Apple's Mixed-Reality Headset Now Said to Be in 'Final Sprint' and 'Delivery Stage' Ahead of WWDC

[MacRumors]

Apple's mixed-reality headset is now in the "final sprint" and "supply chain delivery stage," Taiwan's Economic Daily News reports.

Apple headset concept render by Marcus Kane.​

GIS, a subsidiary of Foxconn, is apparently included in the device's supply chain to provide lens lamination. GIS already laminates iPad displays for Apple and boasts a high yield rate. Until now, Foxconn was thought to have been excluded from the headset's supply chain, with China's Luxshare serving as the sole assembler.

GIS is believed to be operating a dedicated production line for the headset's lens lamination at a plant in Chengdu, China. In line with other reports, the supplier's production line mobilization schedule indicates that Apple's mixed-reality headset will be unveiled at WWDC in June as expected, before launching sometime in the following months. GIS has publicly said that it will begin shipping metaverse-adjacent devices to customers in the second quarter of 2023, which runs from April to June.

GIS's involvement apparently lays the groundwork for Foxconn to participate more widely in the second-generation Apple headset's supply chain. In February, it was reported that Foxconn is hoping to supply the cheaper model in Apple's second-generation headset lineup.

Article Link: Apple's Mixed-Reality Headset Now Said to Be in 'Final Sprint' and 'Delivery Stage' Ahead of WWDC

 

[floral]

This might go well, but I'm not sure. I'm definitely not buying though, way out of my budget ;w;

 

[mozumder]

This is gonna crush their stock. The fundamental flaw in these headsets is that it blocks off vision. Nobody wants to have their vision blocked off.

 

[JM]

Dammit, I saw GIS and thought ArcGIS would be a launch partner.

I hate that program, but it’s a powerful tool

 

[iamgalt]

I'm just happy to see a different render than the horrible ski goggles.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

I think all goggles are hideous!

 

[citysnaps]

This might go well, but I'm not sure. I'm definitely not buying though, way out of my budget ;w;

I wouldn't latch too strongly on the rumored $3K price. That's just a speculative number tossed out by a tech journalist with an imperfect track record.

Many people love to cling to that number as it's an easy entry point into giving Apple a good bash and a reason to call it a flop. Even though it's based on essentially nothing.

 

[Bodhitree]

We will have to wait and see what they come up with. I’m more interested in the software than the hardware at this point.

 

[dmr727]

I'm really friggin' tired of hearing rumors and seeing the mockups of this thing - WWDC can't come soon enough so we can finally transition to complaining about the real thing!

 

[TracerAnalog]

This is gonna crush their stock. The fundamental flaw in these headsets is that it blocks off vision. Nobody wants to have their vision blocked off.

What are you talking about? Of course! VR needs to block your eye sight to get full immersion. However, the AR functionality will likely have a ‘transparency’ mode, akin to what the Airpods Pro have. And with that enabled, you will see your surroundings overlayed with artificial elements. For anyone expecting to walk around with these as if they are regular glasses: we are several years away from that.

 

[floral]

I wouldn't latch too strongly on the rumored $3K price. That's just a speculative number tossed out by a tech journalist with an imperfect track record.

Many people love to cling to that number as it's an easy entry point into giving Apple a good bash and a reason to call it a flop. Even though it's based on essentially nothing.

No, I mean I wouldn't even pay $1K for it. The maximum I would pay for a headset is $400, considering I'm not that interested in them...

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am not sure why production needs to sprint, if the rumored price tag of $3k is close to accurate. I don't see people rushing to get a pricy goggle.

 

[JosephAW]

Was hoping Mr. Cook was wearing prototypes in the keynotes.

 

[crsh1976]

This might go well, but I'm not sure. I'm definitely not buying though, way out of my budget ;w;

No doubt this won't be cheap, but price aside we have yet to see what this thing can actually do before purchasing it or not.

Definitely count me out if it's just to Facetime friends and family with stupid 3D avatars and to watch ATV+ content in VR movie theaters.

 

[nfl46]

Looking forward to seeing what it could do.

 

[MayaUser]

Ok, so Gurman was right, Kuo was again wrong with his predictions
Got it

 

[coffeemilktea]

That headset render looks way too good to be real, though I'd be so impressed if Apple debuted something genuinely stylish for their headset (as opposed to how VR headsets, you know... usually look 😅).

 

[MacWiz_007]

Just launch this trash already so we can move on!

 

[t0rqx]

This will definitely come with some sort of xxx-gate. Vision/Blur Gate?

 

[surfzen21]

I bet they sell swappable bands, like they do for the watch, for $400 a piece. 🤣 🥲

 

[Apple_Robert]

This will definitely come with some sort of xxx-gate. Vision/Blur Gate?

 

[nt5672]

No doubt this won't be cheap, but price aside we have yet to see what this thing can actually do before purchasing it or not.

Definitely count me out if it's just to Facetime friends and family with stupid 3D avatars and to watch ATV+ content in VR movie theaters.

You're not going to have a choice, Apple will be dropping large displays and their connectively in order to push these.

 

[75Batt]

I am not sure why production needs to sprint, if the rumored price tag of $3k is close to accurate. I don't see people rushing to get a pricy goggle.

Incorrect interpretation of the word sprint. Sprint is a term used to describe blocks of work in software/product development. So, it means final block of work underway.

 

[75Batt]

That headset render looks way too good to be real, though I'd be so impressed if Apple debuted something genuinely stylish for their headset (as opposed to how VR headsets, you know... usually look 😅).

I really want that too but given thr AirPods Max aesthetic, I’m not hopeful. That’s a look I really don’t like.

 

[jclardy]

That headset render looks way too good to be real, though I'd be so impressed if Apple debuted something genuinely stylish for their headset (as opposed to how VR headsets, you know... usually look 😅).

Would you really be surprised? This is from a company that is a leader in industrial design, and working at the highest end pricepoint in the spectrum, using in house silicon designed for low power/heat, having access to existing in-house software platforms for AR. If anyone can design something good looking in this space, it is Apple. Add to that the idea that they are going to split off the battery pack, that means they can build something very unique, at least until the other companies copy it.