Apple reportedly plans Vision Pro launch by February

Apple’s June announcement that it would launch the Vision Pro headset “early next year” could be very early. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports, things are lining up for the device to launch by February. He says we shouldn’t expect another launch event — which is understandable for a $3,499 device that will probably have a limited supply — but bringing this to market is a major undertaking that means preparing Apple Store employees to guide new users, adjust fitting, and deal with prescription lens options.

Launching the first new Apple hardware platform in years includes new software with visionOS, and Gurman is already pointing to its next version, which should arrive later in 2024 along with the usual Mac and iPhone software updates. Another element is the recent release of iOS 17.2, which enables the iPhone 15 Pro to capture 3D-encoded spatial videos in 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, and you’ll need a headset to play them back in full detail.

Developers are also being prepared for the launch, with a note sent out today telling them to “get ready,” which could include software made specifically for use in virtual and mixed reality environments or the iPad and iPhone apps to which the Vision Pro will also have access. Of course, any number of elements could cause a delay, but the report claims production in China has been running at “full speed” for weeks, with plans to have retail units ready by the end of January ahead of their arrival at retail.