Apple Absent from CES, Announces Vision Pro Sales Launch Next Month

Sales to Start on the 2nd of Next Month, About a Month Earlier Than Initially Expected
Apple Utilizes iPhone Announcement Despite Not Attending CES

Apple announced on the 8th (local time) that it will start selling its first mixed reality (MR) headset, the 'Vision Pro,' during the world's largest electronics show CES from next month. This is interpreted as a preemptive response ahead of the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S24, equipped with AI and on-device AI features, which is spreading through CES.

According to Apple, the Vision Pro will be available for purchase at Apple Stores in the U.S. from the 2nd of next month after online pre-orders begin on the 19th of this month. The price is $3,499 (approximately 4.6 million KRW) for the 256GB model. Apple plans to offer more than one million compatible apps through a dedicated Vision Pro App Store.

Apple traditionally does not attend CES. Instead, Apple has utilized CES, which attracts consumer and media attention, in other ways. Apple used to host an event called 'Macworld' around the same time as CES, and in 2007, the late Steve Jobs, Apple's founder, unveiled the first iPhone at that event. U.S. media Axios reported that Apple has often captured consumers' attention without participating in CES.

Due to its high price and the need for personalization to match users' eyesight, the Vision Pro will initially only be available in stores within the U.S. The Zeiss lenses for vision correction sold alongside the headset cost $199. Store demonstrations can also be made through pre-orders.

The Vision Pro is a completely new product from Apple, following the iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch. Notably, it is the first new product in seven years since the Apple Watch. Apple defines the Vision Pro as its first spatial computer and plans to lead the virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) markets.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said, "Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronic product and will redefine how we connect, create, and explore with an innovative and magical user interface."

Apple had announced when unveiling the Vision Pro in June last year that sales would begin around March this year but has moved the release date forward by more than a month. There were concerns that sales might be delayed due to supply issues with the core micro OLED display, but rumors of an early release have been circulating since the end of last year.

Meanwhile, mobile processor manufacturer Qualcomm also unveiled the ‘Snapdragon XR2+ 2nd generation chip’ for MR headsets at this CES. This chip is expected to be used in MR headsets from Samsung Electronics and Google. Qualcomm expects the improved chip performance to provide a more realistic and detailed MR and VR experience.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.