Apple's yet to be announced hybrid VR/AR headset is facing another setback and industry insiders are reckoning that the first iteration of the device will not be unveiled at the WWDC 2023 keynote - starting June 5. An industry analyst has been posting their theories via social media, and based on insider information believes that Apple is delaying production of the hybrid headset to late 2023. Ming-Chi Kuo's proposes this situation: "Apple isn't very optimistic about the AR/MR headset announcement recreating the astounding "iPhone moment," the mass production schedule for assembly has been pushed back by another 1-2 months to mid-to-late 3Q23. The delay also adds uncertainty to whether the new device will appear at WWDC 2023, as the market widely expects. Furthermore, due to the delay in mass production for assembly, the shipment forecast this year is only 200,000 to 300,000 units, lower than the market consensus of 500,000 units or more."

Internal hands-on sessions at Apple HQ have apparently brought to light major user issues with the mixed reality headset, and that feedback has caused a loss in confidence in launching the product in a "ready enough" state, especially in time for summer. Kuo concludes his theory: "The main concerns for Apple not being very optimistic regarding the market feedback to the AR/MR headset announcement include the economic downturn, compromises on some hardware specifications for mass production (such as weight), the readiness of the ecosystem and applications, a high selling price (USD 3,000-4,000 or even higher)."Coverage of internal conflicts relating to headset's release schedule emerged earlier this month - Apple CEO Tim Cook alongside operations staff were very keen to sell the final product to customers in 2023, despite disagreements from the Apple Park Design Team. It is believed that the designers had requested to delay the project into 2024, due to the AR technologies in hand lacking maturity.Photos of the headset's cable were leaked earlier today - complete with serialization and part numbers for assembly purposes. The shaping of the ribbon cable could provide a hint of the current prototype's overall form. The Apple MR device is rumored to look like a pair of ski goggles, albeit much more substantial in size, and shares similarities with the Meta Quest 2. It is alleged to feature auto-adjusting lenses and a 4K OLED screen for each eye, thus providing an unparalleled visual experience when compared to rival devices - you would hope so based on the estimated MSRP ranges!