Apple’s foray into the world of virtual and augmented reality has been a long time coming, and the tech giant is finally ready to enter the market. However, the company’s initial plans have changed, with Apple now postponing its first pair of augmented-reality glasses and instead focusing on a cheaper mixed-reality headset.

The mixed-reality headset is expected to be released sometime in 2024 or early 2025, and will offer users a blend of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences. It will be powered by a Mac-grade M2 processor and a dedicated chip for handling AR and VR visuals, and will cost around $3,000. The goal is to eventually reduce the price of the headset to be competitive with other mixed-reality headsets on the market, such as Meta Platforms Inc.’s Quest Pro VR headset, which is currently priced at $1,500.

Apple’s initial plan was to release the AR glasses after the debut of the mixed-reality headset, but the company has since postponed the launch due to technical challenges. AR glasses are designed to overlay visuals and information on real-world views, and earlier attempts at the concept such as Google Glass haven’t been successful. Additionally, the cost and weight of the device are big factors in its potential success, and Apple has yet to find the right chips, batteries, software, and manufacturing to make a lightweight device that can last all day.

The company is still exploring the possibilities of AR glasses, with some teams continuing to look into the technologies for a standalone device. However, with the current state of technology, many within Apple are skeptical that the company will ever ship AR glasses. Other tech companies, such as Meta and Alphabet Inc.’s Google, have also announced their own plans for AR glasses, but their products remain in early stages.

In the meantime, Apple is continuing to work on its mixed-reality headset, and has trademarked the names “Reality Pro” and “Reality One”. The Pro name is likely for the initial model, while the “One” suffix could be under consideration for the cheaper version. The company is also working on a dedicated chip for the headset, which will be called “Reality Processor”.

For now, Apple’s mixed-reality headset will be the company’s first foray into the world of virtual and augmented reality. It will be interesting to see how the product is received, and whether it will be the precursor to the eventual launch of Apple’s long-awaited AR glasses.