Apple has officially announced that the much-anticipated Vision Pro is set to hit the U.S. market on February 2, with preorders kicking off on January 19 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
The mixed-reality headset, priced at $3,500, is positioned as Apple’s response to Meta’s Quest headsets and has been in development for several years, making it the tech giant’s first new product category since the launch of the Apple Watch in 2015.
Alongside the primary headset, Apple is offering these cool Zeiss optical inserts that magically attach to the Vision Pro. If you wear prescription glasses, it would cost you $149 U.S., and if you’re a reader like me, you will get it at $99 U.S. The inserts allow users with “ Vision needs to take full advantage of the display’s incredible sharpness and clarity”, according to Apple.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, in Monday’s press release, declared, “The era of spatial computing has arrived.” Fueled by Apple’s M2 chip, the Vision Pro offers 256 GB of storage and introduces a new operating system, VisionOS, coupled with an innovative input system allowing users to control the headset using their eyes, hands, and voice. Despite analyst projections of modest initial revenue, Apple aims to revolutionize gaming and video content consumption with the Vision Pro, supporting a range of apps, including Microsoft’s Office Suite and Salesforce Slack. The company promises an immersive experience, describing the virtual reality screen as “feeling 100 feet wide,” signaling a bold move into the evolving landscape of spatial computing.
The Vision Pro is like Apple’s big comeback to the whole “new product category” scene since they rolled out the Apple Watch back in 2015. But hold on, the analysts and all those experts are saying, “Don’t pop the champagne just yet.” Apparently, they’re not throwing confetti over the headset’s revenue prospects at the beginning. UBS, for instance, is like, “Yeah, it might hit around $1.4 billion, but that’s kinda small fry in the grand scheme of Apple’s money empire.” So, it’s like a slow start, but who knows, maybe the Vision Pro will surprise everyone and become the next big tech sensation!
Many companies have made a virtual reality push in the past, but so far, those efforts haven’t led to widespread adoption for consumers or enterprise customers.
Here’s the scoop on the style front for the Vision Pro – they’re not just about tech; they’ve got the fashion game covered too. You get to pick your vibe with different head straps – there’s the “solo knit” for those solo adventures and a “dual loop” band for when you’re feeling a bit more looped in. According to Apple’s news flash, they’re all about options, offering a Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band to make sure you find that perfect fit. Plus, the whole package comes with a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, a snazzy Apple Vision Pro Cover for the front, a Polishing Cloth (because who doesn’t love a shiny device?), Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter. It’s like a whole fashion-tech kit!
Alright, buckle up because Apple is cooking up some mind-blowing stuff for the Vision Pro! They’re teasing us with these optimized experiences like spatial videos and photos, 3D movies, and even a mixed reality FaceTime – can you imagine how wild that’s going to be? And wait for it, they’ve got this thing called “Encounter Dinosaurs,” which sounds like a virtual adventure waiting to happen. They’re keeping the rest under wraps for now, just dropping hints about support for all iOS apps and some cool Mac-connected functions. Fingers crossed we get the juicy details as we inch closer to the launch. The anticipation is real, and the excitement is building up!