Many expect Apple to unveil its much-rumored AR/VR headset at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2023) in June. Now, Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the headset’s debut will be the “last hope” for convincing investors that the device will sell.
“Apple’s announcement event is likely the last hope for convincing investors that the AR/MR headset device could have a chance to be the next star product in consumer electronics,” Kuo wrote in a Medium article on Wednesday.
Kuo says there is “insufficient evidence” to indicate that AR/VR headsets can become the next major thing in consumer electronics. Kuo points to Sony’s pulling back on production plans for the PS VR2, and the estimated 300,000 product lifecycle shipments for the Meta Quest Pro as evidence that AR/VR headsets may not be the next major thing in the consumer electronics marketplace.
There have been several reports of observers’ growing skepticism that Apple will offer a product that people will actually buy. In March, The New York Times reported that Apple employees were concerned about the device’s price point headset and whether it is a “solution in search of a problem,” and whether it is “driven by the same clarity” as other Apple devices.
While Kuo has previously said that the AR/VR headset might not be unveiled at WWDC 2023 this year. However, Mark Gurman on Sunday said Apple still has plans to unveil the device at the event.
Apple’s AR/VR headset is expected to boast 4K micro-OLED displays, dozens of cameras for capturing data, including a user’s surroundings, as well as their gestures and facial expressions, and more.
(Via MacRumors)