Apple launches Vision Pro in Canada, but $5,000 price tag could make people 'pause'
CTV
Canadians can now get their hands on Apple's flashiest piece of technology, but some warn they shouldn't expect the device to become ubiquitous just yet.
Canadians can now get their hands on Apple's flashiest piece of technology, but some warn they shouldn't expect the device to become ubiquitous just yet.
The Vision Pro, Apple's augmented reality headset, made its debut Friday at all of the tech giant's stores in Canada, France, Germany and the U.K.
The headset, which carries a starting price of $5,000 in Canada, welcomes wearers into a digital world fit for immersive experiences, browsing photos, participating in meetings, watching movies, playing games and more.
Its Canadian debut is of particular interest because the device has garnered plenty of buzz in the year since it was unveiled but has yet to proliferate in the same way other Apple gadgets have. Thus, a new market means a new opportunity to boost sales.
When the device was first revealed in June last year, Apple was projected to sell between half a million and one million Vision Pros, said Wamsi Mohan, a senior information technology hardware analyst with Bank of America. He thinks the figure is probably closer to half a million today.
Sales on the low end of forecasts are likely the product of the Vision Pro's price, he said. The cheapest model costs $4,999 for 256 GB of storage but one terabyte of storage will set you back $5,599.
"You could buy maybe three MacBook Airs for the price of one Vision Pro," Mohan said. "It makes people pause and I think that's what we're seeing in the market."
