Kuo: Apple 'Well Prepared' for Headset Announcement Next Month

[MacRumors]

Recent reports have converged on the belief that Apple will show off its long-rumored AR/VR headset at WWDC in June, and now Ming-Chi Kuo's latest predictions also align with the rumors, with the industry analyst claiming that the announcement is "highly likely" and the company is "well prepared" for the unveiling.

Concept render by Marcus Kane​

Previously, Kuo said Apple had pushed back production on the headset to the third quarter of 2023, and that as a result, the device might not be introduced at WWDC, but the analyst apparently no longer holds that view.

In a brief report posted to Medium on Monday, Kuo wrote that the headset's announcement next month "bodes well" for the supply chain share price, with the analyst touching on five of the device's components that – apart from assembly – represent its "most expensive material costs" in his view.

Those include the 4K micro-OLED displays, dual M2-based processors, the headset casing, 12 optical cameras for tracking hand movements, and the external power supply. These components are being supplied by Sony, TSMC, Everwin Precision, Cowell, and Goretek, respectively.

Pricing on the headset is expected to begin somewhere around $3,000. Perhaps with that in mind, Apple won't aim it at general consumers to start with, but will instead position it as a device for developers, content creators, and professionals. Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store, and it has told suppliers that it expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.

Monday, June 5 is the date of Apple's WWDC keynote event, where Apple is expected to finally break its silence about the existence of the headset – although some non-Apple employees may have already been provided with a glimpse of the device.

"The Apple headset is so good," said Palmer Luckey in a tweet posted earlier on Monday, without elaborating. Luckey is the founder of Oculus, which was behind the original Oculus Rift VR hardware in 2012. Meta acquired Oculus in 2014, and Luckey is widely credited with reviving the virtual reality market.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple 'Well Prepared' for Headset Announcement Next Month

 

[F23]

Apple customer bank accounts are not well prepared.

 

[myusernamedoesnotmatter]

Enough with the speculation and the debates, I just want to see the darn thing already (even if i'll never buy it).

 

[moabal]

I honestly think these people have no idea what they are talking about. They are just guessing. Perhaps they had one correct prediction in the past which gives them "credibility" like Jon Prosser.

Whatever happens during WWDC happens.

 

[krspkbl]

If it actually turns out to be a good product I still wouldn't buy it until we get a few hardware revisions. I'm not spending silly money on 1st gen hardware. And I wear glasses so I'm screwed anyway.

"Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store"

🤣

 

[Alfredo_Delgado]

Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store, and it has told suppliers that it expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.

So... Apple has from 19 to 27 thousand stores?

Edit: So not exclusive to Apple stores... 🤔

 

[8KYUP]

So ready for this. Quest Pro has been great but looking forward to an Apple powerhouse!

 

[MLVC]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I just don't care about that headset.

 

[sdz]

remind me again? What is that good for?

 

[MayaUser]

KUO, retire from being a good "leaker"

 

[mooger83]

I see no one asking the most basic question which is: how is Apple going to properly demo something that really needs to be experienced in person? Sure they’ll have a bunch of snazzy videos and pictures. But what does 4K per eye actually look like in real life? I personally don’t want to go to an Apple Store and slap something on my face that hundreds of others wore on their oily foreheads before me.

 

[Steve121178]

Apple customer bank accounts are not well prepared.

Most of Apple's customers won't be interested in daft headsets anyway. Every single one from every other company has failed to catch on.

I can't see many people paying 3 grand for the privilege of wearing a belt loaded with battery packs just to keep the thing running for more than 2 hours either.

 

[DNichter]

I won't be buying, but I am interested in future iterations down the line potentially.

 

[childlost]

remind me again? What is that good for?

Same as the watch, just heavier.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Great, Apple’s biggest announcement since the Apple Watch ⌚️ and I won’t even be able to afford it at $3,000. Will probably be super buggy anyway. I’ll get the much evolved and cheaper one in 8 generations. 🕶️ 😎 🕶️

 

[klasma]

Apple […] expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.

That seems a bit optimistic to me. Well, we’ll see.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store, and it has told suppliers that it expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.

So... Apple has from 19 to 27 thousand stores?

Edit: So not exclusive to Apple stores... 🤔

Anyone who’s interested in this thing whatsoever is probably going to end up purchasing it online.
Or from a third-party retailer, if they even carry this thing.
Pretty much the same with all of their other very high price low volume products.
Pro Display XDR’s aren’t flying off the Apple store shelves

 

[bmark]

Apple needs to put down the crack pipe if they think they are selling 7-10 million units in the 1st year!

 

[lazyrighteye]

7-10 million units in year one equals $21-30 BILLION dollars. That’s boggling.

 

[Kottu]

Just waiting for the first accident news in which Apple AR glass is involved.

 

[steve09090]

I see no one asking the most basic question which is: how is Apple going to properly demo something that really needs to be experienced in person? Sure they’ll have a bunch of snazzy videos and pictures. But what does 4K per eye actually look like in real life? I personally don’t want to go to an Apple Store and slap something on my face that hundreds of others wore on their oily foreheads before me.

Because of what it may do. You don’t have to be an Einstein to explain or understand how 12 cameras can work to realise depth without actually seeing.

As far as 4K per eye goes, you have to be darn close to pick out pixels on a 4K 65” TV. I doubt you'd be able to distinguish anything other than the image in a headset.

It’s not about what it looks like, it’s what it does. No one knew what "Retina display" was before they bought it.

 

[cdsapplefan]

Apple is already working on a much cheaper 2nd generation version of the headset, but I’ll still wait until about the 8th generation before I buy, thats the sweet spot. By then we will know if this headset is revolutionary like the iPhone 📱 and Apple Watch ⌚️ and what it can do well for our everyday lives

 

[mozumder]

Watch this announcement get delayed again till next year...

 

[mthomas184]

I honestly think these people have no idea what they are talking about. They are just guessing. Perhaps they had one correct prediction in the past which gives them "credibility" like Jon Prosser.

Whatever happens during WWDC happens.

Meanwhile, he has a 72% accuracy. But yeah, he just had 1 correct prediction.

 

[JosephAW]

Just as your phone is part of your daily life in 2023 this device will be the mainstay by 2030 and phones will go away.