Nearly a month after the launch of the Vision Pro domestic version, a series of "industries" related to Vision Pro have also emerged.
Caixin reporters visited multiple commercial buildings in Huaqiangbei, Shenzhen and found that the Vision Pro flat version was not widely available. At present, Vision Pro experience centers have appeared on the market, and multiple accessories have also been launched for sale.
After its launch in China, Apple also launched Vision Pro and other products in multiple markets including the UK, Australia, and France. Analysts predict that the shipment volume of this product will be around 400000, which is half of Apple's sales expectations.
Vision Pro high imitation moderator sold in Europe and America
It is reported that as early as this year when the Apple Vision Pro was launched, low-priced replicas of the Vision Pro had already appeared in Huaqiangbei, priced at less than 2000 yuan. The Caixin reporter previously learned that the product is the AX162 VR all-in-one machine from Yijing Virtual Reality Company, and is backed by the listed company Yidao Information.
During a visit to Huaqiangbei's offline stores by a reporter from Caixin News Agency, it was learned that although the replica of Vision Pro has already been launched, it has not been widely distributed and has instead shrunk, making it almost difficult to find in any building.
The Caixin reporter found a shop selling the so-called Vision Pro SE. The shop owner stated that currently, there is only one stall in the building selling VR products.
He told the Caixin reporter, "There are few people who come to inquire about the product, and most of them are foreigners. Even if I offer a wholesale price of 1399 yuan, domestic customers still find it expensive
According to a reporter from Caixin News Agency, the VR products represented by the merchant are mostly sold overseas, mainly in the European and American markets. Basically, we purchase customized products for teaching and training purposes. We then directly connect with factories to provide customized software services
In addition to the cheap replica Vision Pro, Apple Vision Pro accessories have also sprung up like mushrooms on the market. Taking nearsighted and farsighted lenses as an example, Apple's official Zeiss optical inserts are priced as high as 1199 yuan, while third-party magnetic lenses range in price from 200 to 600 yuan, which is half the price on the official website.
A merchant told Caixin reporters that in addition to lenses, they also sell accessories such as Vision Pro pressure reducing straps, battery storage racks, and protective cases.
Previously, some Vision Pro users reported to Caixin reporters and some Vision Pro users that the weight design of Vision Pro is unbalanced, and the face is under pressure when worn for a long time. Some users have already DIY a solution, and "the on sale solution is much cheaper to modify than using the official headwear (priced at 799 yuan) before
High pricing and lower than expected experience make Vision Pro difficult to sell
Overpricing is widely regarded as one of the important reasons for the unsatisfactory sales performance of Vision Pro.
After being launched in the US and Asian markets, Vision Pro has also been available in stores in countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK. The Vision Pro, priced at 3499 US dollars, is priced at 3499 pounds (approximately 4516 US dollars) in the UK, 5999 Australian dollars (approximately 4058 US dollars) in Australia, and 4000 euros (approximately 4347 US dollars) in France.
IDC Vice President Bryan Ma believes that Vision Pro is a relatively new product category that is still far from mainstream. Considering the current high pricing of the product and the fact that its ecosystem of applications and use cases is still in the development stage, this will be very difficult.
Guo Mingchi, an analyst at Tianfeng International Securities, previously revealed that Apple has lowered its sales forecast for Vision Pro in 2024 from 700000 to 800000 units to around 400000 to 450000 units. Guo Mingchi attributed the downward revision of the shipment forecast to a decrease in demand.
The user experience was not as expected, which is also one of the reasons for the decline in sales of Vision Pro.
According to previous calculations by Caixin reporters, based on an Apple Store's arrangement of eight experience seats and 30 minutes of experience time, the mall can accommodate up to 192 visitors within 12 hours of normal business. Users need to make an appointment on the Apple official website before experiencing, which currently requires about 3-4 days in advance.
A user who has experienced Vision Pro told Caixin reporters, "Currently, the experience within 30 minutes is mainly through interactive display. Except for a few demos, it is difficult to experience all the functions of Vision Pro within 30 minutes
The Caixin News Agency reporter noticed that the Vision Pro experience center available on the market charges by time and can last up to 2 hours. It not only provides the most basic demo experience, but also includes third-party games and applications.
The owner of the experience center admitted that simply renting out Vision Pro cannot recoup costs. Firstly, the product and venue rental fees are already relatively high, and it is necessary to download various legitimate software.
Another consumer who has paid to experience Vision Pro told reporters that the display effect of Vision Pro is very stunning, but it is not suitable for long-term wearing. Currently, it is mainly used for gaming applications and movies, and the office software Pages is not easy to use. Some users also choose to purchase directly and experience it for a period of time before deciding whether to return it.
A product expert from Apple told Caixin reporters, "The return cycle for Vision Pro is the same as other Apple products, which is a 14 day no reason return period. However, the lenses are provided by Zeiss, and the delivery cycles on both sides are different. If the lenses are received after the return time for Vision Pro, whether they can be returned or not still needs to be discussed with our sales team
Some consumers posted screenshots on social media showing that they completed the return process after receiving Zeiss lenses. If the situation is true, the actual experience time for users after purchasing will be close to one month.