On June 28th, the Apple Vision Pro finally arrived in China, almost five months after its release in the US. However, the much anticipated Apple product has not received many positive reviews from Chinese consumers. On the same day the Vision Pro was released, a video titled “A 30,000 RMB Dream? My Experience with Apple Vision Pro China” (30000元的美梦？国行Vision Pro评测) went viral on Bilibili. Over the next 5 days, it attracted 1.3 million views and received more than 4000 comments.
The video, which provided a close analysis of the Vision Pro’s functions, sparked discussion in the comment section. Viewers overwhelmingly expressed a lack of faith in the product.
The biggest problem lies in the pricing. While acknowledging its many benefits, the majority of commenters still found the retail price of 30,000 RMB (4125 USD) — roughly about 18% more expensive than the Vision Pro’s price in the US — to be too high. Bilibili user Aoxiaoruochen commented, “I might consider buying the product to watch Bilibili or comics at home if it cost around 10,000 RMB, but 30,000 RMB is just too expensive.”
Others joked that they would just wait for Xiaomi, one of Apple’s main competitors in China, to come up with a similar product at half the price in the near future (a not unimaginable course of events).
Netizens were also concerned with the product’s practicality. Unlike phones and laptops which have become an essential part of people’s lives, many see the Vision Pro as an unnecessary accessory. Bilibili user Kongrenshitian stated that “right now the Vision Pro is nothing but a toy for the rich. People don’t have the need for it.” Recent news that Apple has reportedly suspended development of the next generation of Vision headsets has also raised concerns over the future of the product line.
People were also dissatisfied with some of the Vision Pro’s design details. For instance, some pointed out that despite Apple’s attempts to create a visually appealing headset, it still looks awkward to wear it in public or at work. Tech fans were also disappointed that despite being released in a version specifically designed for the Chinese market, the Vision Pro cannot be used to scan QR codes for payment — an inescapable part of daily life in China.
VR technology has been on the rise in China for almost a decade. While there was great excitement in anticipation of the Vision Pro’s release, it remains to be seen whether muted reactions are a minor hiccup or a sign of changing trends.
Banner image via Huxiu.
