At $3,500, will you buy a Vision Pro?

[KPOM]

Those models died a death pretty quickly due to the high cost and were extremely niche. Hopefully those are not a good comparison to a headset that seems massively overpriced at this point but may have some market potential.

However, functionally the more expensive watches were identical to the cheaper versions. A fairer comparison may be to the original MacBook Air. When it was released in January 2008, the base model was $1,799 (about $2,500 today), and the 64GB SSD added another $999. By November 2008, a significantly revised version with a 128GB SSD sold for $2,499 (about $3,500 today). By October 2010, the base Air was down to $999 (about $1350 today).

While I don’t see the Vision Pro price declining at such a steep pace as the MacBook Air, I do see room for a “Vision” (”Air” or sans Pro), or even a “Vision SE” in a few years at more affordable price points. Apple seems to be fitting the original Vision Pro with the best available equipment (M2, new R1, micro-OLED screens), perhaps to avoid some of the issues with the original Air and Watch, but still the first versions are likely to be buggy and sell in relatively low volumes. I think Apple expects that. It took a few years for the Watch to gain traction, but today it’s an important part of their product lineup. Apple will make a similar long-term commitment to the Vision lineup.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

However, functionally the more expensive watches were identical to the cheaper versions. A fairer comparison may be to the original MacBook Air. When it was released in January 2008, the base model was $1,799 (about $2,500 today), and the 64GB SSD added another $999. By November 2008, a significantly revised version with a 128GB SSD sold for $2,499 (about $3,500 today). By October 2010, the base Air was down to $999 (about $1350 today).

While I don’t see the Vision Pro price declining at such a steep pace as the MacBook Air, I do see room for a “Vision” (”Air” or sans Pro), or even a “Vision SE” in a few years at more affordable price points. Apple seems to be fitting the original Vision Pro with the best available equipment (M2, new R1, micro-OLED screens), perhaps to avoid some of the issues with the original Air and Watch, but still the first versions are likely to be buggy and sell in relatively low volumes. I think Apple expects that. It took a few years for the Watch to gain traction, but today it’s an important part of their product lineup. Apple will make a similar long-term commitment to the Vision lineup.

I think it’s very difficult to compare to the Apple Watch generally as that is an affordable product that has sold massively well, just like the iPhone and iPad. Unless the vision pro is a quarter of its current price, it’s not going to have the appeal of those products to the masses. Apple are also notorious for removing too many of the leading features with SE models of their products and ultimately this just drives people to comparably priced products with higher specs. We’ll see.

 

[bobob]

The cheapest 16" MacBook Pro is $2499, so the price is completely reasonable for a head mounted M2 Apple computer.

I will absolutely be buying one as soon as I need my next new computer.

 

[KPOM]

The cheapest 16" MacBook Pro is $2499, so the price is completely reasonable for a head mounted M2 Apple computer.

I will absolutely be buying one as soon as I need my next new computer.

The m2 iPad Pro is $800 and the M2 MacBook Air starts at $1100. But the Vision Pro is much smaller, has an R1 chip, and more advanced display and camera technology.

 

[JapanApple]

Comma, this is all about AR/VR. You don't have to be there to be there.

No, I said that I can't buy it since living in Japan. I need to wait until the second part of the year to buy here.

 

[kjm18]

No, too expensive and no interest whatsoever in it.

 

[anshuvorty]

Vision Pro will be the new Apple Edition Apple Watch - you know that those who flaunt one in public have the "means."

 

[KPOM]

Vision Pro will be the new Apple Edition Apple Watch - you know that those who flaunt one in public have the "means."

I don’t think I saw a single original Apple Watch Edition in person outside an Apple Store. However, the Apple Watch Hermes is still going strong after almost 8 years.

 

[blweldon2]

It’s simple for me. If it can apply a color filter to the outside cameras to assist me with color related tasks, then it’s a day 1 purchase for that alone. Easiest $3500 I’ll ever spend. No more balancing my phone’s camera in front of me while making sure I match colors up properly. Color correction glasses don’t work and if visionOS handles the colorblind accessibility the same way iOS does, it’ll be perfect for my use cases.

