Wesley Hilliard
Multiple industry reports place the Apple VR Headset bill of materials between $1,290 and $1,509, but differing information between the sources throws it all into question.
Early estimates suggested Apple's VR Headset would cost around $3,000 retail. That would account for the research and development, bill of materials, shipping, and some margin for profit.
Information gathered by XR Daily News shows differing reports for the bill of materials. When discussing how much a product will cost on store shelves, small variations in the bill of materials can make a big difference, so the $200 swing is notable.
One report, from Minsheng Electronics, suggests that the total cost of the headset materials adds up to $1,400. It even adds in that a conservative shipping estimate places the cost at $1,600. The report also notes that Apple allegedly expects over 400,000 to be built in late 2023.
A document from Wellsenn XR suggests the total bill of materials is $1,509. It has slightly different names for some of the components but a similar set.
A third report contains information from two separate sources ranging the bill of materials between $1,209 and $1,300. These are notably lower than the other estimates provided, but may not include shipping costs.
So, data from four different sources places the bill of materials between $1,209 and $1,509 — assuming these are all estimated without shipping. Apple does account for research costs when determining the final price, and a margin for profit does need to exist, so a $3,000 starting price isn't out of the question.
Some have seen these numbers and thrown out lower estimates, but conservatively, $2,000 is the absolute minimum. That is if any of these reports are accurate, since technically only one can be.
Apple is expected to announce its VR headset during WWDC in June. It would run xrOS and bring VR to Apple's ecosystem.
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17 Comments
" That is if any of these reports are accurate, since technically only one can be."
And now they know which leaks came from where...
I am expecting Star Trek Holodeck Technology.
I mean let Steve Jobs join Tim Cook to launch this product in an AR / VR Holodeck and price will not matter.
How can an estimate of the cost to build Apple's VR Headset even be a possibility when it is still only a rumor. Nobody has even seen it! A total waste of time.
How can shipping be $200?
The author neglected to mention the rumor that Apple might sell the headset 'at cost' to gain adoption more quickly. If they do and the cost to Apple is $1500, there might actually be some interest. Emphasis on *might* since Apple has never produced a device at such high cost with such limited use time. Yes, people pay up to $1500 for an iPhone - but you can use that all day, in all sorts of interactions. Yes, people pay $3500 for a MacBook Pro - but, again, this can be useful all day. And that is what Apple AR glasses would have been: a tool you can use all day in all sorts of ways. I would have gladly forked out $1500 for a sleek set of glasses that enhanced experience and productivity all day.
Instead, we're getting this big honker of a "headset" that'll definitely be too ugly to wear all day and, most likely, too heavy too. Oh, and as if the headset wasn't ugly enough, you may even get to wear/carry a separate batter - on your belt?
This headset, as rumored, will never see commercial success. Apple will sell a few hundred thousand to developers and tell them "go pretend these are glasses and develop software for the AR glasses we'll be delivering in a few years".