Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple retail stores are beginning final preparations for the Vision Pro to soon go on sale. Gurman’s comments came in his latest “Power On” newsletter. Gurman says the Vision Pro is now shipping in small quantities to warehouses across the United States to prepare for distribution to Apple retail stores.
While the Cupertino device maker has yet to announce a release date for the Vision Pro, it appears to be preparing for the headset’s expected February launch. Gurman expects Apple to make a Vision Pro-related announcement “in the next week or so” to “take some of the spotlight away from CES,” which starts on Tuesday, January 9.
Here’s what Gurman says his sources told him that indicates an imminent rollout for the Vision Pro:
- Two to four retail employees from Apple stores across the US are already flying to Cupertino for secret trainings for a new product. While Apple isn’t telling employees what the product is, it’s obviously the Vision Pro. The idea is these workers will learn how to sell the device and then return to their markets to teach everyone else. These will also be the point people that help customers try the device and make the sale.
- On Jan. 21, all US stores will be holding rare, three-hour meetings for all employees. Retail workers believe these meetings will be when training takes place and sales procedures will be discussed. Further trainings are planned in the following days. Later that week and the following week, retail stores will be receiving new inventory racks and changing out backroom equipment.
- Last month, Luxshare held a delivery ceremony marking getting the Vision Pro out the door. That’s the China-based manufacturing partner actually building the headset for Apple. Over the past couple weeks, Apple has filed design patents for every hardware and software element of the device, suggesting an impending launch.
Gurman said, “While the Vision Pro will probably give the company more headaches than dollars, it’s still compelling hardware.” Gurman also said that the Vision Pro “will do little to nothing for Apple’s bottom line in the next few years.”
At this point, we don’t know whether Apple will immediately make the Vision Pro available via online pre-order. The company may instead initially only offer an online reservation for a fitting appointment at an Apple Store.
