(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Apple has finally revealed that its first VR/AR headset, the Vision Pro, launches on Feb. 2.
Pre-orders begin in the US on Friday, Jan. 19 at 5 a.m. PT / 8 a.m. ET. The headset starts at $3,499 for 256GB of storage. People with eyesight troubles can also pay $99 for reading glasses inserts and $149 for prescription lens inserts.
Despite reports that Apple would require people to pick up their devices at an Apple Store, where employees can walk them through setup, Apple didn't specify any delivery information in this morning's press release.
For now, the company has only mentioned that in-store demos for the Vision Pro will also kick off on Feb. 2nd when the device launches.
Apple announced the launch date just as CES kicks off in Las Vegas, possibly to steal some of the limelight from the show. “The era of spatial computing has arrived,” CEO Tim Cook said today. “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created.”
Apple officially revealed the Vision Pro back in June. Since then, the company has been preparing for its launch, training employees on how to demo it, all the while recruiting more developers to build apps for the device.
In today’s announcement, Apple noted that headset will work with more than 1 million apps already available for iOS and iPadOS. In addition, the Vision Pro will have its own app store so owners can find apps specifically designed for the headset.
“New spatial games, including Game Room, What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja, take advantage of the powerful capabilities of Apple Vision Pro to transform the space around players, offering unique and engaging gameplay experiences,” the company added.
Apple also reiterated that the Vision Pro can scan your face to create a photorealistic avatar of yourself called a “Persona," which users will see during FaceTime calls.
The Vision Pro is packed with other cutting-edge technology, including a “custom micro?OLED display system” that features 23 million pixels. Stay tuned for our review.