 

[AL2TEACH]

I changed my mind from a maybe to yeah, I'm gonna get it if I can. The product that was shown was a demo and by the time it comes out it should be lighter and other changes. I don't want a watered down version. I think this thing will/is amazing.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

One thing that concerns me is that it “STARTS at” $3499. I wonder if that $3499 SKU will skimp out on internal storage or RAM. Also wonder if they’ll make an (expensive) first-party travel case for it.

The prescription lens attachments will definitely be extra. Not sure about RAM, but I would expect different storage options. A travel case will be a must!

 

[UltimateSyn]

The prescription lens attachments will definitely be extra. Not sure about RAM, but I would expect different storage options. A travel case will be a must!

Yes indeed... I would imagine/hope the 24GB RAM variant of M2 is standard, but not sure about storage. 256GB would be an insult, 512GB would be adequate, but 1TB would be awesome. We'll see. If they don't include the travel case as part of the packaging I'll be pissed, since it'd be impossible to go anywhere with those delicate exposed lenses without one.

 

[KPOM]

Yes indeed... I would imagine/hope the 24GB RAM variant of M2 is standard, but not sure about storage. 256GB would be an insult, 512GB would be adequate, but 1TB would be awesome. We'll see. If they don't include the travel case as part of the packaging I'll be pissed, since it'd be impossible to go anywhere with those delicate exposed lenses without one.

It depends on what it runs and what it needs to store vs stream. Note that it runs iOS/iPadOS apps and not Mac apps. The 128GB base storage of the iPad Pro is more than adequate for me.

 

[ericwn]

Comma, this is all about AR/VR. You don't have to be there to be there.

On US only launch day, being in the US will help with the purchase

 

[H_D]

I expect this to be about 4—5K€ with lenses, storage and so on. The device would be much cooler if it were more leaning towards being a 3D-«Mac» instead of being a 3D-«iPad», and of course this is the kind of pricing aimed at early adopters, of which there will be a lot, but for this kind of soft-/hardware and the immense work manifesting itself in a breakthrough technology, this doe not feel over-priced, rather than the usual Apple-pricing for a certain level of product that makes feel other offerings feel cheaper in every sense of the word. I was super-hesitant about buying the AirpodMax, and still have sone items I think could be much better with these headphone, but they sure make every other headphone at the same price point feel not as well-designed and -composed. These glasses will be (for a first iteration) fun to use, joy in terms of materials and solutions, the thought put into it. Even from the presentation you basically can feel how good the connector to the battery will feel when you snap it in etc. This is what Apple is best at and they should never change this «it's ****ing expensive, but it is the best you can buy» strategy. I recently got a Huawei 28" for working at home (and some StudioDisplays at work) – and compared to the SD the Huawei (which in itself is fun for 500€) really felt so much cheaper, so terrible, the colors and image so washed-out that you go and spend the money to simply get the Display that is making you happy in every aspect of its usage. This will be the same, only even more personal.

 

[Alexander_im]

Well, I must confess: I was really impressed with the presentation as it has addressed some of the questions I had prior to launch.

I was really wondering about my own needs, as I’m not a gamer or developer. But the first 30 seconds of demo showed my own “killer app”. I’m a journalist working on a documentary series, which involves dozens of script revisions and subsequent drafts to get it right. The best way to see all the weak spots in your film is to watch it on a big screen. Ideally in a movie theater, where you can instantly see the fragments you would not include otherwise. If Vision Pro works as it was shown (and I have no doubts by the time it will be released it will work even better), I would say “Would love to get it if I can afford it”.

 

[UltimateSyn]

It depends on what it runs and what it needs to store vs stream. Note that it runs iOS/iPadOS apps and not Mac apps. The 128GB base storage of the iPad Pro is more than adequate for me.

It’s not apps that I’m worried about so much as all the content around them. 128GB base storage would be one of the few ways they could un-convince me to buy this thing. The base 16” MacBook Pro and Mac Studio come with 512GB at $2499 and $1999, respectively. This is priced more in line with the high-end Macs than iPad or iPhone territory.

