Apple Vision Pro will be available Feb. 2 starting at $3,499 with 256GB of storage and various throw-ins--the Solo Knit Band, Dual Loop Band, Light Seal, Light Seal Cushions, Apple Vision Pro Cover and polishing cloth--and the uptake for this first-generation device will be fascinating to watch.
Simply put, Apple Vision Pro has the potential to reboot the metaverse, augmented reality and virtual reality but mass market adoption is unlikely now. The thing to watch with Apple Vision Pro is developer uptake, enterprise pilots and that all-important app ecosystem. The catch here is the price tag--even for developers who could in theory either expense Apple Vision Pro or use it for a tax deduction. Preorders start Jan. 19.
According to Apple, Apple Vision Pro will be available online and all Apple Store locations in the US on Feb. 2. The aim of the launch is to bring in the era of spatial computing and provide another device for the Apple ecosystem. Apple Vision Pro will have access to more than 1 million compatible apps on the App Store.
- Apple WWDC 2023: Can Vision Pro headset jump start AR, VR, metaverse for business?
- Apple's Double Tap gesture on Apple Watch sets up Vision Pro UI handoff
The big question is whether any of those compatible apps will make Vision Pro a must own. Here's what I'll be watching as Apple Vision Pro either becomes a big hit or a bust.
The 3D user interface and input system controlled by a user's eyes, hands and voice in the field. This interface has only been seen in demos and is likely to rely on Siri, which is trailing the generative AI pack.
Can environments in Apple Vision Pro be leveraged for collaboration? Sure, Apple will use environments for entertainment and gaming, but the price tag will limit consumer adoption. What's the ROI for the enterprise with Apple Vision Pro? Apple already notes that Vision pro provides "an infinite canvas for productivity." Microsoft and Slack will be available.
Will spatial FaceTime and Personas, a spatial representation of an Apple Vision Pro user that allows others to see facial expressions and hand movements in real time, usher in a better remote work experience? Personas will work in Zoom, Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams.
Does Apple Vision Pro help or hurt the broader metaverse ecosystem? If successful, Apple can make spatial computing a real thing. That could in theory give Meta's Oculus unit a lift too. Oculus has more SKUs at lower price points. Should Vision Pro ultimately flop, the whole category will wonder how to make it work if Apple can't.
What's the tolerance for add-ons? We already know that Apple is the king of add on items. Zeiss Optical Inserts will be available as readers for $99 and prescriptions at $149.
In 2024, $AAPL will report Vision Pro sales in the Wearables, Home and Accessories segment. While they won't break out units sold, I expect the number in the initial year to be between 300-500k units (or $1.4B out of $380B in revenue).
— Gene Munster (@munster_gene) January 8, 2024
