Apple reportedly sold nearly 200,000 'very niche' Vision Pro headsets

Apple reportedly sold nearly 200,000 'very niche' Vision Pro headsets

Apple's Vision Pro headset has been making headlines lately, with reports of its impressive pre-order sales figures. According to an analyst at TF International Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple sold somewhere between 160,000 to 180,000 Vision Pro headsets during the pre-order weekend [1]. This number might seem impressive, but considering the device's $3,499 price tag and lack of mainstream apps like YouTube, Spotify, or Netflix, it's not surprising that the Vision Pro is considered a "very niche" product.

Kuo's calculations are based on pre-order inventory and shipping times, and he pointed out that the fact that shipping times have remained unchanged within the first 48 hours could indicate a quick drop in demand after heavy users and hardcore fans finished pre-ordering [1]. In contrast, iPhone orders usually see a steady increase in shipping times 24 to 48 hours after pre-orders open.

The Vision Pro headset was sold out immediately after pre-orders opened, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the device is a commercial success. With Apple's estimated initial production of 80,000 units sold out, that only accounts for about 0.007 percent of Apple's 1.2 billion active users, making the Vision Pro a very niche product in the eyes of Cupertino [1].

While the Vision Pro's high price point and limited functionality might make it a hard sell for the average consumer, Apple is rumored to be working on a cheaper model in the $1,500 to $2,500 range [2]. Until then, the Vision Pro remains a niche product, but its impressive pre-order sales suggest that there is potential for growth in the VR spatial computing market.

References:

[1] Ming-Chi Kuo, TF International Securities, https://www.engadget.com/apple-might-have-sold-up-to-180000-vision-pro-headsets-over-pre-order-weekend-081727344.html

[2] Mark Gurman, Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-11/apple-s-mixed-reality-headset-plans-revealed-by-bloomberg-news