There are high hopes for the XR headset in industrial and enterprise use, but manufacture of 1mn shipments in 2024 has been scaled back
While the metaverse for consumers seems to have ground to a halt, there are high hopes for it in industry and for enterprises, according to recent research. Early findings are especially encouraging. It looked like Apple’s ground-breaking Vision Pro headset, which the firm describes as ”spatial computing” might add jet propulsion – at $3,500 it is out of reach of the mass market.
However, a report in the Financial Times {subscription needed] says the complex design and manufacturing of the headset is making it hard to scale up, while supply chain issues are preventing Apple from producing a more affordable version as soon as intended.
The report cited people close to Apple and the Chinese contract manufacturer that will initially assemble the device, Luxshare, said it was preparing to make fewer than 400,000 units in 2024.
Vision Pro has already been about seven years in the making, and has encountered many delays.
Analysts are predicting there will be more than 5 million Vision Pro headsets sold in the next five years. Many saw its launch as being as important as the iPhone and other says teething problems are inevitable. Scarcity might well drive demand.
Apple ended last week with its market cap above $3 trillion for the second time.