A sketchy new report alleges that Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset could launch in the United States during the final week of February.
Apple vaguely said during the Vision Pro unveiling that the mixed-reality device will be available “early next year,” with more countries coming “later next year.”
According to a new report that came out of China, the Vision Pro will be available to purchase in the United States starting the final week of January.
Apple could launch the Vision Pro on January 27
The information was published by Wall Street News, a Chinese investor news service, but don’t take it for granted because Wall Street News doesn’t have an established track record for Apple rumor reporting.
The problem is that January 27 falls on a Saturday in the United States, and Apple has never released a major product on a Saturday. That being said, however, Hartley Charlton over MacRumors offers a plausible explanation for that:
While the report clearly says that the launch is set to occur on a date that falls on a Saturday in the United States, there is a chance that the website is actually referring to January 27 in China, which falls on Friday, January 26 in the United States–a much more likely date for the launch of the Vision Pro.
In other words, customers in the United States should expect the Vision Pro to arrive in stores on Friday, January 26. The device will initially be available in Apple’s retail and online stores. It’s unclear if Apple plans on taking pre-orders for the device.
A complicated launch
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple invited select retail team members to a secret Vision Pro training event, teaching them how to demonstrate, customize and sell the $3500 device in its stores. Gurman also said that the Vision Pro would be available to purchase in February.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier said he expected the mixed-reality accessory to arrive in late January or early February. The Cupertino firm is already working on next-generation headsets that should come in low and high-end versions.
The low-end version will allegedly use cheaper components to bring the price down to about $1500-$2500 range, including a slower iPhone-class chip, cheaper displays and no outward-facing EyeSight OLED panel to show the user’s eyes.