Apple Staff Reportedly Doubtful About Mixed-Reality Headset

According to a report from The New York Times, some Apple employees don’t seem convinced that Apple’s mixed-reality headset is ready yet, even though its anticipated release is only a few months away. Even though some employees apparently left the project owing to their doubts, a few remain sceptical about the headset’s potential for success, especially at a price point of $3,000, 

The headset debuted for launch at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June. Apple recently demonstrated the product in front of 100 of the company’s top executives at the Steve Jobs Theatre in California, “suggesting that a public unveiling is getting close,” according to Bloomberg.

The New York Times claims behind the “glitzy” presentation there has been some serious internal conflict regarding the future of the mixed reality headset. Even though that seems fairly standard whenever a business enters a brand-new product category (which Apple has done repeatedly), the Times however claims that this time is unusually different.

The New York Times writes, “Some internal sceptics have questioned if the new device is a solution in search of a problem. Unlike the iPod, which put digital songs in people’s pockets, and the iPhone, which combined the abilities of a music player and a phone, the headset hasn’t been driven by the same clarity.”

According to Times, a string of executive departures from the product design team, beginning with Jony Ive’s in 2019 and Evans Hankey’s departure the following year, have contributed to some of this uncertainty reportedly identified today…Since this departure, Apple is yet to appoint a new head of industrial design and has reportedly given engineer Mike Rockwell responsibility for the headset’s development.

The Times reports that some staff are unsure whether the company will delay the debut of the headset due to doubts expressed by both employees and Apple executives. This doesn’t appear to be the case, though, as sources tell the Times that a June launch is still on the schedule and that “headset manufacturing is underway” for the expected release in the coming months.

Rumours of the VR headset have been quite active in the months preceding the product’s anticipated release. According to rumours, the headset may look like a pair of ski goggles, have a physical crown that lets you access and exit VR, and have a physical battery pack that fits in your pocket. While the $3,000 device may be tailored toward developers when it first releases, Gurman believes that Apple’s working on a more cheap version of the headset that it may introduce as soon as next year.