve been waiting for.
WWDC 2023 is perfect for launching a VR headset
I have long believed that WWDC is the perfect event for Apple to launch its VR headset. While the conference attracts some consumer attention as the company unveils new features in the next iOS build and potentially new Apple products, it generally doesn’t have as much publicity as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac launch event. event .
The launch of an Apple VR headset would attract a lot of attention, whatever the event. So by combining the unveiling with WWDC, Apple not only gets more exposure to one of its less prominent events; It also avoids the headset cannibalizing the news cycle surrounding the launch of any of its bread-and-butter products.
Additionally, as WWDC is a face-to-face gathering of leading developers, the event offers them the perfect opportunity to try out the new headset, get a feel for its capabilities and possibly be convinced to develop apps for it. Getting someone to use a headset is a much more powerful tool than just telling them it’s amazing – lots of people I know have said they’re not interested in VR just for one of my headsets give it a try and immediately search Amazon for a good deal.
A separate event wouldn’t be the worst option – the worst option in Apple’s playbook would be another shadow cast, as was the case with the recent HomePod 2 – but it would lack some of WWDC’s unique benefits.
However, the announcement will only be the first step for the Apple VR headset; With the VR space already filled with great devices like the Oculus Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Pico 4, Apple needs to convince us that its gadget is a worthy contender. We’ll just have to wait and see what it reveals and when.
