2023-06-13 14:52:32
The headphone Vision Pro de Apple It’s just been revealed, but you could already be in trouble. Not only is Apple allegedly scrambling to make as many units as it wants, but the company might even be forced to change the device’s moniker in an apparent naming oversight.
This is because a report from the Chinese site MyDrivers claims that Apple might not be able to use the Vision Pro name in China, as rival tech firm Huawei had already registered the title in the country as early as 2019.
The website indicates that the trademark is registered with the China National Intellectual Property Administration and applies from November 28, 2021 to November 27, 2031. It covers a wide range of devices, including VR products mounted on head.
It’s hard to believe that Apple would choose a name for its new flagship product that was already trademarked by a rival, so we’ll have to see how this one plays out. But if Apple is forced to rebrand the product in China, it will be just another headache for a product that seems to be facing more than enough challenges as it is.
struggling with the numbers
Naming rights are not the only concern reported for the Vision Pro. According to the South Korean media outlet The ElecApple will likely only be able to ship around 400,000 Vision Pro headphones per year, as Sony, the company that makes the device’s display panels, simply can’t do more.
The Elec believes that Samsung can ship a maximum of 100,000 to 200,000 panels per quarter, or 400,000 to 800,000 per year. If we assume that each Vision Pro has two panels, that suggests that Apple will be able to ship a maximum of 400,000 units each year. When Apple asked Sony to increase its production capacity, Sony refused, claims The Elec.
Worryingly, the number is even lower than the already conservative estimates that were circulating before the headphones were revealed at the recent Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
In March 2023, for example, the Financial Times claimed that Apple expected to sell only around one million headphones per year, an already low figure compared to the roughly 225 million iPhones sold in 2022. Yet even that figure was questioned, with display industry expert Ross Young stating it was “too highbecause Apple’s micro OLED supplier “can’t do that many in a year.”
If it’s true that Apple will only ship a few hundred thousand Vision Pro headphones per year, that’s bad news for interested customers, who may have to put up with shipping delays and shortages, and for Apple itself. After all, low sales numbers are never a good look for a new product that is destined to revolutionize the industry. Whatever happens, it’s clear that the Vision Pro faces an uphill battle.
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