Apple staff reportedly express doubts about mixed-reality headset months ahead of launch

According to a report from The New York Times, some Apple employees are skeptical about the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, which is expected to launch in June. Some employees have reportedly left the project due to their doubts, while others remain skeptical about the headset's potential for success, especially at a price point of $3,000. The headset has been demoed in front of Apple's top 100 executives, suggesting that a public unveiling is getting close. However, there has been some internal turmoil about the future of the mixed reality headset. Some internal skeptics have questioned if the new device is a solution in search of a problem. The uncertainty has been driven by a string of executive departures on the product design team, which started with Jony Ive in 2019 and was then followed by the departure of his successor, Evans Hankey, last year. Doubts from both employees and Apple leadership have some workers wondering whether the company will postpone the launch of the headset. However, sources tell the Times that a June launch is still a go, as headset manufacturing is underway for the planned reveal in just a few months. The $3,000 device may be geared toward developers when it first launches, but Apple is reportedly working on a more affordable version of the headset that it could introduce as soon as next year.