Despite suppliers hitting significant production roadblocks with curved components, Apple’s headset is still rumored for a WWDC reveal with mass production later in 2023.
Despite suppliers hitting significant production roadblocks with curved components, Apple’s headset is still rumored for a WWDC reveal with mass production later in 2023.
Apple’s upcoming WWDC 2023 conference is anticipated to revolve around Apple’s headset, a VR or AR device that might become available to the public several months after the event. A new report from The Information sheds some light into the production issues that Apple has encountered with the device.
Apple’s headset is the most intricate hardware creation to date for the company, primarily due to its unique curved design, slim profile, and remarkably lightweight nature. Unfortunately, these features contribute to its anticipated high price, estimated to be around $3,000, which could strain the budget of potential buyers.
Internal digital renderings of the device reveal a curved glass display encased in a sleek aluminum frame that appears slightly thicker than an iPhone. The device’s design posed significant manufacturing challenges, necessitating the creation of a curved motherboard — an unprecedented development for Apple — to fit within the headset’s curved exterior shell.
Apple’s industrial design team, responsible for the aesthetic aspects of their devices, insisted that the front of the headset be crafted from a slender, curved glass panel to bestow a high-end look and premium experience. As a result, over a dozen cameras and sensors behind the glass needed to be discreetly concealed for aesthetic reasons.
