Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the new iPhone 14 at an Apple event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, on September 7, 2022.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Top Apple Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a blog post on Friday that Apple plans to release second-generation “low-end” and “high-end” augmented reality/mixed reality headsets in 2025.
Apple has yet to announce or even confirm the existence of plans to launch a virtual reality headset. But Bloomberg has reported extensively on the tech giant’s strategy, recently saying that the company plans to announce its first headset in June after reportedly struggling with delays.
The first model is expected to cost around $3,000, according to Bloomberg, meaning Kuo’s report of a future “low-end” model could signal that a more affordable version is on the way. That would help Apple appeal to a larger user base who might not be willing to shell out thousands of dollars for the first version of the AR headset. And it shows that Apple could follow a similar strategy as it does with its other product lines.
For example, it sells the high-end Apple Watch Ultra, but also cheaper Apple Watch and Apple Watch SE series devices. Similarly, it sells AirPods Pro and regular AirPods, as well as Pro versions of its Macs and iPads alongside cheaper options.
According to Kuo, Luxcaseict – a joint venture between Pegatron and Luxshare – and Foxconn will develop and manufacture the headsets.
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