When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, it refrained from providing a concrete release schedule, indicating only that the device would be available at some point early next year. According to a recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this “early next year” target is poised for realization as soon as February. Over the past few weeks, Apple has purportedly accelerated the production of the headset in China, aiming to have the devices prepared for consumers by the end of January. Subsequently, the plan is to officially launch the Vision Pro in the following month.
In addition to the production boost, Apple has reportedly reached out to developers via email, urging them to test their apps for the headset using the latest tools and to submit their software for evaluation. Gurman views this as an additional indicator of the imminent release of the device. In his report, Gurman delves into the meticulous steps Apple is taking to introduce a completely new product category. The last time the company ventured into such territory was in 2015 with the launch of the Apple Watch, but the Vision Pro poses a different set of challenges, demanding careful planning for its market debut.
Given the headset’s numerous potential configurations and its ability to be tailored to individual customers’ requirements, Apple is reportedly dispatching at least two staff members from each retail store to its headquarters for training in January. During this training, they will learn how to attach the device’s headband, work with light seals, and accommodate prescription lenses. The Vision Pro is set to retail at $3,499 upon its release, but Gurman has previously reported that Apple is also developing a more affordable (albeit less powerful) version with a projected cost ranging between $1,500 and $2,500.
