A flurry of new reporting suggests that late stage prototype models of Apple’s new mixed reality headset are in the hands of various third party developers.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman went on record saying that, “a small number of high-profile software developers” have received prototype hardware for testing. Gurman goes on to qualify that while Apple’s forthcoming headset is still working out a number of kinks in the hardware, software, and services, the process is still far enough along that third-party apps can indeed begin development.
The company planned to unveil the much-anticipated mixed reality headset, named Apple Reality Pro, as early as this month. However, the latest timeline is to announce the headset sometime this Spring before the annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Gurman expects Apple to bring developers “up to speed” with its software features in June, eventually shipping the headset in Fall 2023. This jives with trusted TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s recent claims of Apple’s headset indeed facing delays into late 2023.
The latest news follows on the heels of additional reporting regarding alleged specifications of the Apple Reality Pro. The headset, running on the newly-named xrOS operating system, will feature dual 4K OLED microdisplays paired with 120-degree field-of-view lenses, automatic IPD adjustment, LiDAR depth sensors, and support for second-generation AirPods Pro. The headset is said to be powered by an M2 chipset with a secondary ISP (image signal processor) and features “more than a dozen” cameras and sensors for facial, eye, hands and leg tracking.
Gurman also claims that the company will overhaul its Apple Store app to incorporate augmented reality capabilities for mixed reality apps, stores, and locations.
