When Apple unveiled its AR/VR Vision Pro headset early last year the product was met with just an absolute ocean of tech press hype. You couldn’t spend thirty seconds online without reading a…
Apple’s development kit offers cutting-edge technology at a price point accessible to those who can afford it. For individuals like me, who need to prioritize essential expenses, spending $3,500 isn’t feasible. However, if circumstances were different, this would undoubtedly be an exciting gadget to explore.
I’m sure calling it a “dev kit” and not a product “expected to sell many units” whilst having inventories full of the thing and a few failed attempts at pushing sales is how they’re going to try to spin this failure.
Apple never advertised this as anything other than a fully baked product. There was no suggestion that this was a prototype or development preview. This was being sold as the next big thing in computing.
The thing is it’s an actually decent product, if they just made it with slightly less advanced components, an integrated battery, and the ability to connect to any computer not just a Mac it could be something interesting. I am sure somebody else will come along with a more realistic version of the product in the next year or so.
I understand your point. However, I believe Apple’s Vision Pro (at least the current iteration) was never intended as a mainstream product for the following reasons:
It’s unrealistic to expect a $3,500 headset to become a smashing hit overnight.
There’s limited software available to support it. Most applications merely showcase the use-case scenarios and potential of the hardware.
The device appears aimed at demonstrating Apple’s design capabilities and their “vision” of what an advanced headset should be.
Nevertheless, some news outlets report the product’s failure based on sales falling below 500,000 units in 2024. Apple Insider specifically reported approximately 370,000 units sold in the first three quarters of 2024.
While Apple has revised their expectations and reduced production, and interest has declined after the initial buzz, it’s worth noting a parallel: When Samsung first launched its Galaxy Fold, first-year sales fell significantly below forecasts. The product line has since improved over the years, though it’s not a major success compared to other Galaxy products.
The key questions now are: Will Apple discontinue this expensive proof of concept? Will there be an Apple Vision Pro 2? The answer might lie in monitoring competitors’ performance in this market. If other companies succeed with their smart glasses, Apple may introduce a scaled-down version of the Vision Pro, priced around $1,000, for their second attempt.
But as always, crystal ball gazing is a tough game.
Apple’s development kit offers cutting-edge technology at a price point accessible to those who can afford it. For individuals like me, who need to prioritize essential expenses, spending $3,500 isn’t feasible. However, if circumstances were different, this would undoubtedly be an exciting gadget to explore.
I’m sure calling it a “dev kit” and not a product “expected to sell many units” whilst having inventories full of the thing and a few failed attempts at pushing sales is how they’re going to try to spin this failure.
Calling it a dev kit is just copism.
Apple never advertised this as anything other than a fully baked product. There was no suggestion that this was a prototype or development preview. This was being sold as the next big thing in computing.
The thing is it’s an actually decent product, if they just made it with slightly less advanced components, an integrated battery, and the ability to connect to any computer not just a Mac it could be something interesting. I am sure somebody else will come along with a more realistic version of the product in the next year or so.
I understand your point. However, I believe Apple’s Vision Pro (at least the current iteration) was never intended as a mainstream product for the following reasons:
It’s unrealistic to expect a $3,500 headset to become a smashing hit overnight.
There’s limited software available to support it. Most applications merely showcase the use-case scenarios and potential of the hardware.
The device appears aimed at demonstrating Apple’s design capabilities and their “vision” of what an advanced headset should be.
Nevertheless, some news outlets report the product’s failure based on sales falling below 500,000 units in 2024. Apple Insider specifically reported approximately 370,000 units sold in the first three quarters of 2024.
While Apple has revised their expectations and reduced production, and interest has declined after the initial buzz, it’s worth noting a parallel: When Samsung first launched its Galaxy Fold, first-year sales fell significantly below forecasts. The product line has since improved over the years, though it’s not a major success compared to other Galaxy products.
The key questions now are: Will Apple discontinue this expensive proof of concept? Will there be an Apple Vision Pro 2? The answer might lie in monitoring competitors’ performance in this market. If other companies succeed with their smart glasses, Apple may introduce a scaled-down version of the Vision Pro, priced around $1,000, for their second attempt.
But as always, crystal ball gazing is a tough game.
Yeah like helicopters, they are accessible at a price point for people who can afford them.
Or private jets, or luxury watches. It’s a long list…