Ordering Process

[happypappy]

What do you think the ordering process will be?

Being a completely new product along with recent news of the possibility that Apple may require customers to be fitted for the device’s different sized facial inserts; which would require a visit to an Apple Store.

Many don’t live near an Apple Store, so I doubt this will be the case.

I’ll definitely be ordering online if Apple is offering that option. I have an Apple Store just minutes away and I’ll also be waiting in line the night before to ensure I get one on launch day.

Back to the good old Apple release events!!! 😊

 

[dante_mr]

Given the need for fittings, we might see something similar to the Apple Watch release which required a visit to an Apple Store for sizing but was unavailable for purchase in-store.

So for Vision Pro:

Pre-order online, head to selected Apple Store for fitting and prescription session, then the device + lens if applicable get sent to your address or can be picked up.

 

[blweldon2]

If they’re building an app for store associates to scan your face for the right fit, there’s no reason they couldn’t build that function into the Apple Store app. They could also very easily just have you fill out your prescription information if you require lenses. There is no reason this couldn’t be an online order unless Apple wants to either purposely limit the number of purchases or wants it to be an experience.

 

[bkkcanuck8]

If they’re building an app for store associates to scan your face for the right fit, there’s no reason they couldn’t build that function into the Apple Store app. They could also very easily just have you fill out your prescription information if you require lenses. There is no reason this couldn’t be an online order unless Apple wants to either purposely limit the number of purchases or wants it to be an experience.

Not sure a static prescription of your glasses would provide the best details. When they are doing the prescription you are typically looking at a Snell Chart a long distance away and they are optimizing the prescription for that sort of distance. Assuming the Vision Pro has (like all other VR devices) a set focal point somewhere from 1.3 to 2 meters (range selected from different devices)... then preferably the prescription should be done based on that. If that is the aim, I would only recommend certain locations for prescriptions as the general ones typically get confused if you optimize it other than for their typical standard (at least with reading glasses). At least that is what my guess would be of the process. As for the fit of the light seal, I do wonder if the built in iPhone LiDAR etc... is accurate enough the small differences. Ideally, they would also have the option of going to a custom fit - made to order option at a higher price.

 

[dante_mr]

If they’re building an app for store associates to scan your face for the right fit, there’s no reason they couldn’t build that function into the Apple Store app. They could also very easily just have you fill out your prescription information if you require lenses. There is no reason this couldn’t be an online order unless Apple wants to either purposely limit the number of purchases or wants it to be an experience.

Sure. But don’t forget the headband also comes in different sizes.

I’m sure down the line Apple will make it easier to place an order without visiting a store (e.g. for Apple Watch they have a at-home guideline for measuring wrist size).

But just like the Series 0, and given the rumors of limited production it makes more sense to have the Vision Pro start with in-person visits first.

Lest Apple risks people trying to return/exchange the device in droves because it doesn’t fit right. Might be very inefficient given the rumored supply for next year.

 

[bkkcanuck8]

Sure. But don’t forget the headband also comes in different sizes.

I’m sure down the line Apple will make it easier to place an order without visiting a store (e.g. for Apple Watch they have a at-home guideline for measuring wrist size).

But just like the Series 0, and given the rumors of limited production it makes more sense to have the Vision Pro start with in-person visits first.

Lest Apple risks people trying to return/exchange the device in droves because it doesn’t fit right. Might be very inefficient given the rumored supply for next year.

Especially since I expect them to sell the entire supply for the first year in the first month of sales 🤣 It will make for an interesting ordering page... order now, deliver in a year...

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Scalpers will get them especially with inventory reportedly being cut by a large amount then sold to the highest bidder!

 

[Tdude96]

What do you think the ordering process will be?

Being a completely new product along with recent news of the possibility that Apple may require customers to be fitted for the device’s different sized facial inserts; which would require a visit to an Apple Store.

Many don’t live near an Apple Store, so I doubt this will be the case.

I’ll definitely be ordering online if Apple is offering that option. I have an Apple Store just minutes away and I’ll also be waiting in line the night before to ensure I get one on launch day.

Back to the good old Apple release events!!! 😊

I do not understand why people think they'd be available in-store only.

The iPhone has had FaceID since the X, and lidar since the 12 Pro. Are these technologies so inaccurate at recognizing facial details one (or both) couldn't be used to map a face and determine the best insert for a Vision Pro without having to go to a store?

 

[coolbreeze2]

Ordering online will be hell. We will have to get up early before daybreak because it will sell out fast. The servers will be clogged.

 

[Jensend]

At least that is what my guess would be of the process. As for the fit of the light seal, I do wonder if the built in iPhone LiDAR etc... is accurate enough the small differences. Ideally, they would also have the option of going to a custom fit - made to order option at a higher price.

