Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced on Monday that its highly anticipated Vision Pro augmented-reality (AR) headset will be available for purchase in the United States starting February 2. The release comes several months after its initial launch, aiming to establish a foothold in the competitive AR headset market currently dominated by Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook.
Marked as Apple’s most significant venture since the introduction of the iPhone over a decade ago, the Vision Pro carries a starting price tag of $3,499. This makes it more than three times as expensive as the priciest headset in Meta’s array of mixed and virtual reality devices.
Interested consumers can pre-order the Vision Pro starting January 19 at 5 am PST, according to the company’s announcement. The device incorporates a cutting-edge chip named R1, designed to process information from its sensors in a fraction of a second.
While entering a market crowded with devices struggling to gain widespread consumer adoption, Apple’s Vision Pro positions itself in direct competition with Meta. This comes after years of clashes between the two tech giants over issues such as user privacy and control of developer platforms.
It’s worth noting that the Vision Pro needs to be connected to a power source at all times. Apple addressed concerns about weight by incorporating an external battery, allowing the headset to run for up to 2 hours.
Comparatively, Meta’s Quest Pro, a top-of-the-line mixed reality device blending virtual reality with real-world video feed, offers a similar two-hour battery life directly on the headset, without the need for an external battery pack.
In a strategic move, Apple refrained from raising prices for its new series of iPhones, launched in September. These iPhones feature a titanium shell, a faster chip, and improved gaming capabilities, despite a global downturn in smartphone sales.
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