Apple's First VR Device to Launch This Spring... Fierce Battle with Meta

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As Apple prepares to launch its first virtual reality (VR) headset this spring, a fierce battle with the leading company Meta is expected to intensify.

Bloomberg reported on the 9th (local time), citing a report by Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple specialist analyst, that the iPhone manufacturer Apple is set to unveil a VR headset as early as this spring.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a researcher at Hong Kong TF International Securities, recently stated in an investor report that Apple is expected to announce the VR headset either this spring or at the annual developer event held in June, with shipments beginning in the fall.

The VR device Apple will release is named 'Reality Pro,' and the operating system powering it will be 'xrOS,' according to the report. 'Pro' refers to Apple's premium product line, and the operating system 'xr' stands for extended reality, a term encompassing both augmented and virtual reality.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Industry insiders anticipate that Apple's entry into the VR device market will lead to intense competition with Meta, which is heavily investing in the metaverse (extended virtual world).

Apple's launch inevitably sets up a direct confrontation in the VR device market, where Meta has effectively gained the upper hand. However, the industry consensus is that Meta's market dominance is not yet solid. Additionally, Meta's VR headset Quest series focuses purely on virtual reality, which differs somewhat from Apple's product that combines virtual and real worlds.

Experts believe that if Apple fills this gap, it could not only reclaim the top position but also change the currently stagnant VR market situation.

Market analysis firm CCS Insight stated, "If any company has the capability to change the VR market overnight, it is Apple."

CCS Insight reported that global shipments of VR headsets last year were 9.6 million units, down more than 12% compared to the previous year, and forecasted that the VR market would remain sluggish this year due to concerns over economic recession and inflation.