The analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has written on his Medium page that Apple has revised its shipment forecasts for the Vision Pro, its mixed reality (MR) headset, downward for the years 2024 and 2025. Originally, the market consensus anticipated shipments of 700,000 to 800,000 units, but now Apple expects only 400,000 to 450,000 units to be shipped in 2024. This reduction in forecast comes as a result of weaker than anticipated demand in the US market, prompting Apple to also lower expectations for other international markets even before the product’s launched in these regions.
Kuo says that as a consequence of this subdued demand, Apple is reconsidering its future plans for the Vision Pro. It appears that there might not be a new model released in 2025 as was previously expected. This change in strategy reflects a broader caution from Apple about the demand for its head-mounted display (HMD) products going forward, anticipating a year-over-year decline in shipments for 2025.
The lower-than-expected demand for the Vision Pro impacts the broader market for MR headsets, as the Vision Pro struggles with issues such as the lack of essential applications, high pricing, and comfort, which are crucial for user adoption without compromising the see-through user experience. Probably the worst news that near-eye display makers could have had right now, having bought into the hype surrounding Apple’s entry into the Alt Reality market.
