Apple Store Down in UK, Canada, and Other Countries Ahead of Vision Pro Pre-Orders [Update: It's Back Up]

[TeacherToo]

Apple's online store went down this morning in Germany, France, Australia, the UK, and Canada, as the company prepared to begin taking Apple Vision Pro pre-orders in the five regions.

Pre-orders begin at 5.00 a.m. Pacific Time, or the following local times. The starting prices given below in local currency are for the 256GB model minus prescription lenses and other accessories.

• Australia – 10:00 pm AEST – $5,999
• Canada – 5.00 a.m. PT – $4,999
• France – 2.00 p.m. – €3,999
• Germany – 2.00 p.m. – €3,999
• United Kingdom – 1.00 p.m. – £3,499

Apple Vision Pro will launch in the five countries on Friday, July 12, and interested customers can currently book a 30-minute demo of the device in their local Apple Store from launch day up until Thursday, July 18.

The Vision Pro is unquestionably Apple's most technically advanced product and a remarkable engineering achievement that impresses at first glance. However, potential buyers should visit an Apple Store to try it out and thoroughly research its capabilities before making a purchase. Be sure to check out our dedicated Vision Pro roundup to learn more.

Apple is expected to produce fewer than 400,000 Vision Pro headsets in 2024 due to the complexity of manufacturing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. However, Apple is said to be already working on a new version of the ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ for 2025 that will be priced more affordably.

Article Link: Apple Store Down in UK, Canada, and Other Countries Ahead of Vision Pro Pre-Orders [Update: It's Back Up]

I bought mine here in the US when it first came out and never regretted it. It is a fantastic device and a glimpse into the future of technology. I use mine almost everyday and in many ways. It is certainly worth what I paid for it.

I enjoy mine. I appreciate it and what capabilities it has. I see its future potential and want to be part of that growth and experience it to the fullest. I would even pay the prices that it is going for overseas. With Apple, like many things in life, you have to look at the value, not just the price. You have to be able to appreciate quality and good design. They are often worth the price you pay.

It is sad to see so many people criticizing it when they do not even own one. They either don't want to spend the money for it or can't. They want to appear as experts or prognosticators and just like to see themselves in print.

If you do not like it, let it be. Stop complaining about it and making fun of the people who buy it and like it. Those posts say more about your character than your expertise.

To the naysayers, stop being so negative and acknowledge the design, technology and future of the device. I have seen improvement and creative uses of it in the short time it has been out. Wait another 6 months before you kill it and bury it. Give it a chance and be open to what may come. Like the iPad and other devices, it will grow and expand in time with more apps and uses.

Its value in the classroom, in education and experiencing different places and cultures will eclipse any entertainment or productivity uses of it. Its uses and value for the future can not begin to be imagined at this time. Besides replacing every device you have now (laptop, TV, etc) it will have an impact on how we learn, live and interact. Stretch your imagination and think of all the possibilities. For me, the Vision Pro is my doorway to the future and with it, I have one foot in already.

 

[Johnstrass2]

Maybe I'm being too critical, but why should I buy a product this year that will be released next year at a reduced price and maybe even improved?

This is so very clearly a beta type of product with a premium price (I mean €4000? That's just insane.) and really only for hardcore fans, a few companies and tech enthusiasts with a very high disposable income. Apart from that, I don't really see a target group.

Every Apple product has the same thing. I bought the Apple Watch when it first came out, but of course shortly thereafter, the new versions were dramatically improved. That’s life.

I really don’t understand why so many people are dumping on this product. I’ve owned one now for several months and I love it both for fun and also for productivity.

 

[Johnstrass2]

I bought mine here in the US when it first came out and never regretted it. It is a fantastic device and a glimpse into the future of technology. I use mine almost everyday and in many ways. It is certainly worth what I paid for it.

