The new M4 Macs will be available in a multitude of retail stores around the world, giving users access to newer chipsets, along with a slew of other improvements. Unfortunately, there is a limited number of viewing spaces for each product, and given that the Apple Vision Pro did not attain the traction the technology giant was hoping for, it has to prioritize one category over the other. Also, given how the headset’s production has reportedly slowed down, and with the device no longer being made by the end of 2024, it is the right decision to reduce its presence in multiple retail stores.
There used to be two tables reserved for the Apple Vision Pro, but with the new hardware officially launching, the headset’s presence would be reduced to just one
The exact number of retail stores in the U.S. was not mentioned by Mark Gurman, but he did mention that the Apple Vision Pro units would previously be placed on two tables in these outlets. One would be reserved for the demo version of the head-mounted wearable, while the other would be for display units. This is a smart business tactic because before consumers can learn to become comfortable parting with $3,499 of their hard-earned money, they need to try it on to see if it is worth the expensive tag.
Unfortunately, previous estimates revealed that the Apple Vision Pro failed to cross 100,000 shipments in the U.S., and even though CEO Tim Cook admitted that the device was never targeted to the masses, global shipments could have been much higher if the pricing was controlled and if there was an extensive app library that would give users the same amount of freedom and control as they have on other Apple products.
Apple is going to pilot shrinking down the Vision Pro presence in some retail stores tomorrow as it starts displaying the new Macs. Right now, most stores have two AVP tables: 1 for demos, 1 for display units. The pilot will move to one table for both demos and display models.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) November 7, 2024
It also looks like those demo and display tables are not going to be occupied by a low-cost version of the headset because analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the production timeline of this model has been delayed beyond 2027. Instead, we should witness an immediate successor to the Apple Vision Pro, but we have to wait a while for that, as the earliest that potential buyers can get their hands on it will be 2025.
It is evident that markets need to mature to accept a product category like this, but if companies like Apple are not willing to take a gamble, we would never have devices like the overly expensive headset. Hopefully, its inception will drive the company’s production of less expensive models that will slowly become popular amongst the masses.
News Source: Mark Gurman
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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