There has always been unity among the Apple staff when new hardware is about to be released. However, with the much-anticipated release of the Big Tech's mixed-reality headset this year, some Apple employees have expressed their concern that it is not yet ready for a public launch. The number one reason behind their skepticism is the $3,000 price point of the device.
Doubts About the Mixed-Reality Headset's Utility, Price Point Plague Apple HQ
While Apple succeeded in creating a spectacle with the upcoming mixed-reality headset, the New York Times reported that there are internal issues that could affect the target release date. Eight present and former Apple employees revealed to the Times that not everyone inside the company is confident that the headset will be a success in the market if launched this early, given that mixed-reality device's price point stands at $3,000.
The Times further noted that the skepticism shown by some Apple employees is "unprecedented," as the company is usually united in showing their enthusiasm for every product launch. The internal doubts about the potential success of the Apple mixed-reality headset are evident with the number of employees ending their participation in the project.
As reported by The Verge, the heads of Apple mixed-reality headset's design team made their exit one by one. Jony Ive left the project in 2019 then his successor, Evans Hanket, made his exit last year. The company did not reveal who is currently leading the team, although Mike Rockwell is reportedly the one in charge of the device's development.
Furthermore, some staffers are not convinced that the mixed-reality headset will serve a specific purpose, noting that the upcoming hardware might not exactly be "a solution in search of a problem." For an instance, the iPod was made to "put digital songs in people's pockets," while the iPhone was able to put together the "abilities of a music player and a phone" in one package. When it comes to the mixed-reality headset, they don't think that it's "driven by the same clarity" of Apple's successful devices.
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Despite Skepticism, Apple Still Set to Unveil the Mixed-Reality Headset This Year
The doubts are coming from both the employees and even the top executives of Apple, which is why it is now feared that the Cupertino tech giant will delay the launch of the mixed-reality headset. However, the current reports suggest that the hardware unveiling will proceed as planned. In fact, the Times noted that "headset manufacturing is underway," just in time for its release in June at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported that Apple already gave a demo of the mixed-reality headset in front of the company's top 100 executives at the Steve Jobs Theater in California. This only suggests that the public launch of the hardware in the coming months is inevitable.
According to MacRumors, the Apple mixed-reality headset will boast two 4K displays, a hip-mounted battery, outward-facing cameras, a carbon fiber build, and prescription lenses made for users who wear eyeglasses. The device will also feature a "reality dial" that can control the real-time video pass-through from the surroundings.
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