The Vision Pro Is Coming to US Apple Stores On February 2

Apple has just dropped an official release date for its highly-anticipated Vision Pro headset, announcing that it will be in Apple Stores across the United States on February 2 — a date that lines up with what the rumor mill has been telling us over the past several weeks.

However, Apple’s announcement comes with a bonus we weren’t expecting: the company will be opening pre-orders for the new headset on Friday, January 19, at 5 a.m. PT.

That means if you’re really champing at the bit to get your hands on one of the first units to come out of Cupertino, you’ll be able to line up digitally two weeks in advance, just like you can for a new iPhone.

However, as with iPhone preorders, you still won’t likely get the headset in your hands before it lands in Apple Stores, as it’s expected to ship for delivery on the same day — February 2. Contrary to some prior reports, Apple has also confirmed that it’s coming to ALL US Apple Store locations on launch day, although it’s unclear what stock levels will be like.

The era of spatial computing has arrived. Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine how we connect, create, and explore.

Apple CEO Tim Cook

As we already know, the Apple Vision Pro will be priced starting at $3,499. However, today’s announcement adds some new details that haven’t been entirely clear before now.

For one, the Vision Pro will come standard with 256GB of storage capacity. Apple hasn’t shared if any higher storage capacities will be available and, if so, what they will cost. Although 256GB sounds like a reasonable amount for most folks — even Spatial Videos have proven to be reasonably compact — it’s hard to say what the storage requirements will be for some of the more sophisticated and immersive Vision Pro apps.

The other pleasant surprise is that the Zeiss Optical Inserts for those who require them will be priced at $99 for reading lenses and $149 for prescription lenses. Since the Vision Pro doesn’t allow you to wear eyeglasses, the Optical Inserts will be necessary for anybody with less than 20/20 vision to get the whole experience. It should work fine with standard contact lenses, although it might be challenging for wearers of multifocal contacts.

Apple also notes that the ZEISS Optical Inserts are “only available to purchase online,” which suggests even the reader versions won’t be available in stores, at least not at launch. If you have an unusual prescription, you may be out of luck as well, as Apple also says in the fine print that “not all prescriptions are supported.”

In terms of what you’ll find in the box, Apple says it’s packing in two bands — the Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band — to help users get “the fit that works best for them.” There’s also a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover for the front, and even a polishing cloth. Naturally, the package also includes the necessary external battery pack along with the USB-C cables and power adapter.