I enjoy mine. I appreciate it and what capabilities it has. I see its future potential and want to be part of that growth and experience it to the fullest. I would even pay the prices that it is going for overseas. With Apple, like many things in life, you have to look at the value, not just the price. You have to be able to appreciate quality and good design. They are often worth the price you pay.

It is sad to see so many people criticizing it when they do not even own one. They either don't want to spend the money for it or can't. They want to appear as experts or prognosticators and just like to see themselves in print.

If you do not like it, let it be. Stop complaining about it and making fun of the people who buy it and like it. Those posts say more about your character than your expertise.

To the naysayers, stop being so negative and acknowledge the design, technology and future of the device. I have seen improvement and creative uses of it in the short time it has been out. Wait another 6 months before you kill it and bury it. Give it a chance and be open to what may come. Like the iPad and other devices, it will grow and expand in time with more apps and uses.

Its value in the classroom, in education and experiencing different places and cultures will eclipse any entertainment or productivity uses of it. Its uses and value for the future can not begin to be imagined at this time. Besides replacing every device you have now (laptop, TV, etc) it will have an impact on how we learn, live and interact. Stretch your imagination and think of all the possibilities. For me, the Vision Pro is my doorway to the future and with it, I have one foot in already.

// Amen //

 

[Johnstrass2]

Agreed. I have not seen a single compelling use. Using it as a monitor for your Mac is ok if travelling I suppose, but as a desktop user I will pick multiple 4k monitors over a Vision Pro any day.

Why in the world would you want five separate monitors? The Vision Pro gives them all to you without having to physically have those things in your office? Unless of course you happen to have a Bloomberg type of terminal office

 

[Johnstrass2]

No way I can even think about affording one of these, but I'll probably book in to have a demo at an Apple Store at some point. I've not tried a headset since the OG Vive.

I would recommend that you go for two separate demonstrations. The first time I went, it was a bit overwhelming, and the device felt uncomfortable. I waited a month or two and then returned for a second demonstration. Within three minutes of the second demonstration I was hooked and bought one. I’ve loved the device ever cents.

Yes, it’s very expensive but at least you can see what hopefully a more consumer priced model in a few years will offer you.

 

[gusping]

Why in the world would you want five separate monitors? The Vision Pro gives them all to you without having to physically have those things in your office? Unless of course you happen to have a Bloomberg type of terminal office

I don't. 3 x 4k monitors is perfect for me, and they are much higher quality than the pixel density and clarity that vision pro can provide. If you need more, don't mind the drop in clarity or wearing a heavy headset 12 hours a day, then vision pro is great.

 

[IsaacM]

€4000? Good luck with that, Apple. 🫠

 

[IsaacM]

Every Apple product has the same thing. I bought the Apple Watch when it first came out, but of course shortly thereafter, the new versions were dramatically improved. That’s life.

I really don’t understand why so many people are dumping on this product. I’ve owned one now for several months and I love it both for fun and also for productivity.

The Apple Watch wasn’t 4000 euro for the base model. The super premium price is a hard sell for a product that feels like a beta test.

 

[AppleIsEveryWhere]

Hello China, now you can open it, make a pure copy, and sell it cheaper!!

 

[TeacherToo]

Yes, I agree. Do the demo multiple times. There is so much to see and try that it takes 2 or 3 visits at least.

 

[svish]

Will be better to do a demo before purchasing.

 

[lilkwarrior]

$5000 for a fancy VR headset. Rich boys toy

…There are 24” 4K Dolby Vision portable prosumer monitors without the HDR performance of the Vision Pro at US $4000 (~$5500 CAD). Dolby Vision Prosumer monitors are US $2500+.

On top of that, the Vision Pro has a laptop-class APU making it the most powerful standalone headset.

It’s also unfortunately the only option currently for a high PPI XR headset to render things on par with adjacent prosumer hardware and monitors today as well as premium home video TVs.

Gaming standalone headsets don’t even have premium HDR support nor meet a single VESA HDR standard in addition to not being on par with non-VR games with their libraries.

