Apple's AR or VR headset is now closer to release

Rumors of an Apple AR or VR headset just entered a new phase

Kuo previously predicted that Apple's VR/AR headset would arrive in the fourth quarter of 2022 with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support. While that may be slipping to next year, Kuo has also made predictions that Apple smart glasses may arrive in 2025 and maybe AR contact lenses after that. 

The device could be relatively lightweight, about 300-400 grams (roughly 10.5-14 ounces), according to Kuo. That's lighter than Meta's Oculus Quest 2.

During a conversation with China Daily on June 13, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook was asked about the company’s plans regarding AR and VR. “We’re still in the very early innings of how [AR] will evolve,” said Cook, from his Cupertino, California, headquarters. “I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities we’ve seen in this space…stay tuned, and you’ll see what we have to offer.”

That last comment, delivered with a coy smirk, has been typical of his response to such questions over the last few years. Instead of tipping his hand, Cook instead points to the growth of the Apple ARKit development platform for AR apps (roughly 14,000 ARKit apps are available on the App Store), while promising that “something“ new is in the works. 

And while Apple’s metaverse products are widely anticipated by industry insiders, the company was notably absent from the membership when the Metaverse Standards Forum launched earlier this week, despite the inclusion of some of the biggest names in tech. If Apple maintains its distance, it could stoke concerns that have arisen around the company’s walled garden approach to its App Store, which came under fire during a lawsuit filed by Epic Games in 2020.  

The race to productize the metaverse in a pair of mainstream-friendly smartglasses has been brewing for years, but tech insiders agree that the battle for your face won’t truly begin until Apple enters the fray.