Apple has reportedly sold at least 200,000 units of its Vision Pro AR headsets within the first 10 days of pre-orders, according to a source familiar with the matter speaking to MacRumors. Pre-orders for the Vision Pro began on January 19, with the official sale launch scheduled for this Friday.
Priced at $3,500 for the base model, the Vision Pro is significantly more expensive than its competitors in the AR/VR headset market. Meta's top-of-the-line Quest Pro, for example, costs about $1,000, while the Quest line starts at $250. Despite its high price tag, Apple's Vision Pro has garnered attention, with industry pundits speculating on its market reception.
Research firm IDC forecasts a 46.4% increase in AR/VR headset shipments in 2024. However, IDC predicts that the Vision Pro will likely ship fewer than 200,000 units in the year, contrasting with Meta's higher shipment numbers.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that Apple sold 160,000 to 180,000 units during the first pre-order weekend, with total sales expected to reach 500,000 units in 2024. Wedbush, a brokerage firm, forecasts sales of 600,000 units for the full year.
Gene Munster, a long-time Apple analyst now at Deepwater Asset Management, is more optimistic, predicting sales of one million Vision Pro units in 2024. He also believes that the Vision Pro outpaces rival headsets like Meta Quest in underlying technology.
Initial reviews of the Vision Pro are mixed. While reviewers acknowledge its remarkable features, they also highlight the need for further improvements to enhance practicality and appeal. The Wall Street Journal describes it as "the best headset yet" but also suggests it is a glimpse of the future. CNBC sees it as "the future of computing and entertainment," while The Washington Post describes it as the "best high-definition TV set you can imagine" but also notes its imperfections as a $3,500 wearable computer.
