Mass shipments of Apple’s long-rumored AR/VR headset may be delayed until the second half of 2023, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The potential delay is due to “software-related issues,” Kuo says.

In a Twitter thread the analyst shared on SundayKuo said bulk shipments of earphone components are likely to start in the first half or second quarter of next year. However, due to the postponed shipping schedule of the finished product, he predicts that Apple’s headphone shipments will be less than 500,000 units, below the market consensus of 800,000 at 1.2 million units.

Kuo initially claimed that Apple planned to show off its headphones in January and start shipping them in the second quarter of 2023. As a result of the delay, however, Kuo is now unsure if the January event will go ahead. If not, the product will most likely see the light of day during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Apple has yet to make any official announcement regarding its headphones. However, a Bloomberg report indicated that the Cupertino company will use the name “xrOS” for the device’s operating system. “XR” stands for Extended Reality, a general term that includes immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).

Previous rumors suggested that FaceTime would be one of the most notable features of Apple’s mixed reality headset. Apple is also reportedly developing new versions of existing apps like Maps and Messages for headphones.

A few days ago, Kuo also predicted that Apple will miss its iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max shipment target by 15 to 20 million units.

Fountain: Ming Chi Kuo