Is the Metaverse over? Rumor has it that Apple's Vision Pro will cease production at the end of the year.

When Apple's wearable device Vision Pro was released in February this year, it sparked a wave of unboxing frenzy and speculation about future immersive experiences. However, it is now reported that Apple has significantly reduced the production of Vision Pro and may stop producing the current version of Vision Pro by the end of the year.

Is the Metaverse Over? Vision Pro Discontinued?

When Apple Vision Pro was launched in February this year, it sparked a wave of unboxing trends and imaginations of immersive experiences for the future. The once silent narrative and opportunities of the metaverse have been brought up again. However, according to a report from The Information, Apple has significantly reduced the production of Vision Pro and may stop production of the current version of Vision Pro by the end of the year.

What impact will the official launch of Apple Vision Pro have on metaverse projects?

With a starting price of $3,499 in the United States, Apple's Vision Pro competes against Meta's Quest 3, which takes a more affordable route with a price tag of only $499. Meta even released the Quest 3S in September priced at $299, engaging in a price war with Apple.

Meta launches the more affordable virtual reality device Quest 3S, with enhanced AI features

According to sources cited by The Information, the three Vision Pro suppliers have so far manufactured enough components to produce 500,000 to 600,000 Vision Pro units. An employee mentioned that their factory stopped producing Vision Pro components in May, and an employee at the equipment assembly plant Luxshare Precision of Luxshare said Apple recently informed them that production may need to stop in November.

There were previous reports that Apple is working on releasing a more affordable and less feature-rich Vision product by the end of 2025, and has paused the development of its next-generation high-end head-mounted device.

Apple Stock Price Hits High, Then Drops

Apple's latest quarterly financial report will be announced after the market closes on October 31. The stock price has been gradually rising in anticipation of the recovery in the consumer market, reaching an all-time high of $237.49 last week.

In addition, Apple released a series of Apple Intelligence features for testing yesterday, including the long-awaited integration of ChatGPT. Perhaps in this wave of AI, Apple has chosen to prioritize AI that is more likely to become popular and profitable, temporarily moving away from the metaverse.