Guo Mingchi: Postponing the time expectation for Apple's AR/MR head-mounted device to ship in large quantities by at least one quarter.

On Monday, June 5th, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the mass shipment time for Apple's AR/MR head-mounted device would be at the end of 4Q23 or early 2024 (vs. the previous expectation of 3Q23).

He also predicted that the shipment volume in 2023 may be lower than market expectations.

He believes:

However, for investors, the focus now is not on shipment volume, but on whether the new product release can convince people that Apple's AR/MR head-mounted device is the next star product in consumer electronics.

Regarding the production and launch time, Morgan Stanley stated that Apple's first head-mounted display will enter mass production in October and be released for sale before the Christmas holiday in December.

Apple analyst Erik Woodring of Morgan Stanley said:

Although we expect Apple's head-mounted display to be released next week, based on the supply chain information we have, mass production will not begin until October 23rd, and the general release time is likely to be before the December holiday.

Woodring said that based on information obtained from the supply chain channel, Apple's head-mounted display inventory this year is 300,000 to 500,000 units.

As the WWDC 2023 keynote speech approaches, there are more and more "leaks" about the new hardware product - the upcoming MR head-mounted display device.

Some media reports claim that Apple will provide some developers and attendees with the opportunity to try the new head-mounted display.

According to reports, Apple has built a new "structure" inside Apple Park to provide a controlled on-site experience for the head-mounted display. During the event, Apple will invite media and some developers to try on the head-mounted display on site, and this area will be used for on-site experience of the head-mounted display throughout the summer.

If the on-site experience is similar to previous events, developers and media personnel will be able to try on the head-mounted display immediately after the keynote speech, and Apple employees will provide a brief controlled demonstration.

The on-site experience will showcase Apple's FaceTime VR, Apple TV+ content, and games, but for users with specific conditions such as migraines, dizziness, post-concussion syndrome, and past head injuries, Apple will remind them not to use the head-mounted display.

In terms of appearance and capacity, @billbil_kun published an article on French media Dealabs, stating that Apple's head-mounted display has a total of six colors: black, blue, gray, green, pink, and a sixth undisclosed color. In addition, there are two storage options: 128GB and 256GB.

However, foreign technology media MacRumors is skeptical of the above predictions. First, the six colors and two storage capacities will produce at least 12 SKUs, which is high cost for a head-mounted display that costs up to $3,000. Secondly, the price difference between the two storage options, 128GB and 256GB, is not significant.

Thirdly, @billbil_kun had previously accurately leaked the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra phone, but there is not much record of related leaks about Apple products.

Therefore, MacRumors believes that the six colors may refer to the headband part, which may be interchangeable like the ear cushions of AirPods Max.