After nearly 8 years of development, Apple is expected to finally unveil its highly anticipated mixed reality glasses in June.
The tech giant confirmed that its annual developer conference, known as WWDC, will be held from June 5 to 9.
Apple published a blog confirming the dates with an encrypted promotional image featuring curved colored lines, a possible reference to the headset.
Leaks indicated that the upcoming mixed reality glasses will contain 10 cameras and an operating system called "realityOS", with mixed reality versions of Apple applications such as FaceTime and Maps.
According to Apple, the conference will showcase the latest developments in the iOS software suite, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS.
The 5-day event will be offered online, although there will be an opportunity for "developers and students to celebrate in person in a special experience" hosted at Apple Park, the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, on opening day.
Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of worldwide developer relations, said: "The annual developer conference is one of our favorite times of the year at Apple. It is an opportunity to connect with talented developers from all over the world who make this community so exceptional. The conference will be our biggest and most exciting event to date, and we can't wait to see so many of you online and in person at this very special event!"
The new headset is expected to cost $3,<> and will mount digital objects on a real-world view.
Apple has long been thought to be working on two augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) products, the first is a Meta Oculus Quest-style glass, and the second is a more elegant pair of augmented reality glasses, potentially called Apple Glass.
Just like the iPhone and Apple Watch, the new glasses will be followed by new updated versions in the following years.
For now, Apple will have to explain to consumers why they want to own such a device, and how it represents an improvement.
Apple announces its next major event where it’s expected to launch a HUGE new product https://t.co/dTJQs1QiZu
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 30, 2023
But when exactly will the new glasses be released? It's still unknown, although Apple doesn't wait long to release products after they're announced, so they'll likely hit shelves later in 2023.
There have long been rumors that Apple is developing an augmented reality wearable. The tech giant filed a patent in 2019, giving a glimpse of what it might develop behind closed doors.
Apple took its first major steps in the world of augmented reality with the release of ARKit in 2017, an augmented reality platform for developers, and produced several applications for iPhones and iPads.