Kuo: Apple Headset Shipments Potentially Delayed Until Second Half of 2023

Mass shipments of Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset may be delayed until the second half of 2023 due to unspecified "software-related issues," according to the latest information shared today by tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

apple ar headset concept 1

Apple headset render by Ian Zelbo

Kuo said mass shipments of components for the headset are still likely to begin in the first half of 2023, but he believes that mass shipments of fully assembled headsets may not begin until the second half of the year. This delay could result in the headset launching in the second half of 2023, even if Apple announces it earlier in the year.

WWDC 2023 in June would be an opportune time for Apple to announce the headset, along with an SDK for developers to create AR/VR apps for the device.

Kuo previously claimed that Apple planned to unveil the headset at a January media event and begin mass shipments in the second quarter of 2023. Kuo is unsure whether the delay would result in the January announcement being pushed back, but he did note that an overly lengthy period between a media event and mass shipments can hurt sales.


Apple's headset is expected to be an expensive, niche product, with Kuo forecasting that the company will ship fewer than 500,000 headsets in 2023.

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Top Rated Comments

Andronicus Avatar
34 months ago
Can’t really be disappointed by a delay for something that’s never been officially announced.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Smartuser Avatar
34 months ago
Oh no, and I was so 200% sure it would have come out this time after the 4329847 times it's been postponed according to the leakers.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
34 months ago
How times have changed since the first iPhone days.
Back then — the press didn’t have a clue about what was going to change the world - until SJ unveiled it.

Nowadays we hear about delays of a product nobody has ever seen - one year in advance
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
34 months ago
I don’t mind the delay. Take your time, Apple. Get this right. I hope Apple pushes out the software before hand atleast.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F0rumUs3r Avatar
34 months ago
I don’t see folks being interested in a VR headset from Apple. AR glasses on the other hand would sell like hotcakes.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
34 months ago

flop goes the goggles. Apple is probably still deciding if they want anything to do with this.
You don’t invest billions of dollars and over a decade of R&D to the point of component orders going out, and still be deciding whether it’s going to be a thing.

This isn’t an AirPower device, this is the next step of whatever Apple’s next BIG thing will be. They’ve been testing the core technologies for whatever’s coming in their platforms for the better part of a decade now.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)