According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the rumored Apple AR headset could be available as early as next April.

"We expect Apple to launch an AR HMD (head mounted display) device in 2Q22. This device will provide a video see-through AR experience, so it will also need lenses, and Genius is an important supplier," Kuo explained in a new research note.

Genius Electronic Optical is a major supplier of camera lenses for the iPhone 12, so it would not be a big surprise if the company supplied Apple with lenses for the AR headset.

Apple's VR headset was initially rumored to be a "mixed reality" device to be released in 2021 or 2022; back in January, Kuo predicted that Apple's AR headset would be announced sometime this year. However, Kuo's research report predicts that it will launch in the second quarter of next year, a clear change.

Kuo then stated that the Apple AR headset would appear in "mid-2022," which is consistent with his latest report.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in March that Apple's first mixed reality headset would be available "in the coming months." However, it would be a surprise if any were to be released this year.

The next major Apple event is expected to take place in September, where the iPhone 13 lineup will likely be unveiled. Based on Kuo's report, it is unlikely that Apple's AR headset will be unveiled at that time.

MacRumors also reports that if the Apple AR headset is announced, there may be a much larger than usual gap between its announcement and release, as the entire virtual reality business is a completely new area for Apple. This would give Apple time to get developers together to create AR apps designed specifically for the headset.

Apple's rumored AR/VR headset could be an expensive technology, costing more than $1,000. But that's because, like Microsoft's HoloLens 2 AR headset, it is said to be primarily targeted at developers rather than consumers.

If this is indeed the case, the Apple VR headset could be used as Apple's development platform to test the rumored Apple Glasses. the AR headset could be used to test the specific hardware configurations could be used to measure, while early developer participation could mean a healthy app ecosystem should Apple Glasses emerge.

Time will tell if this prediction will come to fruition, but from the leaks and rumors so far, AR is likely to play a major role in Apple's future hardware. In the meantime, check out our picks for the best AR apps you can try right now.