An Apple VR headset with advanced features and an ultra-high-resolution screen is in development in Cupertino However, the headset, like the rumored Apple Glasses, will launch later than once expected, according to a new report

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman provided an update on Apple's avowed mission to create a dedicated AR/VR device that is mature enough to eventually sell this technology to the masses While some leaked information had suggested that smart AR glasses could be available as early as next year, Gurman said that internal conflicts in the company's Technology Development Group (TDG) have changed plans

The conflict dates back to 2018, when Apple's infamous design chief, Jony Ive, who has since left the company, opposed "fundamental aspects" of the VR headset and pushed for a different approach years before its development

Mike Rockwell, the Apple executive leading TDG's VR/AR efforts, proposed a slimmed-down version of the headset with a separate, stationary hub that could run powerful computing and transport users to a completely virtual world

Ive was not impressed with Rockwell's plan and urged TDG to go back to the drawing board to develop a VR headset without a hub He worried it would be too powerful and did not want to market a device that would disconnect users from reality An inside source told Garman that Ive favors mixed reality initiatives that facilitate the boundary between the virtual and real worlds

Rockwell resisted, arguing that the hub would give Apple a clear advantage over Facebook's Oculus Quest However, according to Gurman, Tim Cook sided with Ive and changed the direction of Apple's VR/AR hardware, despite the imminent arrival of Oculus Quest 2

Apple's VR headset may not be as powerful as Rockwell originally planned, Gurman says, but it is still "pretty advanced" According to those who have seen the prototype, it has an ultra-high-resolution screen and a cinematic speaker system that should enable a realistic visual experience

These sources also say that the headset looks like a slimmer, cloth-covered Oculus Quest, but the design is not final as the company continues testing to determine the ideal fit for most head shapes

Also, pricing has not been finalized, but don't expect it to be cheap; the Quest starts at $399, compared to $799 for HTC's Vive and a whopping $3500 for Microsoft's HoloLens 2

Apple's VR headset, like its competitors, will reportedly benefit from its own App Store, giving users access to games, video streaming, and communication software The Siri voice assistant will control the headset, but a physical remote control is also reportedly being tested

As for a release date, the VR headset will debut next year and will be available in 2022

Apple Glass has been the subject of many leaks in recent months, but Garman suggests that much of what we have heard so far, especially regarding its release, is false He discussed this on Twitter with Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser He released a video in May that allegedly leaked information about Apple Glass and suggested a possible 2021 release

Prosser has built a fairly accurate track record regarding Apple leaks, and so has Gurman We are inclined to believe Gurman simply based on how advanced the AR glasses would need to be to sell According to him, Apple Glass will be available as early as 2023

To learn more about Apple's inner workings, check out this Bloomberg report It includes a timeline tracing Apple's VR/AR acquisitions and a brief resume of the team currently working under Rockwell's direction