If you’re considering getting the Apple Vision Pro, now is the time to do it before it makes its official debut. This high-end consumer headset comes with a hefty price tag and a few extra steps to order. While the hardware is powerful and offers new VR features, the software may experience some slowdown. If you’re considering pre-ordering, keep in mind that the availability may be limited, with online orders taking longer to ship compared to in-store pickups. The Vision Pro is available in three storage options: 256GB for $3,500, 512GB for $3,700, and 1TB for $3,900. Financing options through the Apple Card with 0% APR are available for those who prefer to spread out their purchase. Pre-orders for the Vision Pro have already reached 160,000 to 180,000 units, and Apple is expected to ship around 500,000 units this year. The headset is powered by Apple’s 8-core M2 chip with 10 additional GPUs and a 16-core “neural engine” for AI tasks. It also features 4K micro-OLED displays, eye-tracking and hand-tracking capabilities, biometric data functionality, and a built-in audio system. The Vision Pro has received mixed reviews, with some praising its capabilities and others pointing out its limitations. Some popular apps such as YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix will not be available at launch, and support for these major services may be limited initially. While some major players like Disney+ and Microsoft 365 will have apps available, there will be a number of apps that won’t be optimized for spatial capabilities and will work on a 2D surface. Apple may potentially roll out updates and improvements to the Vision Pro in the future, focusing on health and wellness features alongside performance enhancements. The current model may be a testing ground for Apple’s VR ambitions, with future editions expected to be more affordable and accessible. CEO Tim Cook has expressed interest in AR glasses, and future releases may see Apple shifting its focus towards AR rather than a VR headset.
