Apple to enter metaverse in 2023 and rival Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta world, leak claims

RUMORS of an Apple-sponsored VR headset are coming to life as the company looks to challenge Mark Zuckerberg for domination of the metaverse.

Insiders say Apple’s foray into virtual reality is coming in 2023.

Zuckerberg has been open about his focus on developing the metaverse

Ian Zelbo’s concept art for the Apple VR headset has been giving steam to rumorsIan Zelbo

PhoneArena reported that the Apple headset could cost up to $3,000 – the same article notes they expect to move over 1million units in the first year.

Reports say the device will have a powerful chip developed in-house by Apple that will improve the motion detection and overall experience of VR.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has, at least publicly, erred toward augmented reality over fully immersive virtual reality.

The Economist quoted Cook saying “There are clearly some cool niche things for VR. But it’s not profound in my view. AR is profound.”

Meanwhile, Zuckerberg and company are rushing to develop worlds within the metaverse with other companies hot on their tail.

Meta is so rapt with the metaverse, they cancelled Facebook’s annual F8 conference.

According to the New York Times, Meta has $10billion invested in metaverse developments – five times what the company paid to buy the VR headset manufacturer Oculus.

But Apple has the potential to be a market usurper.

Apple’s AirPods had generated more revenue than some leading tech companies including Spotify, Adobe and Twitter – and the wireless headphones are just one product in Apple’s arsenal.

The opportunity for the full integration of a person’s technology ecosystem could be irresistible for some Apple-heads.

Industry expert and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says the headset might share parts of an operating system with the iPhone and insulate Apple products and blocking out competitors.

It’s another battle in the rivalry between Meta and Apple – which has ramped up recently over security and data.

Facebook was largely dependent on lax security and data tracking measures that Apple obstructed with their App Tracking Transparency policy.

The unfriendly competition between the super-companies will play out in cyberspace.