In the latest beta version of iOS 17.3, snippets of code were discovered that replaced Apple Vision Pro with Apple Vision across the iPhone’s software.
Wherever Apple Vision Pro is mentioned throughout the latest version of iOS 17, 9to5Mac has discovered, the name is replaced with ‘Apple Vision’ instead. What does that mean? Could Apple be releasing a new, lower-priced version of the revolutionary new headset, sooner rather than later?
Apple’s ‘spatial computing’ headset was announced back at WWDC 2023, the company’s yearly developer conference. Priced at $3,500, the headset is Apple’s biggest risk since the iPad, and it's very important that the company gets the launch right. Almost ten years have elapsed since it introduced a new product, the Apple Watch; investors and customers are eager to see how this headset works in the real world.
That’s why it feels so strange that there is already at least some evidence that the headset is going to get a new, lower-cost version. Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter reported back in October that this version may cost between $1,500 to $2,500 — at least $1,000 less than the Pro's $3,500 price tag.
If it’s soon, Apple has a sale from me — iMore’s take
At the risk of stating the obvious, Vision Pro is expensive at $3,500, and it will price out many potential customers who had hoped for a cheaper device.
I’ve been interested to try one out, but with no word of a UK release for the headset, I may be waiting a while. Yet this may allow Apple to release both a Vision Pro and a cheaper Vision model at once in London; by the time the headset finds its footing in the market, Apple will know if a lower-cost version is worth bringing out for its international customers. If it does decide to do so, I’ll buy one as soon as it’s available.
As it stands, if I were to look into buying a Vision Pro now, this may be one of the last articles you read from me if my wife were to find out. But I’ll be ready to book an appointment to try one out for now, just to see how good those spatial videos, which I took many of over the holidays, look on the headset.
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