By Emma Reynolds Apple Inc. has once again shifted their plans for the production of their much anticipated mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro. The vast, and expensive, piece of hardware had originally been expected to reach many greater heights than are now expected according to reports.
Originally the goal was to have the Vision Pro available for the general consumer and used widely in mixed reality applications. Unfortunately the new production cutbacks have put a damper on those expectations. Here’s what we know so far about the issue.
Apple recently informed its suppliers that it was scaling back production plans for its Vision Pro headset, according to multiple reports. Sources familiar with the plans told Reuters that Apple had been expecting much higher orders for the device, but due to cost and complexity, suppliers had only received orders for a fraction of the intended amount.
This was an unexpected turn of events for the suppliers and the tech world alike. With the news of the Vision Pro production cutbacks, many speculate why Apple had made the decision. Some have cited the fact that producing the Vision Pro headset would be much more difficult and expensive than the other headsets on the market, and Apple may not have wanted to spend the resources to make such a limited number of them.
The other reason being speculated on is that Apple had originally intended to potentially sell the Vision Pro in its own stores, and with the cost to produce them being as high as it is, the cost to buying one at retail would be too expensive for the average consumer. So, for now, the original planned ambitions for the device seem to be reeling to a halt.
This news may have been unexpected, but it is sure to have an effect on the production of other augmented and virtual reality headsets. With Apple now set to scale back the production of the Vision Pro, it could cause a domino effect in the industry and bring a cooling to the idea of AR/VR hardware.
It’s too soon to tell what Apple’s motives and future plans are for the Vision Pro headset, but it’s clear that this decision signals a massive departure from their original plan for the device. We have to wait and see whether and when production will ramp back up, but until then these production cutbacks will be a major deterrent for anyone considering the purchase of a Vision Pro headset.