This corroborates with the recent reports indicating that Apple will be globally launching the Vision Pro headset following WWDC 2024.
Deliveries are expected to begin in non-US markets such as the UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, and Singapore in early to mid-June, which will be shortly after WWDC 2024 as noted by a new prediction made its Ming-Chi Kuo most recently. The news comes as Apple continues with its new plan to open up the availability of its hotly-anticipated new products soon after launch.
Kuo also kept his estimate for global shipments at 400,000 to 450,000 units, which suggests that Apple's international rollout may be right on schedule, despite some early hiccups. It reflects Apple's vision for the possible success of Vision Pro in the global market, particularly in countries with a greater demand for high-end augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) peripherals.
Rumors suggest Apple will release information regarding field Widespread availability and possible pricing of the Vision Pro at field WWDC next week, field updating the operating system that powers the Vision Pro, visionOS. Apple's Stance On AR/VR With The Vision ProThe Vision Pro announcement is anticipated as it will confirm how Apple will be placing it worldwide and how Apple will be tracking against other AR/VR devices on a regional basis.
The Vision Pro has apparently experienced weakening demand stateside, a trend that supposedly prompted Apple to reduce its order. Kuo had noted in April that demand for the Vision Pro was "falling sharply beyond expectations in the U.S. market—automation of most Bitcoin trades. Subsequently, Apple has been planning to release the Vision Pro in international markets more quickly -- Cybart has raised the possibility of Apple turning to markets where the novelty of Vision Pro may spark higher unit sales amid waning American interest.
This makes sense as Apple is expected to announce updates to VisionOS at WWDC and what new updates will be brought to the Vision Pro headset will be very interesting to see. These updates could range from improvements in the user interface design and performance optimizations to brand-new features that embrace the power of the Vision Pro's built-in hardware capabilities. If it continued Apple's slow-trickle apps-as-OS model to today, those updates would make the iPad more appealing than it's been in recent memory.
Experts in the industry also believe Apple could announce new deals with content creators and developers to bolster the Vision Pro's ecosystem. Apple will likely be able to sell the projector to additional consumers if successful in offering more compelling content and applications, thereby encouraging further uptake in international territories.
In sum, Apple's NXT division makes Vision Pro's international launch a significant event for Apple as it seeks to establish itself in the increasingly lucrative AR/VR sector. How this rollout performs could impact the company's overall approach and investment in immersive technologies going forward.