Apple Could Release More Affordable AR/VR Headset After The Original

The notable absence of Apple’s highly-anticipated mixed-reality headset from this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) gave rise to rumors that the gadget could be delayed till 2023, although it has been said that the board of directors have already seen a satisfactory prototype.

Even if it does hit store shelves next year, the virtual-reality headset could be out of reach for most consumers, considering that it’s expected to retail for a whopping US$3,000. 

However, in a recent blog post, reputed technology analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported Apple could be working on a second-generation iteration—set to be released in 2025—that could come with a more affordable option, though the exact price point of the supposedly cheaper gadget wasn’t specified. 

Kuo wrote that the forthcoming model would launch in the first half of 2025, with suppliers slated to begin shipping components in the latter months of 2024. 

Additionally, he provided more insight into both versions of the gadget, noting that the headsets would feature high ASP Pancake lenses, often found in SLR cameras, with Genius and Young Optics being the most likely suppliers for the parts. 

Impressively, Kuo even predicted Apple’s AR/VR headset could reach up to 10 million shipments as soon as 2025 or 2026, with a boost expected from the second-generation system. 

Will Apple’s headset truly become as ubiquitous as its smartphones and earbuds? We’ll soon find out.

[via Gizmodo and Ming-Chi Kuo, cover image via Blackzheep | Dreamstime.com]