Could the Apple Vision Pro headset arrive before the end of January?

A report has suggested the Apple Vision Pro headset could arrive before the end of January.

China's financial outlet Wall Street Insights has claimed the iPhone maker's mixed-reality headset is to go on sale on January 27, which would be a Saturday in China.

However, that would be Friday, January 26 in the US.

Apple typically likes to get products on the shelves on a weekday.

As always, there's no guarantee that it will be released then.

Insiders told Bloomberg in December that the headset looks set to be available to consumers by February 2024, as production is well underway in China.

Priced at $3,499, the headset doesn't come cheap and the software developers at Apple are said to have faced challenges along the way due to the nature of the product.

It looks like a pair of goggles and is said to "seamlessly" blend the real and digital world.

Announcing the device during the tech giant's WWDC 2023 in June, CEO Tim Cook said: "It's the first Apple product you look through, not at."

The controller-free headset is controlled with your hands, eyes and voice, and will allow users to browse rows of app icons via the visionOS operating system.

You will be able to tap to select an app or flick to keep scrolling, as well as giving voice commands to access "hundreds of thousands of familiar iPhone and iPad apps".

The headset also supports Bluetooth accessories, and you can connect your Mac to use inside the headset.

In a press release, Apple said: "Featuring visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space.

"The breakthrough design of Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system that packs 23 million pixels across two displays, and custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design to ensure every experience feels like it’s taking place in front of the user’s eyes in real time."

In a statement, Cook added: "Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing.

"Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.

"Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations.

"It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”

Apple has said the device will change "the way users interact with their favourite apps, capture and relive memories, enjoy stunning TV shows and movies, and connect with others on FaceTime."

© BANG Media International