Apple Vision Pro Could Come In May 2024 Before New M3 iMacs

Apple gave us a tantalising peek at its upcoming Vision Pro smart glasses last month, but don’t hold your breath—the product won’t actually go on sale until May 2024. According to the grapevine (Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman), Apple is furiously polishing the finishing touches like software, prescription lens compatibility and distribution.

While Apple puts Vision Pro through its final paces, the company has plenty of other plates spinning—like the new iPhone models coming in September and updates to nearly every other product in Apple’s empire. The software for Vision Pro isn’t quite done; Apple showed off only the most impressive parts at its developer conference. Key features like typing in mid-air and big chunks of the user interface are still under construction. Apple also has to make Vision Pro play nice with prescription glasses, which is no small challenge.

To get Vision Pro out the door, Apple has enlisted ‘thousands’ of employees to finish the product and devise a marketing plan. Internal testing of the physical headset has expanded to more staffers. Apple will hand out prototypes to app developers next month so they can build Vision Pro-compatible software. The teams responsible for Apple’s own iOS and iPadOS apps are adapting them for Vision Pro’s new operating system, although not all will be ready in time.

Rumour has it EyeSight, a feature Apple demonstrated at its conference, was mostly smoke and mirrors and remains tightly under wraps. Apple is also still tweaking Vision Pro to reduce its weight. Apple Stores are carving out dedicated areas for Vision Pro try-on and buying sessions, just like they did for the Apple Watch. An iPhone app will scan your face to determine the right size Vision Pro frame and headband for you; it may eventually be offered as part of the online-ordering process, too.

The May 2024 target for Vision Pro’s release could slip, however, because Apple intends to release new M3 iMac models that month as well—and the M3 chip is significantly faster than the M2 processor in the current MacBook Air, iPad Pro and Vision Pro. Apple is already hard at work on the next two versions of Vision Pro, high-end and budget models.

Before the Vision Pro hullabaloo, we’ll get the iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and updated Ultra model. A 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 chip is expected, while beefier M3 Pro and Max versions of the larger MacBook Pros may take another year. OLED iPad Pro models and a new iPad Air with an M3 are in testing, plus new M3-based MacBook Airs. Updated AirPods Pro and an Apple TV revamp are on the way. But a new Vision Pro—that’ll be a long time coming, likely not until 2025 at the earliest. Exciting stuff ahead—but patience, friends, patience!

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