When the Apple Vision Pro was released, the company managed to ride a high for quite a bit before it died down. People lost interest in the AR/VR device as quickly as it became popular, and one of the reasons is because of the amount buyers have to pay for it. The tech giant might just turn things around with a cheaper Vision Pro.
Apple Might Release a Cheaper Vision Pro
Even though the Apple Vision Pro has seen a drop in sales recently, the company is still expected to develop a successor for the device. It would ideally have better features than the current-gen device and address the issues that have emerged as of late.
However, that might not be the case. Apple is reportedly putting its resources into a cheaper version of the AR/VR headset as it suspended production for the next-gen version. With a smaller price comes with fewer features.
As reported by Gizmodo, the upcoming versions will have two variations: one will be the standard version and another will be the Pro version, just like its flagship phones, and there will be noticeable changes in both.
The standard version would be a third lighter than the current-generation Vision Pro, and the company is said to be struggling to make that possible. It's an important change considering that some users have complained that the headset is uncomfortable to use due to its weight.
With the changes coming to the new versions, several downsides will be addressed such as the weight and the price, all with the simple trade-off of features that users might not even use, so it could really be a better deal for future buyers.
Sales Have Died Down
It doesn't take a genius to deduce why Apple is suddenly interested in developing a model that's affordable to the average buyer. The Apple Vision Pro quickly lost its charm to buyers not long after it was released. Some even returned the headset while others didn't attend their scheduled demos.
Sales have since slowed since it was released in February. Even though Apple is releasing the headset in other countries like Australia, China, Japan, and other European markets, it has already cut its production by half.
This could further signify that Apple is already focusing its resources elsewhere. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that from the original shipments of up to 800,00o units, it has gone down to just 450,000 units, as reported by Tom's Guide.
Even Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the company is now only selling "just a handful" of Vision Pros per week. Those who did keep their purchases are said to be using the headset less, which is the opposite of what Apple intended.
For a $3,500 device, it seems like a waste that something can only be used occasionally, and that's not putting into account the complaints that others have expressed. Other than the weight of the device, some say that prolonged use causes them to get headaches as well.
