Apple Schedules 'Special Evening Activity' at WWDC Amid Mixed Reality Headset Launch Rumours

Apple is expected to finally unveil its first mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023, after several years of development.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 17 May 2023 18:33 IST

Apple Schedules 'Special Evening Activity' at WWDC Amid Mixed Reality Headset Launch Rumours

Photo Credit: Apple

Apple is set to hold an all-day experience at Apple Park in California on June 5

Highlights

WWDC 2023 is scheduled to begin on June 5
Apple's upcoming operating system and software updates expected to debut
WWDC 2023 could also see Apple unveil its first mixed reality headset

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023 — the company's annual developer focussed conference — is set to kick off on June 5, and the firm has announced the schedule for the upcoming event. The company is expected to unveil new versions of its iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS operating systems at WWDC 2023. However, this year's schedule also includes a special activity that comes amid speculation that the company will unveil its first mixed reality headset, alongside a new operating system for wearables.

While the Cupertino company previously confirmed that the keynote event for WWDC 2023 will begin on June 5, developer Paul Hudson (Twitter: @twostraws) spotted a microsite for a "Special Evening Activity" on the same date, after the company's Platforms State of the Union and Meet the Teams events and the tours of the company's offices and the inner meadow at Apple Park in California.

Apple has announced the schedule for the #WWDC23 special event at Apple Park, including a ✨Special Evening Activity "you won't want to miss"✨👀

Plus: there's a smaller event at the Apple Developer Center on Tuesday, to "discuss some of the latest announcements." pic.twitter.com/o1QOa03b7h
— Paul Hudson (@twostraws) May 16, 2023

Open to a few developers that have already been selected, the company has informed those who have been selected to attend that it is an event they "won't want to miss", according to Hudson. Apple will conduct another event at the Apple Developer Center on June 6 to "discuss some of the latest announcements," he adds.

Apple's microsite reveals no details of what to expect from the event, which means that developers and enthusiasts will have to wait until June 5 to see whether any new hardware or software is demonstrated at the event. According to reports from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, Apple is planning to unveil its first mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023.

Apple Reality Pro Headset May Offer Support for iPad Apps, Sports Features

Earlier reports have suggested that Apple's headset could be priced around $3,000 (roughly Rs. 2.50 lakh) and named "Reality Pro". Even though the headset is tipped to resemble ski googles and "enclose" the wearer's eyes, they will reportedly be able to see their surroundings while wearing the headset, thanks to several external cameras. It is also said to be powered by an external two-hour battery pack, worn by the wearer, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Last December, Bloomberg reported that Apple had internally changed the name of its dedicated operating system for the mixed reality headset from realityOS to xrOS. Extended reality (XR) technology comprises both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and Apple's purported device is expected to compete with devices from firms like Meta, which offers mixed reality experiences with its Quest Pro headset.

Apple AR/VR Headset Mass Production Delayed: Report

Apple is opening its first stores in India, one in Mumbai and the other in Delhi. What does this mean for Apple customers in India? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: WWDC 2023, Apple Event, Apple Headset, Mixed Reality, WWDC, Apple

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More