​Apple is sharply cutting production forecasts for its Vision Pro virtual and augmented reality headset, which was unveiled in June and is expected to reach the first customers in early 2024. Financial Times writes that the production estimates are several times lower than the initial ones due to the complexity of the gadget, which will cost $3,500.

Apple Vision ProPhoto: Josh Edelson/AFP/Profimedia

Sources also say there will be a lower-priced variant as well, but there are further delays.

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Apple has spent seven years working on the Vision Pro headset, which will be one of the most complex electronic products ever released, including sophisticated video cameras and high-resolution screens.

The Financial Times reports that Luxshare, the company that will assemble the terminal, has prepared to produce nearly 400,000 units in 2024, but sources say Apple will need components for somewhere between 130,000 and 150,000 Vision Pro units.

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The previous target was one million units produced in the first 12 months, and this target is unlikely to be met.

The publication writes that Apple’s limited expectations are mostly related to the difficulty of producing such a complex gadget, which has many expensive components that must work perfectly.

It was clear from the presentation that the launch would be a long process. The virtual reality headset was announced in June and was supposed to be available to buyers in 7-8 months, while the release of many electronic devices takes a maximum of 2-3 months.

The selling price of $3,500 is higher than the press release and will undoubtedly be the biggest drawback of this “VR/AR headset”. There is no doubt that there won’t be huge sales, and the question is whether many developers will want to create applications for such an expensive terminal (and with sales that are unlikely to be high in terms of units).

Apple’s “die-hard fans” and so-called “early adopters,” those who want to own the first various devices released to the market, will buy.