Report: Vision Pro Headset's Complex Design Forcing Apple to Make 'Drastic' Production Cuts

[reyesmac]

What Apple wants is to be able to charge a premium for a consumer product and still sell out. They won't get that since the price is too high. So they are thinking of how they could get away with a lower production run so they can get all that free publicity by saying it is sold out. It would be tragic if it sat on shelves and had to be discounted. It will also satisfy the shareholders because really, thats what everything Apple does is for. If they still think it will be hard to sell these then expect a sweet deal if you get one on Apple card as they could make it easier for more people to own one if they finance it affordably.

 

[diddl14]

$3500 headset that doesn’t actually benefit the end user? Lol

This will be sold out quicker than Taylor Swift tickets.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

As this device is only being sold in the US initially, I have no doubt the 'scalpers' will be out in force. When one of the latest iphone's was released, there was a news article about how a middle man was buying as many as he could from Apple stores in London and then selling them on to customers in India for treble the price. If there is money to be made someone will find a way to make it.

One interesting difference is that, while the phone was required to work with some internationally utilized cellular service (making use in other countries easier), the Vision Pro could be more seriously region locked. Meaning, for everyone outside the US that buys it, they may face an uphill battle of vpn’s, US credit card acquisition and App Store access and other things we’re NOT aware of yet.

I’d guess that Apple would make that information known up front of a release, so we’ll see.

 

[anselpela]

With respect, I believe that developers, enterprise customers, "influencers", "first adopters" and people who just want to show off could probably comfortably absorb five figures figures or more worth of Vision Pros in 2024. This would include people outside of the US who can travel to the US to get one or can use an "off the shelf" model shipped by a US purchaser to them.

You can't count these people as buyers. They buy everything. They're not a market.

 

[Surf Monkey]

This will be sold out quicker than Taylor Swift tickets.

Yeah, but that fact doesn’t really prove anything. If Apple released an expensive set of limited production snow tires they’d sell out too.

 

[Surf Monkey]

You can't count these people as buyers. They buy everything. They're not a market.

Furthermore, this is clearly NOT targeted at enterprise customers. This is not a B to B product. It’s a consumer product.

 

[anselpela]

Furthermore, this is clearly NOT targeted at enterprise customers. This is not a B to B product. It’s a consumer product.

If it were B to B with enterprise software, it might actually stand a chance, like every other similar product.

 

[Surf Monkey]

If it were B to B with enterprise software, it might actually stand a chance, like every other similar product.

Agree. It isn’t suited to consumer markets.

 

[CWallace]

As I said in my post, the headset is spectacular, but what do you use it for? Does the revolutionary technology make browsing the web, writing a email, or working on a Keynote presentation a revolutionary experience? I suspect it doesn't.

I think we should not look at the initial use cases Apple presented for the Vision Pro in the keynote as the only use cases this device will have within 6-12 months after launch. I see strong parallels with the Apple Watch launch keynote where many of the use cases Apple presented never panned out, but within a year the device had gelled around new use cases that served as the foundation for its future success as a product. I could see Enterprise / Corporate customers using it once they identify how to integrate it into their operations and write custom software for it. And I don't mean "virtual meetings", but things like design and prototyping that are currently being done in 2D (or somewhat ineffectively in 3D on gaming VR headsets).

You can't count these people as buyers. They buy everything. They're not a market.

A sale is a sale. And a number of them will likely hype the product to their audiences and some of that audience will have the means to buy one and they may decide to commit.

 

[akatsuki]

This is going to be a massive flop. Apple has rarely been at the forefront, they just take existing markets with **** products and make a good version of them.

Meanwhile, Siri sucks more and more every day. They don't have an equivalent of Nvidia Broadcast. They can't even get microLED screens out the door for the Apple Watch Ultra.

 

[iPay]

Apple being Apple, the best part is that there's zero chance production cuts turn into price cuts.
Trillions rule!

 

[mike2q]

Anyone who thinks the Vision Pro won't sell belongs in the same camp as those who said the same about the iPad and Apple Watch. Just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean its a bad product. Just because you don't see it as an everyday product, doesn't mean others won't. We are talking about the future of computers, not some fad like larger phones sizes.

The "Just because you can't afford it" line is a weak argument to say the least. Instead of addressing the out of touch high pricetag you chose a personal attack on people who don't share your enthusiasm for this product. It's funny you mention the Apple watch and the iPad because neither of these products come anywhere close to the ridiculous price of the out of touch Vision Pro. Well, the $10,000 Apple Watch Edition did but where is that now? The only other product Apple is trying to sell for that kind of money is the Mac Pro which is both aimed at professional industry and declining in sales numbers.
It's also funny you call out larger phone sizes as a fad while suggesting the Vision Pro is not. Have you seen the current iPhone Pro Max? Large screens are most certainly not a fad. The Vision Pro on the other hand will be lucky if it's even a fad.

 

[TheDauterive]

It doesn’t need one, it’s killer hardware

This? Wow.

 

[TheDauterive]

Anyone who thinks the Vision Pro won't sell belongs in the same camp as those who said the same about the iPad and Apple Watch. Just because you can't afford it, doesn't mean its a bad product. Just because you don't see it as an everyday product, doesn't mean others won't. We are talking about the future of computers, not some fad like larger phones sizes.

