Apple’s Vision Pro Sells Out Pre-Orders, Future Success Uncertain
- Apple’s Vision Pro sold 160,000-180,000 units fast at launch.
- Stable shipping times in two days hint at declining demand.
- Priced at $3,500, weight and app concerns cloud its future.
In the lead-up to the highly anticipated release of Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset on February 2, pre-order demand initially surged, with limited stock selling out almost immediately, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The steep price tag of $3,500 for the base configuration with 256GB of storage did not deter early adopters, leading to estimated sales of 160,000 to 180,000 units over the weekend.
However, Kuo highlights a peculiar trend in the pre-order phase, noting that while shipping times quickly extended to five to seven weeks, they remained unchanged for the following two days. This pattern suggests that after an initial wave of enthusiastic early adopters secured their headsets, demand for the Vision Pro may have waned.
In contrast to Apple’s usual product launches, such as new iPhones, where shipping times continue to increase for several days after pre-orders open, the Vision Pro’s stagnant shipping times raise questions about its broader appeal. Kuo predicts that Apple may sell and ship approximately 500,000 units of the mixed reality headset in the coming year, emphasizing that the device currently occupies a niche market for the tech giant.
The Apple Vision Pro boasts advanced virtual/augmented reality features, including high-resolution displays and highly accurate hand tracking. However, concerns have been raised regarding its weight, the presence of an awkward external battery pack, and a perceived lack of must-have apps and use cases for the spatial computing device. These factors appear to have led consumers to adopt a cautious “wait and see” approach.
While the initial pre-order success indicates strong interest in the Vision Pro, its long-term success remains uncertain, particularly in comparison to Apple’s flagship iPhone models, which consistently achieve massive sales figures. As the mixed reality headset enters the hands of consumers and reviews surface, Apple will closely watch how the market responds to determine the trajectory of its latest innovation.
