According to The Information and Bloomberg reports, multiple revelations indicate that Apple’s first high-end AR/VR device to be launched later this year will cost about $3,000 (currently about 20,310 RMB), but in the future, the version will be more affordable. Apple is already working on a more “affordable” AR/VR device that could be priced similarly to an iPhone.
The current iPhone 14 model starts at $799 (5,999 RMB) and the highest-end Pro Max model with 1TB of storage is priced at $1,599 (13,499 RMB), but it’s not clear which one is cheaper A more specific price range for AR/VR devices. According to reports, this device will compete with Meta’s mixed reality device, which is priced at $1,500 (currently about 10,155 RMB).
Apple engineers plan to use more affordable components to reduce prices, but the lower-priced devices will have the same general AR/VR “mixed reality” capabilities as products launched in 2023. With chips in lower-priced AR/VR devices comparable to iPhones — and the first AR/VR devices will use Mac-grade chips — Apple could also use lower-resolution internal displays and cheaper materials.
As of now, the development of Apple’s more affordable AR/VR devices is in the early stages, and no working prototypes have been created yet. The Information said that “significant” work on the device began last year, with the aim of launching the cheap device in 2024. According to Bloomberg, Apple could launch an affordable mixed-reality device in 2024 or 2025.
For nearly every product category, Apple has both high-end and more affordable versions of its devices.
With the focus now on more affordable AR/VR devices, Apple is delaying the augmented reality Apple Glasses it has been working on, according to Bloomberg. The launch of Apple Glasses has been postponed indefinitely, and work on the device has been curtailed.
Apple’s first AR/VR headset could launch as early as spring 2023, but the device has experienced multiple delays during development. The $3,000 price point is due to Apple’s use of high-end components, including dual 4K displays from Sony, a dozen cameras, an external battery pack, and more.
