According to a recent report, the demand for AR/VR headsets has fallen spectacularly.
On May 2nd, it will be three months since Apple launched the Vision Pro headset in the United States, which clearly competes in the premium category with its $3,500 price tag, matching 4K OLED displays, 14 built-in cameras, LiDAR scanner and 16 GB of memory. provided.
As expected, in the days following the release of the device, the apple helmet dominated the tech conversation, and it was as if the streets were flooded with the first customers, but two weeks later, you could hear more about returns, and since then interest in the product may have decreased further. .
Mark Gurman writes in his latest newsletter that, according to his information, the number of people who request a Vision Pro presentation in Apple stores has dropped significantly, and applicants often do not even show up at the appointed time. THE Bloomberg his analyst also knows that “at least in some places“sales dropped from a few pieces a day to a few pieces a week.
Apple has therefore ramped up its marketing efforts and placed a prominent Vision Pro promotion at the top of its website, which Gurman described as the most aggressive ad since the launch in February. The reasons behind the lackluster interest in the headset focusing on mixed reality can be those that were recurring elements in the first tests as well.
Early reviews, regardless of source, seemed to agree that while the Vision Pro offers impressive hardware, it’s hard to find a place for it in everyday life, especially given its $3,500 price tag. Gurman now refers to himself in this regard: according to his account, his initial regular daily use decreased to 1-2 times a week after the magic of the novelty wore off.
According to him, factors such as the external battery and the complex user interface stand in the way of success, which makes laptops and smartphones much more attractive for performing everyday tasks, and the analyst also lacks a “killer application” that could make the Vision Pro more attractive. In any case, the international launch is still ahead of the product, which can give another boost to sales, and according to expectations, Apple will come out with a new, more affordable generation next year.
In the meantime, doctors may be the biggest fans of the apple novelty, as the headset seems to perform well during surgical interventions.
