Apple reportedly aims to release Vision Pro to the market sometime in February as mass production is now said to have hit “full speed,” according to a new Bloomberg report.
According to the report, mass production of Apple’s first spatial computer has ramped up significantly in the last few weeks, matching information reported by a prior article. Vision Pro stock is currently slated to be ready by the end of January, with a market launch to follow shortly in February. The release won’t be an easy one, Bloomberg adds, noting that Vision Pro units will have to be “assembled and boxed up” at Apple Store locations as buyers will have to undergo a precise fitting process for the headset.
The rollout will be Apple’s most complex product launch yet, requiring entirely new sales strategies and equipment. The headset has customized components that need to be assembled and boxed up at the point of sale. It’s also a delicate process. If the Vision Pro isn’t fitted to a user’s head correctly, the device won’t show content properly and may feel extra heavy.
Bloomberg
The report reiterates earlier information about Apple gearing up to train its retail employees on how to assist prospective buyers with their Vision Pro purchase and setup experience, with training seminars scheduled to take place in January. Other Apple Store preparations include additional inventory and demo fixture spaces, as well as stocking up on accessories like magnetic prescription lenses from Zeiss, head straps, and Light Seals.
The training seminars will also teach retail employees how to appropriately put Vision Pro on prospective buyers’ heads. Employees will also be tasked to find the right Light Seal fit, with Apple planning an accompanying app that would scan users’ heads and faces to determine the appropriate Light Seal and headband size.
Unlike the Apple Watch in 2015, there are no plans to conduct an additional Vision Pro event to hype up the device’s launch. This is due to several reasons such as an exclusive release in the US, a hefty price tag of $3,500, and Apple’s limited available inventory. Should there be significant demand for the Vision Pro, it might take several months before Apple can ramp up production sufficiently to meet that demand, warns the report.
Initially limited to a market launch in the United States only, Apple is hoping to sell nearly one million units of Vision Pro during the first 12 months of its availability. The company could expand Vision Pro’s market presence to the United Kingdom and Canada by the end of 2024.
