The launch of Apple’s Vision Pro, the company’s first “spatial computing” device, has been eagerly anticipated for over six months. Priced at $3,499, this headset was initially slated for an “early-2024” release after its announcement at WWDC in June. However, a precise release date has not been provided by the company.
Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted a more specific timeline, suggesting that the Vision Pro may be released in late January or early February. He mentioned that the initial batch of Vision Pros, totaling around 500,000 units for the year, is expected to be shipped to Apple within a month.
The exact sales target for the Vision Pro remains uncertain. Earlier reports indicated a reduction in sales expectations from around one million to “fewer than 400,000.” Even with the updated estimate of 500,000 units, this figure is relatively modest considering Apple’s extensive market presence, especially when compared to the annual shipment of over 200 million iPhones.
Expected to be Apple’s most significant product of 2024, the Vision Pro is a bold step for CEO Tim Cook. It represents a completely new product category and comes with a hefty price tag, making it a substantial investment for potential customers. Furthermore, the history of virtual reality’s unmet expectations adds further complexity to this venture.
Considering the extensive speculation and substantial resources invested in the headset, Kuo’s assertion about the Vision Pro being Apple’s most important product in 2024 seems justified.
