Apple’s Vision Pro, a high-end VR spatial computing device priced at $3,499, has reportedly experienced a slow start in terms of pre-orders, according to estimates by analyst Min-Chi Kuo. Based on pre-order inventory and shipping time, Kuo suggests that Apple sold between 160,000 to 180,000 Vision Pro headsets over the weekend, surpassing his earlier production projections of 60,000 to 80,000 units for the initial release on February 2. Despite the positive pre-order figures, Kuo notes that unchanged shipping times in the first 48 hours may indicate a potential decline in demand after early adopters and hardcore fans secured their orders.
The Vision Pro, designed for spatial computing, is not aimed at the average consumer in its current state, lacking support for mainstream apps like YouTube, Spotify, or Netflix. Additionally, the steep base price of $3,499 may contribute to its niche status. However, there are speculations that Apple might release a more affordable model in the range of $1,500 to $2,500, as suggested by an earlier report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Kuo emphasizes the niche nature of the Vision Pro, noting that even if the device sold out based on the upper production estimate of 80,000 units, it represents only 0.007 percent of Apple’s 1.2 billion active users. Apple will need to generate and sustain demand for the headset before its global launch, rumored to occur before this year’s WWDC, likely in June. In the interim, Apple is working on setting up demo areas in its flagship stores in the United States, aiming to attract potential buyers through 25-minute demonstration sessions.