Are you going to buy one? And if so, why? What will you do with it on a day to day basis?

 

[Surf Monkey]

The "Just because you can't afford it" line is a weak argument to say the least. Instead of addressing the out of touch high pricetag you chose a personal attack on people who don't share your enthusiasm for this product. It's funny you mention the Apple watch and the iPad because neither of these products come anywhere close to the ridiculous price of the out of touch Vision Pro. Well, the $10,000 Apple Watch Edition did but where is that now? The only other product Apple is trying to sell for that kind of money is the Mac Pro which is both aimed at professional industry and declining in sales numbers.
It's also funny you call out larger phone sizes as a fad while suggesting the Vision Pro is not. Have you seen the current iPhone Pro Max? Large screens are most certainly not a fad. The Vision Pro on the other hand will be lucky if it's even a fad.

It’s a headset. It will always be a headset. That single fact will doom it to niche status and ultimately failure. The idea that this is the “future of computing” for rank and file consumers is insane.

 

[TheDauterive]

The passion with which some people on here are arguing against this product shows that it will sell out quickly

By that logic would not the passion with which some people on here are arguing for this produce show that it is doomed to fail? I mean both are egregious non sequiturs, but if you embrace one, it makes no sense to reject the other. (Unless, of course, it's just a big exercise in confirmation bias.)

 

[diddl14]

Yeah, but that fact doesn’t really prove anything. If Apple released an expensive set of limited production snow tires they’d sell out too.

Sure. And like with any product, especially with Apple products, there will be a total sh*tstorm when it turns out to suck. Next year when it hits users we‘ll know. Till than it’s all marketing and speculation.

 

[diddl14]

It’s a headset. It will always be a headset. That single fact will doom it to niche status and ultimately failure. The idea that this is the “future of computing” for rank and file consumers is insane.

Might be insane for you and that’s ok. For others, including myself, it might turn out to be a game changer in how I work. Next year we’ll all know.

 

[macfacts]

There's clearly a lot of interest in this product

I'll take one for $500, not $3500(4600cad) + (12%)tax.( Total $5200 CAD)

 

[Surf Monkey]

Might be insane for you and that’s ok. For others, including myself, it might turn out to be a game changer in how I work. Next year we’ll all know.

People generally don’t like to wear goggles. The implication that I’m the outlier is wrong. The mainstream context is googles are not considered cool or desirable on any level. The insanity isn’t that some people are enthusiastic about it. The insanity is that Tim Cook actually thinks this will be a mainstream device and the future of computing generally. Neither one is likely to be true.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I'll take one for $500, not $3500(4600cad) + (12%)tax.( Total $5200 CAD)

I’m sure everyone would. But don’t hold your breath.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The difference, as I see it, is that not many people are arguing FOR this such that they think it will change the world. I like the product because I think it will make a difference in my life, and will fit in my computing needs.

But those arguing against it seem to think they hold some universal knowledge about all users, and that because they don't see a use for it, nobody else will either.

There's clearly a lot of interest in this product. Apple has clearly made a splash. So why does someone need to be passionately against it? I mean, why do you care so much to post over and over again how big a failure this product will be. It starts to look like "thou doth protest too much."

No, that isn’t the case at all. In fact what’s happening is an evaluation of this from the premise that Apple wants it to go mainstream and be the next step in computing. There’s no fallacious generalization about the fact that most people don’t want to wear goggles around. There’s no fallacious generalization when the lack of a compelling use case is pointed out.

I can continue but there’s no point. The criticism around it are generally valid and dismissing them out of hand won’t make them go away.

 

[Surf Monkey]

I'd say that this product is unlike anything else presented to most people. So I don't think any generalizations can be made about a commercially significant number of people who consider the benefits of the product worth wearing it. I do think this is a fallacious generalization. One of the repeat criticisms is that "this won't sell to the masses!" But who said it must sell to the masses? The masses don't buy Teslas, but still there's a commercially viable market for them.

Also, the "around" comment is one oft-repeated canard in the ongoing drama against the Vision Pro. Nobody is going to wear this "around" just as I don't walk around with my laptop open as I traverse the city.

But, back to my original point. If it were so obviously a stupid idea, you naysayers wouldn't have to be so passionate in your disapproval.

They’re goggles and yes, Apple showed people wearing them “around” so that’s a part of the dialogue.

 

[Blowback]

For starters, less than 200,000 units in the first year will ship. I guarantee there are more than 200,000 people waiting with money in hand to buy this. Secondly, it's revolutionary. The hand gesture control and eyesight control technologies spark excitement. All the WWDC attendees who reported back all said it was amazing. Many of these reviewers are extremely well respected and their followers will buy the device. Finally, it's Apple. There is no other company known for having long lines for a new high-priced device.

Per Homer (?): 'Take my money!!!"

 

[Blowback]

Get the Pro when it's released because from the rumblings coming out of Apple about the headset looks like the mass produced version is going to be a low spec'd version which might upset a lot of people because of all the excuses we keep hearing from Apple about how difficult the headset is to make, which when put into the real world means reduction in spec to ease on production costs and parts.

In all likely hood it will be a tiered product. Like almost all products sold by Apple, car makers, airline seats etc. The high-end will never go away. No company seeks to give away margin. Also, high-end products support continued R&D.