Apple Vision Pro returns drop to 1 percent; Delivery times improve amid tight demand: Quo

Demand for the Apple Vision Pro in the US has slowed “significantly” since the device went on sale in the US in February, while the percentage of customers returning the headset has also declined, according to details shared by a market analyst. Despite its hefty price tag, Apple’s first “space computer” is expected to ship more units than previously expected, and shipping times for the mixed reality headset have improved significantly. The device is also expected to make its debut in global markets in the coming months.

According to details shared by TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, less than 1 percent of Apple Vision Pro headphones are returned by customers. Between 20 and 30 percent of returned units are due to customers not being able to set up the mixed reality headset, according to the analyst’s latest market research.

On the other hand, the Vision Pro’s delivery time has dropped to three to five days, according to Kuo. Apple initially estimated its annual shipments of the headset in the US to range between 150,000-200,000 units, but the analyst said the company is expected to ship 200,000-250,000 units this year. He also predicted that Vision Pro shipments in the U.S. may not grow unless Apple lowers the price of its headsets.

Kuo previously predicted that Apple Vision Pro would be introduced in non-US markets before WWDC 2024, and the analyst says the company’s software modification schedule for the region – possibly for visionOS – will affect the release timeline.

Recent reports suggest that Apple may be working on two Vision Pro models – a successor to the first-generation headset with new specs, as well as a more affordable version that comes without EyeSight and is equipped with fewer cameras. However, Kuo says that Apple has yet to begin development of any of these rumored products, and other models with “significant changes to the Vision Pro specification” are unlikely to be produced by the company until 2027.