Apple (AAPL) will launch the new Vision Pro headset in the U.S. on February 2, the company announced Monday, in what CEO Tim Cook called the beginning of spatial computing.
Customers can pick up the headset, which sells for $3,499 with 256GB of storage, at Apple's U.S. stores and online store. Pre-orders for the device will begin on January 19, the company said.
Apple shares rose nearly 1.5% at the open, steering the stock toward a gain after a turbulent week.
The official release of the VR and augmented reality headset marks a significant moment for the company as consumers get their hands on Apple's biggest product launch in about a decade.
“The era of spatial computing has arrived,” Cook said in a statement. “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical interface will redefine the way we connect, create and explore.”
Apple's highly anticipated expansion of its hardware offering comes at a difficult time for the tech giant. Cupertino is coming off a brutal week, with traders losing more than $175 billion in market value after two analyst downgrades sparked a punishing selloff.
Apple stock is closely watched because, as the market's most valuable company, it accounts for a significant percentage of the benchmark S&P 500 index. The company's financial performance can influence the broader stock market. And because of Apple's massive user base and its operations in major markets like China, the company also acts as a gauge of the health of the global economy.
The headset in particular is a test for Apple to take a new path as older hardware categories, especially the iPhone, have matured.
Apple's more critical observers have described the need for cooling for its devices as a sign of the company's slow decline. But bullish proponents claim that Wall Street is underestimating the appeal of Apple devices. They also highlight Apple's enormous potential to expand its services business. Wedbush's Dan Ives, a prominent Apple optimist, estimates that Apple's services segment alone is worth a staggering $1.6 trillion.
The Vision Pro runs on a new operating system called visionOS, which features a new three-dimensional interface and inputs controlled via the user's eyes, hands and voice. Apple's device will compete against Meta's (META) Quest headsets, pitting one American tech giant against another as Silicon Valley tries to sell augmented and virtual reality as the next frontier of technology alongside the rapid development of generative AI.