Purchasing the Bigscreen Beyond VR headset requires a 3D scan of your face with an iPhone, and comes with a custom 3D-printed facial interface with each order. That means any FaceID iPhone should be able to scan faces with plenty of accuracy for Apple to pick the best fit from their available options.

 

[dante_mr]

I do not understand why people think they'd be available in-store only.

The iPhone has had FaceID since the X, and lidar since the 12 Pro. Are these technologies so inaccurate at recognizing facial details one (or both) couldn't be used to map a face and determine the best insert for a Vision Pro without having to go to a store?

This is just based off of how the Apple Watch initially launched. In-store fittings with online ordering. Not to be confused with walk-in purchasing which was NOT available for the Apple Watch Series 0.

Given this is an entirely new product category for Apple, with rumors of limited supply, it makes much more sense for the Vision Pro to require in-person fittings and demos much like the AW Series 0's launch. And then have the customer order their device in-store for it to be delivered directly to them with the selected band/Light Seal sizes + ZEISS lenses (if applicable).

Also, it's not just the Light Seal (the facial insert) but also the headband which also comes in different sizes. Not to mention the prescription lenses. During the pre-order process, for example, people could indicate their prescriptions and then try them in-store during the fittings. Or do as the press did during WWDC and have the Apple Store employees check your prescription then and there.

I personally don't understand why people think the Vision Pro won't require or at least recommend an in-store visit given it's a new wearable type.

Unlike AR/VR and Apple enthusiasts (aka people on this forum and elsewhere). The average person probably doesn't really know how AR/VR headsets really work. So giving people the ability to just order a $3500 device only for them to get confused or frustrated with the fitting is just...not optimal.

Edit: also, idk about the Apple Stores in your area, but in my country all Apple Stores have transitioned to modular setups with dedicated in-store pickup counters. Which are practically perfect for Vision Pro demos. This is a great article that explores the topic including a brief mention of the Apple Watch launch experience (https://michaelsteeber.substack.com/p/experience-room-apple-vision-pro).

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Pretty sure one of the people who got a demo said that this would all be done in the Apple Store app.
Also, Apple themselves said it would be available “starting early next year from apple.com *and* our retail stores”.
So you will absolutely be able to order this thing online.
Would be absolutely bizarre if you couldn't order your new spatial computer with a computer.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Apple is likely gonna partner with companies like Warby Parker and similar stores to do the fittings. Wouldn't be surprised if pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS sign partnerships with Apple to do fittings. Also, Apple might not even go out of its way to do any of this beyond the Zeiss lens. If you truly want one and you want to make sure its comfortable, you will find yourself at an Apple Store to do it. The first gen model will be all about developers, enthusiast/early adopters.

Second generation will still be expensive, but more about volume and wider network support.

Third generation, still expensive, but more accessible.

Forth gen, major redesign, lighter, more mainstream.

 

[dante_mr]

Pretty sure one of the people who got a demo said that this would all be done in the Apple Store app.
Also, Apple themselves said it would be available “starting early next year from apple.com *and* our retail stores”.
So you will absolutely be able to order this thing online.
Would be absolutely bizarre if you couldn't order your new spatial computer with a computer.

It's happened with the Apple Watch (the only other Apple wearable device) so it's not out of the question.

This is all speculation. I think we'd obviously benefit from Apple allowing us to just order it without a visit, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start with required in-store visits first.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It's happened with the Apple Watch (the only other Apple wearable device) so it's not out of the question.

This is all speculation. I think we'd obviously benefit from Apple allowing us to just order it without a visit, but I wouldn't be surprised if they start with required in-store visits first.

The first Apple Watch could be pre-ordered online, all that going into the store nonsense was just if you really wanted to.
In fact, for the first several weeks, you could not purchase an Apple Watch in-store. You could try one on, but you could not purchase.

Apple Watch Now Available for Pre-Order Through Apple's Online Store

Apple has begun accepting online pre-orders for the Apple Watch in the United States and other first wave launch countries, including the U.K,...

www.macrumors.com

This is straight from the article, the day the Apple Watch went up for pre-order:
“The Apple Watch will officially launch on April 24, which is the same date that some customers will begin receiving their devices at their homes. Pre-ordering is recommended, as Apple will not be accepting walk-in orders for the Apple Watch during the first weeks following launch. All orders must be placed online.”
ALL orders must be placed online.
Also, this is not speculation. They literally said that you'll be able to buy the Apple Vision Pro from apple.com during the keynote, and people who actually got to demo it have confirmed that the iPhone is what's used to measure your face.