 

[Itsedstech]

If I don’t have any other lingering debts, I’ll buy it since it should be coming out around my birthday

 

[JohnnyJolt1]

People think $3,500 is too expensive. I am looking at getting a Samsung 85” tv and sound bar for $6,000+. But now I think the Apple Vision Pro will replace that. A savings of $2,500. Plus the Apple Vision Pro is a Apple Computer, so another savings of about $3,000. Plus all the PC’s I have will become fully obsolete. Yes as a head set compared to a VR gaming system it is expensive, but is that really what you should be comparing it to?

 

[cardfan]

People think $3,500 is too expensive. I am looking at getting a Samsung 85” tv and sound bar for $6,000+. But now I think the Apple Vision Pro will replace that. A savings of $2,500. Plus the Apple Vision Pro is a Apple Computer, so another savings of about $3,000. Plus all the PC’s I have will become fully obsolete. Yes as a head set compared to a VR gaming system it is expensive, but is that really what you should be comparing it to?

It’s basically an iPad. Not a Mac. Mac wise it can project screens that extend a mac. Probably some lag. You still need a kb and mouse.

Eye and hand movement inputs won’t cut it. It would look to be an exercise in frustration. Especially with Siri the joke. My guess is that people will try this and quickly move back to traditional monitors or multiple monitors.

I’m guessing anything not made specifically for vision os is going to not be as worthwhile. All those iPad apps and apples arcade? That’s all worthless to me.

It will lack any killer app or software because imo apple isn’t willing to do that. I don’t expect much more than what they previewed. Movies and screens. And worthless FaceTime.

No one could try out simply typing anything on a Mac using these. It wasn’t ready. Anyone dreaming of getting work done on the go isn’t thinking it through. It’s going to suck.

AirPods will basically be mandatory for this.

My recommendation for most people will be to get a meta quest. Play around with it for a few years and see where this thing goes with apple and how much apple is willing to put into it.

 

[Mr. Dee]

A lot of potential buyers are reaching hard and using too much scapegoat's to justify the purchase. 'I'm gonna starve myself, because who needs food anyway, I'll be able to look at all the AR food when I get one'.

If you have to be doing that, its probably not for you. I can afford it without breaking a sweat, but it just does not fulfill an immediate need that's not satisfied by current technology. When version 3 comes out and all the early adopter issues are sorted out, more advances in alloys and even the software, then I'll think about it as a complimentary accessory.

2026 or 2027 is looking like when I will be making that decision. By then, I will be looking to upgrade my MacBook Pro and will decide if the Vision Pro is a better fit (no pun). My M1 MBP I bought in 2020 has not left the house since I bought it, its sat stationary on my desk for almost 4 years. That's definitely a Vision Pro candidate right there. My iPhone and Apple Watch remains the premier mobile computing platform when I'm out and about.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Add some data gloves and I can totally see someone starting a new fashion trend

I totally dig the Vision Pro but will wait for reviews after people use it for >30 minutes.

 

[tekboi]

I think it’s worth investing into if you’re a developer or wanting to be at the frontier of AR/VR.

In my eyes, it’s no different than when the original iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch were released. Everyone said the exact same thing about how it was “ridiculously priced” and that nobody would buy it.

“Oh what’s the point of this device, it’s just a big iPod”….

“Why do I need this overpriced watch, it have a FitBit at home”

etc.. etc..

And as developers started to make apps for it, people began seeing the practicality of it. I’m sure there will be cheaper iterations of the device, and the future versions will be cheaper as parts become cheaper, the form factor becomes smaller, the UI & OS get updated/streamlined, and AR/VR become more of a standard.

 

[Varking]

Count me as a maybe. It’s expensive, but it seems like Apple has put of a lot of fancy technology in it and may have some new use cases for it.

For me I’ll be getting it. The only knock I have on it is I’d like to plug in other things to it like a microphone.

 

[Night Spring]

For me I’ll be getting it. The only knock I have on it is I’d like to plug in other things to it like a microphone.

What kind of microphone, and for what? I assume the built in mikes are good for most purposes.