Apple Sets Release Date for Vision Pro, its $3,500 Mixed Reality Headset
New York (CNN) — Apple announced this Monday that its Vision Pro mixed reality headset will go on sale in the United States starting February 2 and that pre-orders will begin on January 19.
The Vision Pro headset, Apple’s riskiest and most ambitious new hardware offering in years, is also one of its most expensive products, with an initial price of US$3,500. The company revealed on Monday that the device will have 256GB of storage, and that prescription glasses can be purchased starting at $149, with reading glasses starting at $99.
In a statement announcing the release date of the Vision Pro, CEO Tim Cook said, “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine how we connect, create and explore.” This marks the first major hardware product Cook has launched at Apple in seven years, and only the third during his tenure as CEO.
The Vision Pro looks like ski goggles and its underlying technology allows users to overlay virtual images onto live videos from the real world. The device will have its own operating system, called visionOS, as well as a new three-dimensional user interface and an input system controlled by the user’s eyes, hands, and voice.
Apple shares rose 1.5% in early trading on Monday following the announcement of the release date of the Vision Pro. The product is expected to face a number of challenges as Apple plunges into an untested market, including its high price and competition from other tech companies. Apple’s announcement also comes as part of CES, the annual technology industry convention held in Las Vegas this week.