 

[dante_mr]

The first Apple Watch could be pre-ordered online, all that going into the store nonsense was just if you really wanted to.
In fact, for the first several weeks, you could not purchase an Apple Watch in-store. You could try one on, but you could not purchase.

Apple Watch Now Available for Pre-Order Through Apple's Online Store

Apple has begun accepting online pre-orders for the Apple Watch in the United States and other first wave launch countries, including the U.K,...

www.macrumors.com

This is straight from the article, the day the Apple Watch went up for pre-order:
“The Apple Watch will officially launch on April 24, which is the same date that some customers will begin receiving their devices at their homes. Pre-ordering is recommended, as Apple will not be accepting walk-in orders for the Apple Watch during the first weeks following launch. All orders must be placed online.”
ALL orders must be placed online.
Also, this is not speculation. They literally said that you'll be able to buy the Apple Vision Pro from apple.com during the keynote, and people who actually got to demo it have confirmed that the iPhone is what's used to measure your face.

I meant speculation on my part not yours. Although we have no concrete info on the ordering process anyway so technically we’re all speculating.

Other than the fact that we can order it online…which is a given and doesn’t really tell us anything.

And like I said, I don’t think Vision Pro will be available for walk-in purchases either at least at first. Especially if rumors of limited supplies are true.

In any case, if we can order the Vision Pro without having to do a fitting in-store that would be fantastic.

 

[tomtad]

From Gurman:

"The company will designate special areas in the stores with seating, headset demo units and tools to size accessories for buyers. While the device will be sold at all of Apple’s roughly 270 US locations, the company is planning the sections for the Vision Pro initially at stores in major areas — such as New York and Los Angeles — before rolling them out nationwide, according to people with knowledge of the plans.

Apple said it will offer the headset in other countries at the end of 2024. The company is discussing the UK and Canada as two of its first international markets with Asia and Europe soon after, although a final decision hasn’t been made, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters."

"Apple will ask in-store buyers to make an appointment to purchase the Vision Pro. That follows a strategy the company used for the Apple Watch in 2015. The driving force behind the idea is to ensure customers walk out with a product that fits properly. If applicable, the company will ask users for their vision prescription for lens inserts via an online portal.
To determine the right light seal — the component that keeps light out of a wearer’s field of view — Apple is developing an iPhone app that will scan a person’s head as well as a physical machine. Online purchasers will similarly be asked to upload their prescription data and use the face scan app to determine accessory sizing."

 

[blweldon2]

That says nothing about online ordering, which Apple’s website clearly states the Vision Pro will be available from.

 

[coolbreeze2]

Fun times are coming!

 

[zakarhino]

As others have pointed out Apple have already demonstrated at WWDC that the scanning process can be done using FaceID so they'll update the Apple Store app with this feature. I suspect a month or two before delivery you'll be able to 'pre-save' your Vision Pro config (along with face scan and prescription info) just like you can with your iPhone every year before preorders go live.

The real question for me is whether or not online customers will be able to go into an Apple Store and exchange their light seal for a better fitting one. I think "exchange" is a no go but they'll probably let you book a fitting appointment and purchase an additional light seal based on an in store fitting.

 

[bkkcanuck8]

As others have pointed out Apple have already demonstrated at WWDC that the scanning process can be done using FaceID so they'll update the Apple Store app with this feature. I suspect a month or two before delivery you'll be able to 'pre-save' your Vision Pro config (along with face scan and prescription info) just like you can with your iPhone every year before preorders go live.

The real question for me is whether or not online customers will be able to go into an Apple Store and exchange their light seal for a better fitting one. I think "exchange" is a no go but they'll probably let you book a fitting appointment and purchase an additional light seal based on an in store fitting.

The face scan would only be useful for determining a close fit... not necessarily the best fit in all cases. This based this on comments from one who actually tried out the device -- none of them fit his head perfectly -- they swapped it out and tried another. Of course this selection was less than the final list of light seal sizes. The comfort of wearing is very important with regards to weight on face... so I can see them narrowing it down... but still requiring you to come into the store for final fitting.

 

[zakarhino]

The face scan would only be useful for determining a close fit... not necessarily the best fit in all cases. This based this on comments from one who actually tried out the device -- none of them fit his head perfectly -- they swapped it out and tried another. Of course this selection was less than the final list of light seal sizes.

Absolutely. That's my big concern actually, I don't necessarily trust the scan, I need to try a bunch myself in person to be sure. I think Apple's approach will be to require an in store setup for the first couple months, even if you order online. That way they avoid any up front drama with bad fitment (as per your point) at the same time as narrowing the pool of initial potential buyers (to help alleviate supply issues) because a lot of people don't live close to an Apple Store.

