After the special event tech-giant, Apple has decided to launch its first augmented reality (AR) headset in the second half of 2022. Many reports focus on the prospects of the key Apple supplier Genius Electronic Optical. It is also noted that the company benefits from several latest VR and AR products from several likes of Facebook, Sony, and Apple.
They have predicted that Apple will debut AR HMD devices in 2Q22. It has informed that the device will give a video see-through AR experience, so there is also a need for a lens. The key supplier is Genius. It has been rumoured that Apple is working on a couple of AR-related headsets. It has been led by an initial mixed reality device set to launch in 2021 or 2022. In addition, there is a sleeker pair of augmented reality glasses which is already followed within 2025.
In January, Kuo predicted that Apple’s initial AR headset would come any time in 2021. However, after March, the prediction had been pushed back to the middle of 2022. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg also hints back in March that the headset can launch in the “next several months”, but still there has no mark of such announcement, and on the special event, WWDC keynote would be a prime opportunity.
There is also have some uncertainty about timing that may be connected to a potentially long gap between the announcement and also the launch of the AR headset as Apple is launching a new platform, so the company is trying to announce it several months before launching any product to give some time to the developers to take the preparation. However, it is also reported that first Apple’s headset will be costly and a high-end device aimed at the developers than the broader public.
Kuo’s report on Genius Electronic Optical also depicts some information on the production of iPhone 13, and Genius will exclusively supply the wide-angle and telephoto camera lenses for the latest iPhone 13 at the end of the month. Unfortunately, there is another supplier for these components: Largan, who failed to meet the requirements and has been asked to halt component shipments temporarily.
It has been reported that recently Genius has picked up the Largan’s slack following misstep, and Kuo assumes that Genius will mostly be responsible for 65-70% shipments for the lens components up to 40-50% market share.
