WolkyTech

The only reason you can't get Apple's new VR/AR headset isn't just the値札3,000 price tag — here's what we know

General

Depending on who you ask, Apple's VR/AR headset will either change the shape of VR headsets forever or be an expensive disaster when it debuts at WWDC in 2023. If you ask Apple, they don't expect headset sales to skyrocket.

At least, if this latest report is to be believed to be true: a new report from TrendForce says that expected production for the first year will be less than 100,000 units. This is a significant downgrade of expectations for Apple's mixed reality headset (presumably called the Apple Reality Pro).

And it was already a downgrade. Initially, Apple's VR/AR headset was projected to sell around 3 million units. Admittedly, that is still far short of the 200 million iPhones Apple sells each year. But now Apple may be expecting that number to drop by a tenth; TrendForce reports that the first generation of the Apple Reality Pro may be limited to a maximum of 300,000 units.

So, unfortunately for early adopters, it seems that the $3,000 price tag is not the only factor preventing them from getting Apple's first VR headset.

But as dire as this sounds, it is not the end of the world. But only if Apple can bring the long game.

And Apple seems willing to do exactly that, even before its projected shipments are repeatedly cut. According to all reports, as with previous products like the iPhone and Apple Watch, Apple is hoping that this first generation headset will change the perception of how the product is used (in this case, the VR headset). Apple reportedly plans to do this by introducing features such as Reality Dial, which will allow users to switch between immersive VR and holographic AR overlays.

Apple also appears to have plans to expand its mixed reality product line; a low-cost version of the Apple VR/AR headset is said to be coming in 2025, which will make the headset more accessible to the average user.

So despite several production delays and $1,500 worth of components that prevent $3,000 from becoming affordable, Apple could succeed with the Apple Reality Pro if it keeps the faith. Even if it only sells 300,000 units.