Apple Bets On Vision Pro To Repeat iPhone Success, Serve As Game-Changer for AR/VR Industry

The launch of Apple Inc's AAPL Vision Pro headset has sparked interest in the virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) space after a slowdown in funding leading up to the launch. 

Investors remained wary about making bets in the AR/VR sector without clear signals from industry leaders.

Also Read: Apple Looks To Maintain Steady iPhone Shipments in 2023

The Vision Pro headset is a potential game-changer for the AR/VR industry. Apple is positioning it as a "mixed reality" device likely to usher in a new spatial computing era. The company expects the Vision Pro to repeat the iPhone's revolutionizing of mobile computing, Financial Times reports.

In June, AR/VR and mixed reality start-ups in the U.S. raised $208 million in funding, marking a 12-month high., FT reports. Despite the price tag of $3,500 and a vague release date, investors are focusing on the market validation that Vision Pro provides.

Start-ups in various industries benefit from the renewed interest in AR/VR. For example, Augmedics, an Illinois-based start-up that builds tools to help surgeons navigate spinal instruments during operations, attracted an $83 million funding round in June. 

Luminopia, a Massachusetts-based company, which creates therapeutic visual stimuli, had raised $16 million in late June.

Still, some analysts caution that the AR/VR industry should not solely rely on Apple's success. 

The AR/VR industry has seen its share of challenges and failures, with other industry giants like Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL Google dumping its smart glasses project. 

Price Action: AAPL shares traded higher by 0.05% at $193.71 premarket on the last check Wednesday.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.