Apple Aims for Ample Supply of Headsets by Month’s End Ahead of February Launch: Report
Apple is on the cusp of introducing its groundbreaking Vision Pro, marking the tech giant’s inaugural venture into a completely new product category after almost a decade. Although the exact launch date remains undisclosed, the confirmation of the mixed reality headset’s imminent arrival in early 2024 has heightened anticipation. Speculation from recent reports suggests a release window between late January and early February for the Vision Pro. With preparations underway at Apple Stores across the US, stocks are anticipated ahead of the retail launch, as the company has purportedly commenced shipping the Vision Pro to warehouses within the country.
According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, limited quantities of Apple’s spatial computer have begun their journey to US warehouses, laying the groundwork for subsequent distribution to retail outlets. While the initial shipments remain modest, Apple is reportedly confident in its ability to amass adequate supply by the month’s end, gearing up for a potential launch in February.
Gurman’s newsletter hints at a probable official announcement for the Vision Pro within the upcoming week or so, coinciding with the commencement of CES 2024. It’s been highlighted that retail employees from Apple Stores nationwide are converging in Cupertino for training sessions focused on an undisclosed new product. In December, Gurman had previously reported these instructional seminars designed to equip staff with knowledge on setting up, operating, and effectively marketing the high-end headset to prospective customers. Notably, the premium AR/VR headset, initially slated for release solely in the US, commands a staggering price tag of $3,499 (approximately Rs. 2,91,400).
Additionally, according to Gurman, Apple Stores in the US will hold meetings to discuss sales procedures and impart further training to all employees on January 21. Towards the end of the month, retail stores will also get new inventory racks and backroom equipment for the Vision Pro. Furthermore, Apple has reportedly been filing hardware and software design patents for the headset in recent weeks, which hints at an imminent launch.
Apple might also delay Vision Pro pre-orders for shipping directly to customers, opting instead for an appointment-based pickup at retail stores, where buyers could get a customised product experience and fitting. The newsletter also claimed that the company plans to introduce the mixed reality headset to markets in China, Canada, and the UK following its US-only launch.
In December, TF securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, too, had claimed that the Vision Pro was set to hit store shelves by late January or early February. Kuo had said that the headset would be Apple’s “most important product of 2024”and the company intended to ship as many as 5,00,000 units in 2024.
Recently, a sneak peek into the anticipated Web browsing encounter on Apple’s forthcoming spatial computer was unveiled ahead of its official launch. Shared by a user on X, a demo surfaced showcasing the Safari browser operating on the Apple Vision Pro within a 3D spatial context. The leaked video offered a glimpse of seamless transitions between various tabs, highlighting smooth animations, and demonstrated the capacity to interact with 3D elements embedded within Safari’s environment.