Apple plans to launch its Vision Pro mixed reality headset in March, according to Bloomberg. Mark Gurman. The tech giant was reportedly planning to launch the headphones in January, but is still preparing distribution plans and conducting final testing of the device.
When Apple unveiled the $3,499 Vision Pro in June, the company said it would release it in early 2024, so Apple is still technically on track in terms of its release schedule.
The headphones will launch first in the United States and are expected to launch in other countries before the end of the year, including Canada and the United Kingdom. Since Apple usually holds its spring event in March, the tech giant will likely use the event to promote the Vision Pro.
The software that powers Vision Pro is called visionOS, which Apple describes as “the first operating system designed from the ground up for spatial computing.” The software’s three-dimensional interface frees applications from the limits of a traditional screen.
Apple has said that the App Store for Vision Pro headphones will include all compatible iPhone and iPad apps by default. Additionally, more than 100 Apple Arcade titles will be available to play on VisionOS at launch.
Unlike some AR headsets on the market, the Vision Pro’s battery is not integrated into the device. Instead, a cable from the back connects to a battery, which provides up to two hours of use. Or, users can plug it into the wall for all-day use.
The headphones have the standard M2 chip, combined with a new R1 chip, which is responsible for video transmission. Vision Pro uses micro-OLED technology to pack 23 million pixels into two displays. Vision Pro includes a feature called “EyeSight,” which uses a head-up display to reveal your eyes to other people in the room.
The price of the device suggests that it is aimed at business buyers, rather than regular consumers. As TechCrunch’s Brian Heater previously noted, the “Pro” part of the device’s name seems to suggest that a more affordable version could arrive at some point in the future.