Vision Pro with its iPad support, seamless integration with Macs, and its growing library of native apps that have merely been available for less than 4 months enables ROI return for its price higher than any standalone in the market.

Most people are ignorant of the pricing prosumer hardware necessitates, and the Vision Pro is not for most people.

There are even more expensive headsets that exist.

No different than the average computer user who scoffs at prosumer/high-end furniture like $1000+ office chairs, $2500+ prosumer monitors, $300+ ergonomic keyboards, $1000+ prosumer GPUs, $100,000+ cars, and so on—no matter the awards and reviews that clearly have such things the top of their market and enables computing/productivity/experiences distinct from what can be derived lower-end products.

 

[lilkwarrior]

The Apple Watch wasn’t 4000 euro for the base model. The super premium price is a hard sell for a product that feels like a beta test.

That’s a terrible example. Spatial computing is fundamentally more expensive than traditional computing platforms to derive being on par and offer better core experiences than traditional computing platforms.

With that in mind with distinct nuance of traditional computing platforms Apple are in otherwise, the Vision Pro is like if the Apple Watch, iPad Pro, and Pro Display XDR debuted their respective categories.

Also any Vision that matches the computing power of a particular Mac must be more expensive than the equivalent Mac. The Vision Pro base price much be more expensive than the base Macbook and Macbook Pro—just like the price of PC handhelds/laptops to consoles/desktops.

Accordingly it’s not that different if Nvidia released their prosumer cards (Titan-class) before their consumer cards—which essentially is what happens with them having similarly a manufacturing reason (binning) among the reasons why Apple didn’t release a non-prosumer headset first and they also deliberately don’t release a cheap iPhone (SE) or iPad Mini Pro before the prosumer variants.

The beta remark doesn’t make sense when there isn’t a better non-gaming standalone in various things by critics and HCI/design entities that has also reviewed consistently the best standalone XR headset for the core functions of XR to date.

It improves upon various aspects of spatial computing previous headsets such as its well-regarded eye tracking and OS that doesn’t need controllers , and its seamless integration with other major non-VR devices that has never existed as good or as easy as Apple’s hardware ecosystem enables it to be (i.e. can use iPad apps, seamlessly connect to headphones, laptops, and phones; and so on) and existing non-VR content in premium/awesome/invaluable (Dolby HDR support, spatial videos/pics) to have easily more potential of being more justifiably used regularly than traditional computing equivalents than any other headset.

It has trade-offs for its distinct focusesas you expect from its positioning for prosumers wanting a good/high-end XR experience fundamentally incompatible with appeasing most people who are price sensitive or have modest/casual interest in spatial computing—especially beyond games.

This is consistent with the positioning of their other products with that same spirit in mind: The Pro Display XDR, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iMac Pro (more niche than the Vision Pro), and iPad Pro.

It is no coincidence similar gripes people with modest needs for those products are being targeted at the Vision Pro.

And please don’t make the same mistake as your Apple Watch example being up the Quest 3: The direct competitor to the Vision from Meta for the same audience Apple is targeting is the notably panned Quest Pro for NOT meeting the popular oft-demanded needs prosumers want from a XR headset.

For them, Apple has significantly nailed better with the Vision Pro with a more appropriate prosumer baseline picture quality and display tech support than any standalone prosumer specifically for them Apple has consistently catered to better than most across multiple device categories.


For this gen of prosumer VR headsets, the Vision Pro had no direct competition unfortunately—not unlike Nvidia having no direct competition to the 4090, their prosumer card, with AMD deliberately choosing to bow out of competing at that tier of consumer cards.


The Vision Pro merely has the same market situation for now. It is what it is.

Apple fortunately is enabling the supply chain for the entire XR headset market to dramatically progress in a way it hasn’t been afforded in a LONG time.

That hopefully means the next crop of headsets, AR glasses, and spatial computing devices will be the most improved, varied, or boldly attempting to be innovative from the previous gen in a long time.

