Apple AR/VR headset could enter production in March 2023 with low annual shipment estimates

Apple may be making significant progress in the development of its AR/VR headset. A new report claimed that production of the high-end product could begin in a few months.

Digitimes reported (via MacRumors), citing supply chain sources, that the Apple AR/VR headset (codenamed N301) could enter production by March 2023. Taiwan-based manufacturer Pegatron is expected to be Apple’s sole production partner for the headset.

The same report said the Apple AR/VR headset could be unveiled by April, but it might not be as widely available as other Apple devices. Digitimes said previous estimates suggested that Apple could target up to 2.5 million shipments of the headset, however, that may have since gone down to around 700,000 to 800,000 units per year.

With much lower annual shipment estimates, the Apple AR/VR headset is looking more like it will launch as a niche product. It also lines up with previous reports that Apple’s first AR/VR headset would be sold at a steep price, so it could be marketed toward commercial users or creative professionals.

The recent report from Digitimes has some similar points from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s research notes on Apple AR/VR headset from last August. Kuo also expects the device to enter the market in 2023, but he predicts an earlier “media event” for the headset in January.

While the analyst also believes the Apple AR/VR headset shipments in 2023 would be low, he said it could be “less than 1.5 million units.” The analyst added that the headset’s price could be between $2,000 and $2,500.

Apple has not made any official announcements yet about its first AR/VR headset. But CEO Tim Cook implied they are going to join the AR/VR space. “We’re still in the very early innings of how this technology will evolve. I could not be more excited about the opportunities in the space,” Cook said during an interview with China Daily. “Sort of stay tuned and you will see what we have to offer.”

In August, several trademark applications filed in different countries were also filed by companies believed to have affiliations with Apple. The documents suggest Apple was looking to trademark brands that could be used for the Apple AR/VR headset and its operating system, including “Reality One,” “Reality Pro,” and “Reality Processor.”

Photo by Bangyu Wang on Unsplash