Apple has been integrating augmented reality into its devices for years, but a new report from Bloomberg suggests the tech giant will soon make its biggest AR/VR stride yet: producing a mixed-reality headset. In a meeting last week, the company’s board of directors observed a demonstration of the headset, according to the report.

This could indicate that the long-rumored headset is nearing completion. It lines up with a previous prediction from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo: that Apple’s VR/AR headset is arriving in the fourth quarter of 2022 with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support. Kuo’s prediction is corroborated by earlier reports that Apple’s headset might be coming in 2022, with smart glasses around 2025, and maybe AR contact lenses after that. 

Apple could blend AR and VR with two headsets in the near future, leading the way with some sort of high-end AR/VR headset more like an advanced Quest 2, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman also suggests a focus on gaming, media and communication. In terms of communication, Gurman believes FaceTime using the rumored headset could rely on Memojis and SharePlay, meaning instead of seeing the person you’re talking to, you would see a 3D version of their personalized Memoji avatar.

And Apple may have large plans for the headset. The company’s “goal is to replace the ‌iPhone‌ with AR in 10 years,” Kuo explains in a note to investors, seen by MacRumors. The device could be relatively lightweight, about 300-400 grams (roughly 10.5-14 ounces), according to Kuo. That’s lighter than Meta’s Oculus Quest 2. 

The headset could be expensive, maybe as much as $3,000 or more, with 8K displays, eye tracking and cameras that can scan the world and blend AR and VR together, according to a report from The Information last year. 

It’s expected to feature Apple’s M1 processor and work as a stand-alone device. But it could also connect with Apple’s other devices. That’s not a surprising move. In fact, most of the reports on Apple’s headset seem to line right up with how VR is evolving: lighter-weight, with added mixed reality features via more advanced passthrough cameras. In that sense, Apple’s first headset will probably be a stepping stone to future lighter AR glasses, in the same way that Meta’s next headset, called Project Cambria, might be used. 

Last year, reports on Apple’s AR/VR roadmap suggested internal disagreements, or a split strategy that could mean a VR headset first, and more normal-looking augmented reality smart glasses later. But recent reports seem to be settling down to tell the story of a particular type of advanced VR product leading the way. 

These reports have been going around for several years, including a story broken by CNET’s Shara Tibken in 2018. But the question is: When will this happen, exactly? 2022 or even later? Apple’s been building more advanced AR tools into its iPhones and iPads, setting the stage for something more. But we still don’t know what that thing (or things) is. What’s increasingly clear is that the rest of the AR/VR landscape is facing a slower-than-expected road to AR glasses, too.