Even if they let you order it direct to home via a FaceID scan only I think I'll pick the Apple Store option to be sure. The only concern is getting robbed on the way out or followed home (happens a lot to photographers that dare to bring their camera to SF, they get followed home all the way to the other side of the bay only to get robbed in their driveway). In my area the criminals have figured out the best day to steal packages and rob UPS trucks is on iPhone delivery day. The Vision Pro release will be so popular in the media that criminals will 100% exploit the moment.

 

[TLewis]

Not sure a static prescription of your glasses would provide the best details. When they are doing the prescription you are typically looking at a Snell Chart a long distance away and they are optimizing the prescription for that sort of distance. Assuming the Vision Pro has (like all other VR devices) a set focal point somewhere from 1.3 to 2 meters (range selected from different devices)... then preferably the prescription should be done based on that.

All of the optometrists I've used basically take my regular far-vision prescription and just add some standard factor (+1.5?, -1.25??, I've forgotten) to convert to "computer glasses". Apple might have some similar conversion factor, but I'm guessing the existing Vision Pro lenses are simply adjusted to infinity to minimize eyestrain (for people with 20:20 vision), and so regular far-vision prescriptions are probably usable, as-is. I'm certainly not a computer vision expert, but is there any reason for the Vision Pro to have the focal point 1.3-2 meters away? 3D can be handled via different images for each eye and doesn't need the eyes to focus differently (example: "3D" movie theaters or TVs that use polarized or red/blue glasses or some such). It's not like the standard Vision Pro lenses do dynamic focusing like camera lenses, since Apple did not mention anything like that. I'm just assuming the standard lenses are fixed-focus and likely set to infinity to minimize eyestrain.

 

[bkkcanuck8]

All of the optometrists I've used basically take my regular far-vision prescription and just add some standard factor (+1.5?, -1.25??, I've forgotten) to convert to "computer glasses". Apple might have some similar conversion factor, but I'm guessing the existing Vision Pro lenses are simply adjusted to infinity to minimize eyestrain (for people with 20:20 vision), and so regular far-vision prescriptions are probably usable, as-is. I'm certainly not a computer vision expert, but is there any reason for the Vision Pro to have the focal point 1.3-2 meters away? 3D can be handled via different images for each eye and doesn't need the eyes to focus differently (example: "3D" movie theaters or TVs that use polarized or red/blue glasses or some such). It's not like the standard Vision Pro lenses do dynamic focusing like camera lenses, since Apple did not mention anything like that. I'm just assuming the standard lenses are fixed-focus and likely set to infinity to minimize eyestrain.

I went through a list of current VR devices on the market (or prior versions, I think the current Quest is 1.3m) and they all have specific focal points - and they varied from 1.3m to 2m. The assumption on my part is this would be the likely range of which Apple would be somewhere in there. I am guessing at this point that since the optics have to bend the light from the source of emition to the eye so that if you follow the light ray coming into your eye at the point of entry and draw a line out to a specific point where they basically intersect - that would be the focal point. Far enough away that you can create visually a 3D effect that is as real as possible for things far or near.

 

[Jensend]

All of the optometrists I've used basically take my regular far-vision prescription and just add some standard factor (+1.5?, -1.25??, I've forgotten) to convert to "computer glasses". Apple might have some similar conversion factor, but I'm guessing the existing Vision Pro lenses are simply adjusted to infinity to minimize eyestrain (for people with 20:20 vision), and so regular far-vision prescriptions are probably usable, as-is. I'm certainly not a computer vision expert, but is there any reason for the Vision Pro to have the focal point 1.3-2 meters away? 3D can be handled via different images for each eye and doesn't need the eyes to focus differently (example: "3D" movie theaters or TVs that use polarized or red/blue glasses or some such). It's not like the standard Vision Pro lenses do dynamic focusing like camera lenses, since Apple did not mention anything like that. I'm just assuming the standard lenses are fixed-focus and likely set to infinity to minimize eyestrain.

The best way to minimize eyestrain on a fixed focus system is to have the focus distance be the distance of the typical virtual content. You could probably get a pretty good idea of what that is by opening a 2D app in the VisionOS simulator and measuring the distance to the floating panel.

Because the Vision Pro is made primarily for indoor use with passthrough, you'll very rarely be focusing at a far distance, so it doesn't make sense to set focus to infinity.

If your prescription for far vision is -4.00, you'd need at least -3.50 power lenses to see the screens if they are focused at 2 meters, though you'd be better off sticking to -4.00 lenses.

If you typically have to use different prescriptions for near and far vision (such as bifocal/multi-focal lenses or separate glasses for computer use or reading), VR should actually be more comfortable for you than for someone who doesn't need vision correction or only uses a single correction distance. No one should need multi-focal lenses for VR.

Check out the Wikipedia article about the Vergence-accommodation conflict