Apple's AR headset could be closer to a launch than expected

Catcher is the company that provides metal frames and chassis for the Apple iPhone and Apple iPad. Catcher chairman Allen Horng recently revealed that next year, the company will be producing chassis for a new product line. Some analysts believe that this indicates Catcher will be making some part for Apple's rumored AR headset. This is the device that former Piper Jaffray analyst and current hedge fund honcho Gene Munster says will be bigger than the iPhone.

Munster and most other analysts expect Apple's AR headset (dubbed "Apple Glasses") to launch in 2020. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook said a couple of months ago that the technology is not yet mature enough for such a product to be released soon. Yet, Catcher's chairman notes that the first quarter of 2018, which traditionally would be a slow period for the company, will feature a high utilization rate in part thanks to the aforementioned new product line it will be supplying.

Quanta, a company that handles some assembly work for Apple, recently received licenses to manufacture AR optical cameras uses components from Israeli-AR firm Lumus. Last month, we told you that Quanta, which manufactures the Apple Watch and MacBooks, said that an AR headset will be ready for launch no later than 2019. While Quanta isn't necessarily talking about a product for Apple, the latter's AR headset is rumored to carry a model number of T2888, and will run on a new OS called the reality Operating System (rOS).

Apparently, Apple could have its next big thing ready to go as soon as 2018-2019.

source: Digitimes