Apple announced on Monday that its mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, will hit the shelves on Friday, February 2, at all US Apple Store locations and online.
The device was first showcased by the Cupertino tech giant during its annual developers conference WWDC in June 2023. The AR headset starts at $3,499 with 256GB of storage and costs more than thrice as much as the priciest headset in
Meta's line of mixed and virtual reality devices.
Additionally, ZEISS Optical Inserts will be available for $99 (US) for readers and $149 (US) for prescriptions.
Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro will open on Friday, January 19.
The headset will test a market crowded with devices that are yet to gain traction among consumers and put it in direct competition with Meta after years of clashes between the companies over issues like user privacy and control of developer platforms.
The device must be plugged into a power source at all times.
Apple said it tried to reduce the headset's weight with an external battery, which can run up to 2 hours.
The device is said to offer more than a million compatible apps available on the App Store. Vision Pro also integrates key apps like Fantastical, Freeform, and Microsoft 365 for everyday tasks. The device's ultra-high-resolution displays offer more pixels than a 4K TV for each eye, according to Apple.
Gaming enthusiasts can find over 250 titles on Apple Arcade, including new spatial games that leverage Vision Pro's capabilities. The device also stands out in capturing and reliving memories, with spatial photos and videos, a feature that Apple recently introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Apple has not yet shared its plan to expand the product to other markets.
(With inputs from Reuters)
