According to The Information, Apple has made a decision to reduce the production of its Vision Pro headset, and there are indications that they might even halt production by November 2024. Several suppliers responsible for creating the headset's components have noted a decline in activity since the summer season.
Decreased Production Rate
At Luxshare, Apple's partner in China that manages final assembly, the daily production of headsets has fallen to around 1,000 units, a significant decrease from the previous output of 2,000 per day. Currently, there's a surplus of components, indicating a production capacity of between 500,000 and 600,000 headsets.
Aligning with CEO's Remarks
This slowdown in production reflects the comments made by Apple CEO Tim Cook not long ago. He mentioned that the Vision Pro, which is priced at a base of $3,500, is primarily targeted at early adopters while the overall ecosystem is still under development.
Despite the praise for the Vision Pro's display quality, gesture controls, and the absence of controllers, it seems to be facing challenges in attracting developers. Major platforms such as Netflix and YouTube have not yet embraced the technology; instead, they are directing users to their websites rather than developing dedicated applications.
Future Prospects
The production system remains adaptable, allowing Apple to increase output if demand rises. Additionally, the components could be repurposed for future versions, perhaps featuring upgraded processors or a more budget-friendly variant. There are discussions suggesting that Apple is now focused on creating a more affordable Vision Pro model, which could potentially capture a wider audience and stimulate greater interest from developers.
