If you’re counting the days until Apple’s Vision Pro headset is released, you may not have to wait any longer than February.
Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is looking to launch the Vision Pro by February and is booting production to meet this goal.
Production has been “running at full speed” for the last several weeks to ensure the Vision Pro is ready by the end of January, with a retail launch planned for February. Apple introduced the Vision Pro back in June, and at the time, the company said it would be released in early 2024.
Since then, release date rumors have varied, with initial rumors pointing to March while later rumors indicated the headset would be out in January of 2024.
Sales of the Vision Pro headset will be limited to the United States, to begin with, and recent rumors have indicated that customers will need to purchase their unit in a retail store or pick up an online order in-store. Apple wants to ensure that customers have the right headband size and Light Seal for an appropriate fit. Without a tight fit that blocks out all ambient light, content won’t look right, and without the right headband size, the device could feel too heavy. Some customers will also need custom Zeiss prescription lenses, so Apple plans to do headset assembly in its retail locations.
The company is also said to be prepping displays for the Vision Pro in some of its retail stores. Locations will need to have Vision Pro units and all of the accessories, such as the different-sized headbands and Light Seals, on hand. Apple is also rumored to be sending employees from each of its retail stores to Cupertino to learn how to prepare the device for customers. These employees will then learn how to attach the headband, Light Seal, and prescription lenses, which can be a delicate process. There will be an app able to scan a customer’s face to determine the proper headband and Light Seal, but the app’s recommendation will have to be confirmed by an employee.
Apple is not expected to hold another Vision Pro event when the device launches, due to the limited U.S. release, the $3,500 price tag of the device, and the limited supply that Apple has available. If demand for the Vision Pro is high, it could be months before Apple is able to manufacture enough units.
Gurman has also warned that the units could delayed should production be paused or experience slowdowns.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.