The XR market has been a graveyard for big corporations and well-funded startups. It’s a new product type, and success is not guaranteed. Apple has been working on a mixed reality headset for seven years, but according to a Financial Times report, it has postponed the launch each year for the past few years, which does not sound confident.

The market is scattered, and the smart home space is undergoing correction. However, some inside the company believe that the headset could one day rival the iPhone. Apple dominates the smartwatch category, but nothing appears poised to match the billions of iPhones sold. Will Apple focus on content and let hardware take a backseat?

The Entry Of The Apple Mixed Reality Headset

At CES, the major players in VR showed a push into enterprise, which makes sense since the consumer space is unproven. The other takeaway is that practically everyone is looking forward to Apple entering the space, and it’s a rising tide that could create new market share, rather than cutting into what already exists.

The Technology Bottleneck and Apple’s Potential

They are addressing the technology bottleneck, and the big players are doing impressive things. The other bottleneck is software, and Apple entering the field could help tremendously. Many of the major hardware pieces are in place for Apple, and their home made silicon is a big potential driver, especially on the GPU side of things.

Apple’s Pace and Shareholders’ Patience

Apple waits until things are fully baked before releasing them to the public, and it’s well known for taking its time and still managing to release category-defining products. An MR headset isn’t a wireless charger; it’s a huge piece of the company’s future. Shareholders are likely increasingly impatient after seven years of planning. However, regardless of whether Apple needs a mixed reality hit, mixed reality increasingly seems to need an Apple hit.

Apple Mixed Reality Headset: Conclusion

Failed attempts limit the XR market, and a mixed reality headset from Apple is not a foregone conclusion. Apple may focus on content and let hardware take a back seat in the scattered market. However, many are looking forward to Apple entering the space, and it’s a rising tide that could create new market share. They’re addressing the tech bottleneck, and in-house silicon is a big potential driver. Apple is known for taking its time, but it’s a huge piece of the company’s future. Also, shareholders are likely increasingly impatient after seven years of planning. Regardless of whether Apple needs a mixed reality hit, mixed reality increasingly seems to need an Apple hit.