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Dec 25, 2023

Why Is the Vision Pro So Expensive? And Is the $3499 Price Tag Justified?

Almost everything is great about the Vision Pro except for its price tag. So,

Almost everything is great about the Vision Pro except for its price tag. So, what drove the costs up for Apple? Let's find out.

At WWDC 2023, Apple announced the Vision Pro, the company's long-awaited AR/VR headset that sets the benchmark for what competing headsets should be like.

However, we can't help but notice the exorbitant $3,499 asking price. It places third in Apple's most expensive products, behind the Mac Pro ($6,999) and the Pro Display XDR ($4,999).

We've sought to answer why we think it's so expensive and explain why Apple has chosen this high price for its new headset.

The Vision Pro is a standalone "spatial computer." It doesn't mirror the screen of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It does its computing from its M2 chip and processes all the information from its sensors using a new R1 chip.

The cheapest M2 Mac is the base model 13-inch MacBook Air, which costs $1,099. It's unlikely that a computer with two chips would cost anything near the price of a computer with one. In fact, based on that alone, the Vision Pro cannot be less than $2,000 if it has the same storage options as the current M2 Macs.

Let's also add that Apple has several years of experience making Macs, and it has only just started making AR/VR headsets. Its suppliers, assembly systems, and designs aren't yet optimized enough to reduce costs.

The Vision Pro doesn't even use any of the existing operating systems; Apple states that it used the foundation of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS to create VisionOS for its AR/VR headset.

Still on the point of this being uncharted waters for Apple, the company had to pour a lot of its resources into the research and development of a new premium product and its companion OS.

This means consulting new specialists, testing things it didn't previously have facilities for, and many more underlying logistical factors.

Apple even stated that it filed over 5,000 patents for this new piece of tech. Of course, these R&D expenses will inflate the cost of the Vision Pro.

Apple says the Vision Pro was made with "aerospace-grade alloys." The lens is made with a single piece of laminated glass that is framed in an aluminum alloy, and the headband is a 3D-knitted sturdy fabric that wraps comfortably on the head. Many VR headsets you'd likely compare it to are made from plastics.

But that's just its body. The headset contains 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones. Knowing Apple's love for perfection, these cameras and sensors would be made with the same standard build it uses to make all its iPhones, iPads, and Macs. But that's still three times more cameras than an iPhone 14 Pro Max, which starts at $1,099.

As previously mentioned, Apple filed over 5,000 patents for Vision Pro and created the new VisionOS. So, when you factor in Vision Pro's innovative features and how many things it can function, it's easy to see why Apple selected that price.

Apple has never released a gesture-controlled piece of technology before. And the Vision Pro has no input mechanism except your bare hands, voice, and eyes (EyeSight).

The quality of sensors and computing needed to track these body parts accurately is expensive. Reviewers who got the chance to wear it say the technology is better than any other AR/VR headset currently available.

One thing is clear: Apple didn't make the Vision Pro for the masses. It remains something that will excite enthusiasts and developers and not much else. It's a premium device, and the price reflects that accurately.

Apple could make a non-Pro version down the line that's closer to the price of an iPhone or a MacBook. But the company's direction with this headset will likely be determined by how well the product is received next year.

Dreamchild has been a professional writer, casual gamer, and TTRPG enthusiast since 2016. He studied law briefly before leaving it to pursue a full-time career in freelance writing, sharing the knowledge he has amassed with curious readers. He also volunteers at a repair shop, where he helps people troubleshoot minor software and hardware issues with their Apple devices.