Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which is set to launch in early 2024, has been making waves in the tech industry for its innovative features and wild price tag of $3,499, but recent reports suggest that the device may not come with a top strap in the box, raising concerns about user comfort, experience, and overall value.
The Vision Pro headset is Apple’s first venture into the mixed reality market, combining augmented and virtual reality technologies. It boasts impressive tech specs, including dual-chip processors, ultra-high-resolution micro-OLED displays, precise eye tracking, spatial audio system, and an external battery with two hours of battery life. But despite these impressive specifications, the absence of a top strap in the retail box has left potential users puzzled.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple developed the top strap after some employees complained that the Vision Pro felt “too heavy” after a couple of hours of use. The strap, which is designed to go over the wearer’s head, helps mitigate the pressure of the headset’s weight on the user’s face. Apple, however, is reportedly considering selling the strap as an optional accessory rather than including it in the box, a decision that’s reminiscent of the company selling the $4,999 Pro Display XDR’s stand as a separate $999 purchase.
This move has raised at least a few eyebrows, as most previews of the Vision Pro mentioned the headset’s weight as a potential concern. Ensuring user comfort should be a priority for Apple, especially given the device’s $3,499 price. By not including the top strap in the box, Apple seems to be positioning it as an add-on accessory rather than an essential component, giving users the flexibility to tailor their headset experience to their liking.
With the Vision Pro not slated to go on sale until early next year, Apple still has time to alter its plans, but Gurman reports that the company has already reassigned some employees to work on a more affordable headset and a second-generation Vision Pro.
As Apple prepares to enter the mixed reality market with its Vision Pro headset, the decision to exclude the top strap from the box raises questions about user comfort and the overall experience. With the device’s launch still months away, it remains to be seen whether Apple will reconsider its stance on this crucial accessory.
Additional reading:
- https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23738968/apple-vision-pro-ar-headset-features-specs-price-release-date-wwdc-2023
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/apple-vision-pro-may-not-have-a-top-strap-in-the-box-2023-06-26-877885
- https://www.siasat.com/apple-may-not-include-top-strap-for-vision-pro-in-box-2625118/
- https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/7/23750301/apple-vision-pro-headset-virtual-reality-vr-headset
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/why-apple-vision-pros-3500-price-makes-more-sense-than-you-think/
- https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/everything-to-know-apple-vision-pro-vr-headset/
- https://www.engadget.com/apples-vision-pro-headset-may-not-come-with-a-top-strap-in-the-box-160601556.html
- https://www.ludusglobal.com/en/blog/apple-vision-pro-features-price-and-functions-of-the-new-mixed-reality-glasses
- https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/
- https://9to5mac.com/2023/06/25/apple-vision-pro-weight-top-strap/
- https://money.yahoo.com/apple-vision-pro-spotted-mysterious-095423545.html
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/apple-vision-pro-may-not-have-a-top-strap-in-the-box-2023-06-26-877885