Kuo: Apple's Mixed-Reality Headset Likely to Debut at Spring Media Event or WWDC

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet thread today that ongoing delays with development of Apple's mixed-reality headset have likely pushed mass shipment of the device back to the end of the second quarter or into the third quarter of this year.

apple ar headset concept 2Concept render by Ian Zelbo based on purported leaked information

As a result, Apple probably will not hold a January event to introduce the device as Kuo had predicted last June. Kuo now believes it is "more likely" the headset will be introduced at a spring media event or at WWDC in June.


Kuo says the development delays with the headset currently stem from "issues with mechanical drop testing and the availability of software development tools."

An extensive report from The Information earlier this week detailed a long list of features for the long-rumored device, including a Digital Crown-like dial for transitioning between virtual and physical view modes and potentially a waist-mounted battery pack.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

erikkfi Avatar
40 months ago
I can’t wait to have actual product photos so we never have to see this render again.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ghost31 Avatar
40 months ago
Really. I thought it was at last years wwdc. Then the fall event. Then January. But this spring huh? Ok. I’ll believe it. Why not
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
40 months ago
Don’t think anyone is in rush for the AR/VR headset. Especially when how expensive it’s going to costs. Also, the developers will need plenty of time to make the AR/VR applications.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ratspg Avatar
40 months ago
The next phase of computing is no computing. People being outside and living and interacting with each other. ?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
40 months ago

Meh.

People aren’t going to walk around wearing big-ass goggles on their face.

For me personally, I still don’t see how having this thing strapped to your head is gonna be a game changer. Yeah, if it was like a Rayban, sure, but not ski goggles.

I know that image is just representative... but it always reminds me of ski goggles.

I've worn ski goggles. To ski. When it's cold outside.

But I can't imagine wearing something like that indoors. For hours a day.

I personally think it’s going to be a niche device. It won’t sell in big numbers at all as it’s a solution looking for a problem, and most folks won’t want that strapped to their head for long.

They’ll be significantly heavier than ski goggles too.
This right here is the consequence of MacRumors insisting on repeatedly posting a made up "rendering" of what is at best, a representation of a development prototype that some low level Apple employee saw. This is borderline disinformation.

If we know anything about Apple, nobody outside of senior VPs and the industrial design team have seen the finished product of this major new category for Apple. This is the company that gave its own employees an iPhone sealed in a metal box ('https://www.geekwebguides.com/2017/02/17/iphone-security-case-passport-photos/') and an Apple Watch disguised as an iPod nano in a case:




This is doubly relevant because we know with near certainty that Apple is going to launch these glasses in two stages like they did the iPhone and Apple Watch: a product reveal teaser at WWDC or a dedicated event, inviting developers to begin producing apps and then months later, a full unveiling ahead of pre-orders. We know that the glasses aren't in production yet (it's impossible to contain thousands of assembly workers), which makes it near impossible that anyone outside of Tim Cook's inner circle will be able to leak the finished device.

First generation devices are fairly easy to keep secret. Just don't show anyone outside of those who need to know what the finished product is going to look like. It gets much harder when each update has to be produced and manufactured on an annual cycle and manufacturing drawings, molds and even components get out. As a new category, this is the former.

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
40 months ago
I know that image is just representative... but it always reminds me of ski goggles.

I've worn ski goggles. To ski. When it's cold outside.

But I can't imagine wearing something like that indoors. For hours a day.

I'm genuinely curious to see how this next phase of computing will shape up.

?



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)