Apple is preparing to expand the availability of its Vision Pro headset beyond the United States, with plans to launch the device in several new markets in the coming months. According to reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and other sources, the UK, Canada, Singapore, and several other countries are set to be the next regions where the Vision Pro will be made available.
Markets for Vision Pro expansion
Back in March, MacRumors reported that the next batch of the Apple Vision Pro will sell in the following markets
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- UK
This information comes from code discovered in visionOS, the operating system that powers the Vision Pro headset, which indicates that Apple is adding support for 12 new languages to the device’s virtual keyboard. The addition of languages like Chinese (Simplified), English (Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, UK), French (Canada, France), German (Germany), Japanese, and Korean strongly suggests these will be the next markets to receive the Vision Pro. Two days ago, China’s Quality Certification Center approved the Vision Pro for sale on Monday. Its approval is a prerequisite for selling devices in China. This confirms that the Vision Pro will commence sales in China soon.
Timing of international Vision Pro launch
While Apple has not provided an official release timeline for the Vision Pro in these new markets, reports suggest the international expansion will likely happen after the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously predicted the Vision Pro would launch in more countries before WWDC 2024, which is scheduled for June 10-14.
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Gurman also reported that Apple has asked retail employees from around the world to attend a four-day Vision Pro training course in Cupertino, similar to the training provided to U.S. staff ahead of the domestic launch. This indicates Apple is gearing up to roll out the headset internationally in the coming months.
Challenges for Vision Pro adoption
Despite the excitement around the Vision Pro’s innovative features, its high price point of $3,500 in the U.S. (approximately £2,800 / €3,200 / ¥25,340) remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Sales in the U.S. have reportedly declined since launch, prompting Apple to cut shipments.
Expanding to international markets may help revive interest in the Vision Pro, but pricing for non-U.S. regions has not yet been announced. Apple will need to carefully consider pricing and positioning to drive adoption in these new markets.
It is important to note that the Apple Vision Pro is not a regular device that will be easily accessible. This device will most likely sell out during pre-sales. This is because Apple will not bring a shit-load of this device to a foreign market that it is not sure of. The company also knows that the device is quite expensive so it will limit its shipment at the start. So, if you are waiting for this device, ensure that you participate in the pre-sales once it starts.
Conclusion
The upcoming launch of the Apple Vision Pro in the UK, Canada, Singapore, and other key markets represents a significant milestone for the company’s foray into the world of mixed reality. While challenges around pricing and adoption remain, the Vision Pro’s innovative features and Apple’s global reach position the device for potential success in these new regions. As the international launch timeline becomes clearer in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how the Vision Pro is received by consumers and developers outside the U.S. market. Apple’s commitment to expanding the Vision Pro’s availability shows the company’s belief in the long-term potential of spatial computing and augmented reality. What do you think about the Vision Pro? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
