When Apple launched its first augmented reality headset, the Vision Pro, back in June 2023, the company said the product would actually be available "early next year."
Now, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (via 9to5Mac), it appears that "early next year" might actually translate to "sometime around" March 2024.
While March can still technically be considered early in the year, it will probably sound a little disappointing to those eager to buy the $3,499 headset. Gurman says that the Vision Pro was originally slated for a January launch, but it's still not quite ready, and is currently undergoing final testing.
The Vision Pro's launch will be a very different affair from Apple's typical product launches. The augmented reality headset will first be available only in the U.S., and will only be sold at Apple retail stores or online. In retail stores, Apple reportedly plans to have special areas with demo units where customers will be able to try the device out before buying. The Vision Pro should become available in other countries in late 2024.
There are signs, however, that the development is moving forward and that the Vision Pro is close to being ready for prime time. A recent iOS update allowed iPhone 15 users to record spatial videos that can only be viewed on the Vision Pro, and a recent update to Vision Pro's own operating system, visionOS, gave us a peak into the onboarding process for the device.
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When the Vision Pro does become available, it might be hard to get one. A Financial Times report in July claimed that Apple drastically cut the production forecasts for Vision Pro due to the product's complexity.