 

[HDFan]

If it was at a competitive price, even at double the Quest 3 price, they would be selling boatloads of them.

and loosing a ton of money with component costs around ~$1600 not including development costs.

If media consumption is the only main use

it isn't.

 

[darngooddesign]

This is where there's a disconnect. This is clearly labeled "Pro" for a reason. While it may be available for consumers, the average consumer is not the target market for this first release.

In Apple-speak. Pro usually means the best specs, not necessarily Professional. It’s called Vision-Pro because Apple always planned on releasing a less expensive Vision or Vision-Air (probably the latter so they market it as ‘visionary’) which doesn’t have the best specs.

 

[Bolt1982]

$5,500 for just the basic model canadian with tax, yeah ok not even if I couid afford it, would I ever buy this model! Not even just to brag that I have one, cause let’s be serious, anyone who does buy this, that will be their main reason

 

[19callum93]

If you're someone who is seriously considering buying one, you really aren't likely to be someone who needs a finance deal.

If you're someone who is seriously considering buying one, you really aren't likely to be someone who needs a finance deal.

I agree. I would have thought Apple would have had this option though to push sales and encourage customers to purchase. This option is available in the US.

 

[fatTribble]

Not even just to brag that I have one, cause let’s be serious, anyone who does buy this, that will be their main reason

You can’t be serious? My friends all love technology the way I do. They were happy to hear about my Vision Pro. Some wanted a demo via FaceTime. They could all buy one on a whim. We don’t brag about anything to each other but we do enjoy each others successes. If you or your friends brag about purchases then we live in different worlds and for that I am grateful.

 

[lilkwarrior]

That

$5,500 for just the basic model canadian with tax, yeah ok not even if I couid afford it, would I ever buy this model! Not even just to brag that I have one, cause let’s be serious, anyone who does buy this, that will be their main reason

That’s an extremely naive standpoint to claim people would buy this to brag without any idea of their computing needs or use cases.

Why bother doing this toxic behavior at all? Things that don’t cater to you have a right to exist without you caring unless you have stocks in Apple and you are adamant it will lower your ROI return in the company.

 

[darngooddesign]

$5,500 for just the basic model canadian with tax, yeah ok not even if I couid afford it, would I ever buy this model! Not even just to brag that I have one, cause let’s be serious, anyone who does buy this, that will be their main reason

It’s a shame that you and your friends only do things to brag about them.

 

[DaPhox]

Anyone not buying/buying into the AVP: you should be ASHAMED of yourself…

 

[ric22]

I'm genuinely surprised that it's cheaper in the EU than the UK!

 

[SoldOnApple]

I wish Tim Cook were my uncle, he'd gift me Vision Pro for my birthday for sure. Or at least the new iPad..

 

[aussie-reader]

Love how they just use the same US figure $3499 in the UK £3499 ($4421)

US prices do not normally include taxes in the advertised price, these are added once you stipulate your Zip Code (Postcode) as they vary by State and City.

UK prices will include VAT at 20% in the advertised price so a true comparison would be USD3499 x 1.2 = USD4198 = GBP3,320 at today's rate.

Still more expensive but not massively so.

Similar difference in Australian pricing but the VAT (GST) there is only 10% so the advertised price is GBP3163 (AUD5999), bargain!

 

[DoubleU]

US prices do not normally include taxes in the advertised price, these are added once you stipulate your Zip Code (Postcode) as they vary by State and City.

UK prices will include VAT at 20% in the advertised price so a true comparison would be USD3499 x 1.2 = USD4198 = GBP3,320 at today's rate.

Still more expensive but not massively so.

Similar difference in Australian pricing but the VAT (GST) there is only 10% so the advertised price is GBP3163 (AUD5999), bargain!

Also in the UK there are potential additional business costs due to consumer rights; 5/6 years of free repairs/replacements for inherent manufacturing faults. In a lot of US states you have to lawyer up and join a class action suit, so UK costs have built in surcharge for possible free services.