A report was prepared last week following comments from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who stated that issues with software development and mechanical components forced Apple to delay the launch until the second half of 2023. Kuo also expected that Apple would announce its headset either in the spring or at the company’s developer event, which typically takes place in June.
Bloomberg reported that Apple’s VR headset will run on a new operating system called xrOS, and that Apple has already granted a selected group of software developers access to the platform. According to the report, the headset will be named Reality Pro. Apple uses the “Pro” suffix in its high-end product lines aimed at experienced users.
Apple has already attempted to integrate mixed, virtual, and augmented reality into iOS and iPadOS on the operating systems for iPhone and iPad. Apple’s software enables companies and developers to unlock extended features for users.
The new headset from Apple will mark the company’s entry into a new product category, putting Apple in direct competition with Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. Apple’s offering in mixed reality will differ from Meta’s Quest lineup, which is purely a virtual reality product. Mixed reality enhances the user’s environment rather than completely replacing it with a computer-generated representation.
The report states that Apple has directed much of its efforts toward developing the headset, and as a result, many of the company’s other products, such as MacBook, Watch, TV, and iPad, will receive relatively minor updates this year.