- Apple could start selling its expensive Vision Pro mixed-reality headset in other markets apart from the US soon.
- These markets are Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, as Apple has flown in employees from these countries for training on the Vision Pro.
- No word yet for a South African launch, but a wider global release makes this possibility more likely.
After launching in February this year, Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset, the company’s most expensive gadget yet, is set to finally leave the United States and be sold in other parts of the world.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is hoping to start selling the Vision Pro headset in other countries in a bid to increase sales of the device that retails for $3 499 or around R65 000 per headset.
To ensure that it can communicate all the details of the headset, including its array of features, to local markets, Apple has flown in employees in order to train them in demoing and selling the Vision Pro.
These employees, reports say, are from Germany, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China, which suggests that these are the first international markets Apple will be selling the headset outside of the US. The training is said to take around four days each.
While South Africa has yet to be mentioned officially, the fact that Apple has started selling overseas is a good sign for local fans of the company. Apple products usually do make their way to South Africa, and are relatively successful.
Apple’s recently revealed M4-powered iPad Pros are slated to come to South Africa only a month after they are to see a global launch this month.
The most expensive mixed-reality headset available, the Apple Vision Pro comes packed with both productivity and entertainment features.
With its 12 cameras, five sensors and six microphones, the Vision Pro is able to pick up what is happening around the headset to provide the right feedback for users, offering a heads-up display (HUD) for your everyday life, with familiar iPhone apps like FaceTime, one that you can interact with by waving your hands and fingers.
It also provides a 180-degree immersive cinema experience, and it contains over 250 games to play.
While initially, the demand for the headset in the US was high after launch, it has slowly petered out over the last few months, as per Reuters, which may be why the device is launching overseas.
Users of the headset have complained that the device, despite its marketing showing everyday usage, becomes painful for the wearer and can lead to “simulator motion sickness” if used without taking a break every 20 to 30 minutes.
Despite this, Apple seems to continue betting on the Vision Pro, and reports allege that the company is working on a cheaper, more comfortable version of the headset to be launched at a future date.
