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Apple’s WWDC event is just a few days away, and while software updates are guaranteed, we still don’t know for sure which hardware will debut. Updated versions of existing products are always a possibility, but what we really want to see from Apple is a completely new device.
Unfortunately, whatever the possibility of Apple debuting with a new product this summer seems to be fading. For a moment, it seemed that Apple could finally remove the wrapper from its mysterious AR / VR headset, a device that has been the subject of countless rumors (1, 2 and 3) in recent years. However, prolific Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now removed our hopes from that possibility, explaining in a tweet why tech giant Cupertino won’t be showing off its headphones this year.
The reasons seem to be twofold. First, mass production of “AR / MR” (augmented and mixed reality) headphones will not occur for some time, according to Kuo. So the WWDC would be too early for a revelation. Also, if Apple launches its headphones with full specifications, it would give competitors a plan to copy.
Kuo casually adds that Apple will launch “2023”, echoing analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, who similarly said the product will be delayed until early 2023.
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This does not necessarily mean that AR / VR headphones are not mentioned at all. At some point, Apple will have to promote its mixed reality platforms, so that developers feel compelled to create AR / VR applications and optimize existing ones for a new platform. Another piece of the puzzle is iOS 16, which is expected to debut with several new AR / VR technologies. In addition, software developers recently discovered references to “realityOS” in the App Store upload logs and GitHub repositories used by Apple, suggesting that we may be familiar with Apple’s mixed reality platform before release any hardware.
Even if we don’t get our ticket to the metavers of the mixed reality world of Apple, they have murmured about the company launching a redesigned MacBook Air or an updated MacBook Pro 13. We could also see an updated iMac and a Mac mini running an M2. chip. Of course, these are all conjectures. If you’d like to see what Apple has in store next week, check out our “How to Watch WWDC” guide, which explains what to expect from the event.