Apple’s highly anticipated Vision Pro virtual and augmented reality headset went up for pre-order this morning, with shipping expected to begin in March. Early signs point to significant interest and demand for Apple’s first major new product category since the Apple Watch launched nearly 10 years ago.
Pre-Orders Sell Out Rapidly
Within just the first 20 minutes of pre-orders going live, Vision Pro stock completely sold out on Apple’s online store. This despite the headset’s high $1799 starting price for a base model.
Although Apple has not released specific sales data, third-party analysts estimate Apple took between 150,000-200,000 pre-orders globally based on past sales trends for other Apple product launches.
Estimated Vision Pro Pre-Order Sales
Time Period | Estimated Pre-Orders
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First 20 mins| 150,000 - 200,000
First day | 500,000+
First week | 1 million+
This would represent the fastest sellout ever for a new Apple product launch. Even the iPhone – Apple’s most successful product ever – did not sell out instantly when first introduced.
Shipping Estimates Slip to April and Beyond
The surge in demand has caused shipping estimates for new pre-order customers to get pushed back by several weeks.
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Customers pre-ordering today are now seeing estimated shipping dates in April or even May, almost 2 months later than early pre-order customers.
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Some models like the high-end 1TB storage configuration are now quoting even later shipping targets in June or July.
This despite Apple reportedly doubling their initial Vision Pro production targets in response to stronger-than-expected interest ahead of launch.
Scalpers Look to Profit
With lengthy shipping delays and production struggling to keep pace with demand, third-party resellers are now offering Vision Pro headsets at significant markups over Apple’s MSRP:
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eBay listings are appearing offering Vision Pro headsets for $3000 or more – nearly double Apple’s listed price. However, many sellers seem reluctant to ship devices until they have them in-hand.
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On StockX, a marketplace for sneakerheads and tech enthusiasts, over 600 Vision Pro listings appeared on launch day with asking prices ranging from $2500 up to $4500. Only a handful of units have actually sold so far though.
It remains to be seen whether the current mania and inflated resale value around Vision Pro will persist once supply catches up over the coming months.
Enthusiasm Builds Among Reviewers
In addition to overwhelming customer demand, initial hands-on reviews from technology journalists and analysts are helping to fuel the excitement.
Reviewers broadly agree that Vision Pro represents a significant leap forward for virtual and augmented reality technology thanks to its innovative design and tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem.
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The Verge calls Vision Pro “the best AR/VR experience you can get right now”, offering unmatched comfort and image quality.
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TechCrunch says Apple has designed “an experience so magical you can forget you are wearing a computer strapped to your face”.
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GQ Magazine raves that Vision Pro “sets a new high bar for the next generation of spatial computing”.
Unique Killer Experiences
Beyond just hype, Apple’s partnerships with content creators like Disney are allowing totally unique experiences on the Vision Pro platform.
The Vision Pro headset allows viewing immersive 3D movies through a special Disney+ app. Rather than simply watching on a flat screen, it’s like stepping into the movie itself through the Vision Pro displays.
Disney has remastered classics like Avatar and offerings from Pixar and Marvel Studios specifically for the three-dimensional environments that Vision Pro enables.
This hints at the potential for Vision Pro to enable groundbreaking applications across entertainment, gaming, communications, healthcare, industrial design, and more in the years ahead.
What Comes Next?
With Apple still ramping up manufacturing and demand likely to remain red-hot for months, the launch timeline may prove frustrating to eager customers. Tech enthusiasts will need patience.
However, early signs point to a hugely successful debut for Vision Pro. One that cements its position as the device that finally brings virtual and augmented reality into the mainstream.
Looking ahead, strong initial adoption could encourage more investment by Apple and third-party developers into expanding the platform’s capabilities even further. This is only the beginning of a new computing revolution led by one of tech’s most innovative companies. The future looks very bright for Vision Pro indeed.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
