by We’ve been hearing about the rumored Apple Reality Pro VR headset for years to come. Like the Apple Car and the foldable iPhone, the release date seems to keep getting pushed back – assuming the product actually exists. But the latest reported delay is a little worrying.
The Apple VR headset would be the first major new product category from the world’s largest technology company in several years. That means Apple has a lot riding on it, and it needs to get it right (see the best Apple deals for discounts on current products).
Of all of Apple’s rumored upcoming products, the Reality Pro VR headset is the loudest and closest to launch based on the amount of purported information being made. We saw what it would look like and heard how it might work. Meanwhile, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a good track record of predicting all things Apple, suggested the device could be unveiled in the spring.
However, Gurman now says that the expected announcement has been pushed back to the Worldwide Developers Conference in June (opens in a new tab). He says, according to “people familiar with the matter”, that’s because product testing showed that “both hardware and software issues still needed to be resolved.”
Of course, if Apple launches the Reality Pro VR headset, it needs to impress the product from the start, especially since it is entering an area where competition already exists. So it’s worrying that the reported ‘issues’ were so severe that they delayed not only production but even the preview of the device.
This is all a rumor, and so far Apple hasn’t even confirmed that it’s working on a VR headset. The company chooses its products wisely, and doesn’t tend to jump into new areas like other brands. And VR headsets have yet to really take off. But with Microsoft already making inroads in the area and the Meta Quest Pro out now (see prices below), it looks like this is an area Apple won’t want to be left behind.
Apple’s Reality Pro VR headset is rumored to provide virtual reality and mixed reality functionality through external cameras and sensors. It will be controlled with hand and eye tracking, and we believe the whole thing will be powered by Apple’s new software, currently called xrOS.
The price? It is expected to cost similar to Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 at around $3,000. There’s a wide range of VR headsets on the market now at different price points, but Apple needs to do something special if it’s going to help the technology break through – see our guide to the best VR headsets for more choices.
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