Apple trade analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple could launch its Imaginative and prescient Professional headset internationally sooner than anybody anticipated. Kuo factors to elevated part manufacturing and US gross sales traits as indicating that Apple has the capability to drag off a world launch of the Imaginative and prescient Professional sooner.
“As a result of restricted demand development within the U.S. market, advancing the worldwide launch schedule is favorable when the availability improves,” he mentioned in his weblog. “The precise launch time will rely upon Apple’s software program modification schedule to adjust to different international locations’ laws.”
“I nonetheless keep my prediction that Apple could launch Imaginative and prescient Professional in additional international locations earlier than WWDC this yr,” he concludes. Kuo first made this prediction final month.
Final summer time, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman was informed by his sources that the primary launch international locations after the US would probably be Canada and the UK, which appears logical contemplating the very comparable English language necessities. Nonetheless, Gurman additionally reported that Apple’s engineers have been already at work again then on localizing visionOS for France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.
Different trade sources have extra not too long ago reported that China will probably see an Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional launch by Might of this yr on the newest. Nonetheless, Apple could should cope with potential trademark points in that nation, as Huawei has beforehand registered “Imaginative and prescient Professional.”
The US-only availability of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional hasn’t deterred folks from world wide from touring to the States to buy the headset, regardless of its limitations when utilized in different international locations. Sadly, some worldwide patrons returning to Berlin, Germany, have had their Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional purchases confiscated by customs officers.
In associated information, Kuo additionally mentioned how demand for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional has declined quickly. Nonetheless, he says the pattern is identical as any new Apple system, in that it instantly offered out earlier than seeing demand settle.
The Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional offered out throughout the first 18 minutes of pre-orders, with delivery occasions stretching again for weeks. Now, Imaginative and prescient Professional orders are delivery in 3 to five days, which Kuo says is because of how “demand for the system declined quickly [after launch] and has stayed the identical.”
Writing in his weblog, Kuo says that except “Apple cuts the value… or there are extra enticing purposes, the cargo development within the US could also be restricted.” Nonetheless, he does see shipments of “200,000–250,000 this yr, higher than Apple’s authentic estimate of 150,000–200,000,” however he says it’s “nonetheless a distinct segment market.”
Kuo says that “a number of small-capacity suppliers” of Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional parts “have expanded manufacturing from 500,000–600,000 items to 700,000–800,000 items this yr.” Apple has reportedly requested suppliers to up manufacturing to “scale back delivery time after the worldwide launch.”
Kuo does word that manufacturing capability doesn’t essentially mirror what number of units might be shipped. “For instance, the iPhone’s present meeting capability is 250–300 million items per yr, however the precise shipments are a lot decrease,” he says.
Kuo says his sources within the trade inform him that Apple has not formally began both a lower-priced model of the headset or a brand new mannequin with upgraded specs.
Regardless of that, Kup believes mass manufacturing of a next-generation Imaginative and prescient Professional will kick off in This autumn 2025 or Q1 2026. Nonetheless, he says that the venture is concentrated on “bettering the effectivity of manufacturing and provide chain administration slightly than altering specs.”
This might result in a reduced-cost model of the Imaginative and prescient Professional with out diminished specs.
Kuo says the subsequent important model of the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional won’t go into mass manufacturing till 2027.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]