2024 is here, and following my own extensive coverage last year, it seems that certain technology giants are aiming to reinvigorate mainstream XR with a range of new solutions and hardware.
Apple was a significant headline stealer last year after the firm unveiled its Vision Pro headset at WWDC 2023. The firm slated the MR/VR headset’s debut for early 2024, and while Apple has yet to announce an official release date, the firm is putting the pieces together for an upcoming debut.
Most recently, Apple reportedly started shipping large numbers of the Viiosn Pro headsets to retail stores as the new year arrived – as highlighted by Forbes last week.
Trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TFI Securities commented that Apple is currently under production with “mass shipments” coming in the “first week of January 2024.”
Speaking on a potential release date, Kuo also noted how the Vision Pro could arrive on store shelves in “late January or early February based on the current mass shipment schedule.”
Kuo also added:
[Apple’s Vision Pro is] the most important product for Apple for 2024. If user feedback on Vision Pro is better than expected, it will help strengthen the market consensus that [the Vision Pro] is the next star product in consumer electronics’ and the related supply chain stock price.
Reports from the end of 2023 suggest Apple aims for a March 2024 release date. While forecasts differ, it appears the Vision Pro landing is coming nonetheless.
Apple Preps Retail Stores for Vision Pro Debut
The news comes as Apple started official training and onboarding sessions for retail store workers last month. The training saw Apple experts flying out to stores from its headquarters with Vision Pro devices to train workers in each of Apple’s US stores.
Apple reportedly plans to train its retail employees in mid-January 2024 to assist individual customers with setting up their headsets, ensuring a smooth introduction to the device.
Many first-time XR users struggle with the set-up and onboarding process, resulting in motion sickness and other difficulties. By actively educating its employees on the headset, Apple could provide XR education that helps potential buyers adopt the hardware.
In-store Apple employees will assist customers with setting up the device and provide a hands-on experience with the company’s unique spatial computing outlook, also helping customers learn about the productivity benefits of MR headsets.
Apple’s in-store retail workers are known for their expertise in its product range, including iPhones and Macs. Now, Apple is providing specific training to prepare retail workers for the launch of Vision Pro’s new spatial computing framework to fit a pre-existing customer experience standard.
When will the Vision Pro Debut?
Apple is gearing up to launch the Vision Pro in March 2024, with an expected retail price of $3,499, which may seem steep compared to other consumer-grade headsets. However, Apple is promoting massively competitive features for productivity and workplace use case considerations. Moreover, Apple is reportedly already developing a more affordable option.
The upcoming Vision Pro headset is set to feature two Micro OLED 4K displays with a resolution of 3800 x 3000 per eye, a ring of LED lights to enhance eye-tracking performance, and hand-tracking sensors for a controller-free experience.
Powered by a proprietary software stack and Apple silicon architecture, the Vision Pro will also offer custom optical inserts developed in partnership with Zeiss, designed for users who require prescription glasses. These inserts will become available during the official release of the Vision Pro next year.
