After seven years of development, Apple Inc., is almost on the verge of launching its first mixed-reality headset. But the focus on this new device will lead to an otherwise silent year for them in 2023.

In 2019, Apple had aimed to raise its market, but eventually, the delays stacked up. Apple Inc. then, had plans to launch the mixed reality headset in 2020 delaying it to 2021, and then 2022.

The final postponement of the launch of the Apple mixed reality headset happened last year. Up until now, Apple had aimed to launch the mixed reality headset in January 2023 and then ship it by the end of the year. Now, it is aiming to launch it ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2023. 

Present and Future

Apple Inc. had recently shared the mixed reality headset with a small group of high-profile software developers for testing and allowing them to get started on third-party apps. 

The mixed reality headset’s operating system, which is dubbed “Borealis” inside the company, will be eventually and officially named xrOS.

With the existing plan in action, Apple Inc.1 could introduce the mixed reality headset to consumers likely under the name of Reality Pro. Post this, the developers are likely to speed up on the software features from June, 2023. If this timeline sticks, Apple Inc. would then ship the product later in the fall of 2023. 

Troubleshooting 

While Apple Inc. still has many tangles to untangle with the mixed reality headset which involves hardware, software, and services including the method on how it will be marketed and sold. The company is also banking on the product as its a brand new introduction for 2023. 

In order to make sure it hits the bull’s eye, Apple Inc. has roped in several resources from different software and hardware engineering departments. But this action has turned out negatively for other projects; some of which were already delayed due to budget cuts because of economic slowdown. 

It could also point at a direction that Apple Inc. has fewer products to showcase this year.

What more to expect?

• The new MacBook Pros, coming in the first half of 2023, are likely to have the same designs and features as the current 14-inch and 16-inch models, but will most probably include chips from M2 Pro and M2 Max. These are just marginal changes from the previous MacBook Pro processors
• A high-end configuration of the Mac Pro with 48 CPU cores and 152 graphics cores, has been canceled; as reported 
• Other than this, Apple Inc. aso plans to release a version with the M2 Ultra, beyond the machine’s expandability, making it explicit why most people would buy it over the smaller and cheaper Mac Studio
• Another disappointment is that the new Mac Pro will be identical to the 2019 model. It will also lack one key feature from the Intel version, the user-upgradeable RAM

Does Apple Inc. have any further plans?

• Apple Inc. has been also working on larger iPads, but they might not show up this year though.
• Updates to the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pros are likely not to be announced until 2024
• These will reportedly include a new design and OLED displays; first for an iPad
• Apple Inc. plans AR experiences for its retailers and stores. It is also working on an updated version of the Apple Store app for iPhone, which will likely have augmented-reality capabilities that activate when a user enters one of its retail locations. Apple Inc. has been working on the service since the launch of iOS 14 in 2020 

Looking at Apple Inc. and its delays, we cannot expect much this year but yet can have hope with Mixed Reality Headset and a few updates!