Number Of Apple Vision Pro Apps Hit By “Significant Slowdown” As Demand Plunges
The once-promising landscape of apps for Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset is experiencing a marked deceleration. Since its market debut on February 2, the release frequency of new apps for the device has dwindled. The sustainability of the high-priced goggles is contingent upon the presence of groundbreaking apps, yet such developments have been wanting.
The ecosystem supporting the Vision Pro has reported a concerning decrease in growth momentum post-launch. Priced at a base of $3,499, the Vision Pro remains beyond reach for many consumers, particularly in a climate marked by persistent inflation and high interest rates. The pricing miscalculation is a likely contributor to the lag in demand.
Month-over-month, the introduction of new applications for the Vision Pro has seen a steep decline. Analytics data indicates that a mere 10 new apps made their way to the Vision App Store in September, a stark contrast to the hundreds that flooded the store during the initial launch phase.
As of September, the Vision Pro boasts approximately 1,770 available apps, yet only a fraction—34% to be precise—are designed exclusively for the headset. The remainder are adaptations of pre-existing Apple apps enhanced for use with Vision Pro. This discrepancy in app creation reflects a challenge in encouraging developers to build for the new platform.
Despite Apple’s earlier claims suggesting over 2,500 Vision Pro-ready apps, analytics have not corroborated this figure entirely. Inconsistencies may arise from some applications lacking significant user engagement, rendering them undetectable in usage metrics.
The visual data underlines a pronounced drop in new app releases for the Vision Pro as the months progress. The drastic reduction in app proliferation is tied in part to the stratospheric cost of the innovative headset, a price point that many potential users find prohibitive.
Although Apple has yet to divulge official sales figures for the Vision Pro, estimates painted by analysts suggest a downward revision in anticipated shipments, pointing to figures between 400,000 and 450,000 units for the year. Initial projections were nearly double, forecasting between 700,000 and 800,000 units.
Additional insights indicate a significant downturn in Vision Pro sales, with second-quarter figures reportedly plummeting by 80% compared to the previous quarter. The Vision Pro’s journey to success would necessitate revolutionary apps, akin to those that propelled the iPhone to unparalleled prominence among consumer electronics.
The lingering question is whether the Vision Pro can achieve the necessary breakthrough to cement its status as a must-have gadget, similar to Apple’s marquee products in the past. As of now, the Vision Pro’s app ecosystem requires a spark to catalyze interest and invigorate sales.
