Mashable: The upcoming Apple VR device, according to Kuo, could be a "game-changer for the headset industry.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the rumored Apple mixed-reality headset will "likely" debut in January 2023 and will accelerate the growth of the entire headset market. Kuo outlined some of his future expectations for the AR and VR industries in a blog post on Thursday. His analysis focuses on how Meta will compete when Apple enters the fray.

The upcoming Apple VR device, according to Kuo, could be a "game-changer for the headset industry." He added that the device's release, "likely" in early 2023, will accelerate the headset industry's rapid growth. According to reports, it will have two 4K OLED displays, 15 different camera modules, and a powerful chip more akin to the M1 than Apple's A-series. It is anticipated to cost around $3,000.

"Despite Apple's repeated emphasis on AR, I believe Apple AR/MR supporting video see-thru could also offer an excellent immersive experience," Kuo wrote. "As a result, the release of Apple AR/MR will increase demand for immersive gaming/multimedia entertainment."

According to the analyst, the AR/MR headset will be the "most complicated product" Apple has ever worked on, so many existing suppliers will be involved in the supply chain.

Furthermore, Kuo stated that Apple's position in the industry provides it with many competitive advantages, including the ability to avoid joining the Metaverse Standards Forum.

"I believe that after Apple launches an AR/MR headset, global rivals will compete to imitate it, propelling the headset hardware industry to the next stage of rapid growth and benefiting the related services and content ecosystem," he says.

Although some expected Apple to announce or launch the AR/MR device at WWDC 2022, this did not happen. However, in May, it was reported that Apple's mixed-reality headset had reached an "advanced" stage of development, with the device potentially ready for release by 2023.

Instead of a pair of dedicated augmented reality glasses like the so-called "Apple Glass," the AR/MR headset is expected to be a premium headset focused on virtual- or mixed-reality experiences and games.