Apple may stop producing Vision Pro by the end of 2024
Apple’s apparent move to halt production of the current $3,500 Vision Pro headset highlights weak demand for high‑end mixed reality hardware and lingering doubts about its purpose beyond tech demos and niche entertainment. Commenters cite the high price, comfort issues, thin app ecosystem, and lack of a clear “killer app” as major barriers, arguing Apple treated the device like a polished dev kit without sufficiently investing in third‑party content. Many expect a cheaper, lighter successor or AR glasses to follow, but question whether VR/AR will ever achieve mainstream adoption rather than remaining a costly sideshow next to phones, tablets, and PCs.
Headline and production news
- Many see the MacRumors headline as clickbait: “stop producing Vision Pro” is read as “discontinued,” while article text stresses it’s the current model and production lines can be restarted.
- Others argue semantics don’t matter much: halting production with large unsold inventory signals weak demand.
Demand, pricing, and perceived success/failure
- Broad agreement that $3,500 made AVP inherently niche; few expected mainstream uptake.
- Some frame it as a “devkit in all but name” or a “luxury tech‑demo” rather than a consumer product.
- Opinions split on whether this is an outright flop or a long‑term “Apple Watch style” slow burn.
- Several note discretionary spending is low and VR remains niche even at Quest prices.
Form factor, comfort, and real‑world use
- Weight, heat, and isolation are recurring complaints; many say it’s fine for an hour or a movie, not an 8‑hour workday.
- Multiple screens / virtual monitor use is attractive in theory but often described as tiring or underwhelming.
- Shared use is awkward: no proper multi‑user profiles, prescription setups take time, making one‑unit households impractical.
Software ecosystem and developer incentives
- Lack of compelling apps and especially games is seen as a major weakness.
- Some developers report very low sales (tens of copies) and immature APIs; many are reluctant to invest in a tiny installed base plus restrictive App Store rules.
- Apple is criticized for not funding or seeding more flagship content and for burning developer goodwill.
VR/AR, killer apps, and comparisons
- Ten‑plus years into modern VR, commenters still struggle to name a “killer app” beyond sims, Beat Saber–style games, and niche professional uses.
- AVP is often compared unfavorably to cheaper Quests for entertainment, and to hypothetical lightweight AR glasses for everyday HUD use.
- Some think AR glasses tethered to a phone are the real endgame; AVP is viewed as a stepping stone to that.