Apple's rumored realityOS was a no-show at WWDC22. Here's why.

There were many updates in Apple's World Wide Developers Conference. Only the most ardent Apple fans were able to pay attention to what Craig Federighi was saying.

One feature, as well as one device, was nowhere to be found: Apple's rumored mixed reality glasses and the accompanying realityOS.

There's a small background. We have heard about Apple's virtual/augmented/mixed reality glasses for a long time. There was a time when the project appeared to have been abandoned, only for a new crop of rumors to start picking up steam in 2019.

Reports became a bit less vague in the last year or so. According to a report, Apple is working on a virtual reality headset for a small group. The upcoming virtual reality glasses would be a niche product with a very high price outside of what most people would pay for such a device. The headset would likely be battery-powered, have a powerful processor, external cameras, and a way to accommodate people who wear glasses, according to a report.

RealityOS is the operating system that powers a new generation of Apple products that are focused on virtual/augmented/ mixed reality. The report stated that Apple executives had a chance to try out the device which was in an advanced stage. The 3D character models Apple placed on its WWDC invites appeared to be in line with the new version of the conference.

The opening keynote didn't mention realityOS or the rumored headset. We were hoping for a tease until the very end, but Apple CEO Tim Cook decided not to do that.

There are some additional clues apart from the obvious reasons.

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In May, a reliable Apple analyst commented on the issue. He doesn't think Apple will release the augmented reality headset and realityOS at this year's conference. Showing the device when it's not ready would give Apple's competitors a chance to see it, but Apple doesn't want that. A flurry of copycats would hit the stores before Apple's product does, according to Kuo.

When is the headset going to arrive? Kuo claims that it will happen in 2023.

This is in line with a report that said that Apple will release a consumer version of the headset at the end of 2020 or early 2021. It's possible that issues with overheating, cameras, and software may lead to delays, according to one report.