Apple Vision Pro & iOS 17 will be a feast for accessory makers

Posted:
in General Discussion edited June 2023
Apple hasn't just grown the number of people interested in headsets, it's given accessory makers a whole new market -- and so has iOS 17.

It's just calling out for a case -- and accessory makers will rush to meet demand
It's just calling out for a case -- and accessory makers will rush to meet demand

You would probably be safe to hold your breath while waiting for the first iOS 17 and Apple Vision Pro accessories to be announced. Just as it did with the Apple Watch, just as it spectacularly did with the iPhone, Apple has just created an entire third-party industry or two.

The Apple Vision Pro might be the most obvious device for accessory makers to focus on first. Not only is it an entirely new device, but it's expensive and that inevitably means opportunity.

For one thing, people who spend $3,500 on a Vision Pro are going to want to protect it so right away, there's going to be demand for protective cases. And then of course if people can spend that money on the headset, they can be counted on to spend well on the case.

So we're not going to see cheap, plastic cases for Vision Pro. We are going to see hard-wearing luxury cases like those for the AirPods Max. They'll look fantastic and make manufacturers dream of high profit markups.

Then if cases are best used for travel, there's a whole other market for what to do with Vision Pro when it's lying unused at home -- or its battery is being charged.

Expect something like this Benks Grand Pro Headphone Stand, and wireless charger, for Vision Pro
Expect something like this Benks Grand Pro Headphone Stand, and wireless charger, for Vision Pro

Consequently, there are going to be a lot of stands, just as there have been for Apple's AirPods Max headphones.

Stand and deliver

There may not be much more for the Vision Pro, however. Whereas there will be a huge range of new accessories for iPhones running iOS 17.

Apple's iOS 17 introduces StandBy, and it's a fair bet that a couple of million iPhone users are going to want new accessories to go with it. StandBy turns your iPhone into a nighttime clock and more, when it is turned to landscape and placed on a charger.

Maybe you have a MagSafe charger by your bed, but of course you'll now need one for the kitchen and office
Maybe you have a MagSafe charger by your bed, but of course you'll now need one for the kitchen and office

"StandBy is perfect for your nightstand," said Apple's Craig Federighi during the WWDC 2023 presentation, "kitchen counter, or desk."

This won't work with the inexpensive non-magnetic portrait chargers. So, cue a lot of chargers with MagSafe mounts being announced and sold this holiday season.

Apple has fostered this new market by creating the hardware in Vision Pro and the software features in iOS 17. Third-party options are going to be everywhere -- and you. can take it for granted that Apple is going to make a few accessories itself.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    Rick601Rick601 Posts: 16member
    I’d also expect a much larger and longer lasting battery pack for the VisionPro. 2 hours is not going to cut it. 
    gregoriusmGraeme000grandact73williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 9
    twolf2919twolf2919 Posts: 135member
    For accessory makers to succeed - i.e. make money - they need to be able to sell to enough customers.  For the iPhone and Apple Watch that was millions in the first year alone.  This headset won't even reach 100,000 by the end of its first year by most people's estimates - and even that is still 1.5 years away.

    Yes, people spending $3,500 want to protect and accessorize their new toy - but finding an accessory maker dumb enough to invest into making accessories for it might be a challenge.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 9
    AppleishAppleish Posts: 705member
    Rick601 said:
    I’d also expect a much larger and longer lasting battery pack for the VisionPro. 2 hours is not going to cut it. 
    You can plug it into the wall to use while the pack is charging. My guess is that most of its use will be plugged in. I know it would be for me.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 9
    entropysentropys Posts: 4,255member
    Rick601 said:
    I’d also expect a much larger and longer lasting battery pack for the VisionPro. 2 hours is not going to cut it. 
    That battery pack is a fail point with that fixed cable. I guess it will depend on if Apple allows manufacturers to build that proprietary connection to the headset, then we might get flexibility on cables and battery pack options. The next biggest aftermarket accessory after a case.
  • Reply 5 of 9
    prokipprokip Posts: 178member
    Can someone tell me what is the white stand to which the iPhone is attached in the pic above.  Who makes it and do you have link?
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 9
    prokip said:
    Can someone tell me what is the white stand to which the iPhone is attached in the pic above.  Who makes it and do you have link?

    Twelve South makes that one I think.

    https://www.twelvesouth.com/
    Japheywatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 9
    radarthekatradarthekat Posts: 3,896moderator
    twolf2919 said:
    For accessory makers to succeed - i.e. make money - they need to be able to sell to enough customers.  For the iPhone and Apple Watch that was millions in the first year alone.  This headset won't even reach 100,000 by the end of its first year by most people's estimates - and even that is still 1.5 years away.

    Yes, people spending $3,500 want to protect and accessorize their new toy - but finding an accessory maker dumb enough to invest into making accessories for it might be a challenge.
    I’ll say 3 million in the first 12 months. The next year, as we await its launch, the vapors will coalesce on some string use cases, and excitement will grow.  We’re living in a world where there’s something on the order of 2 million reservations for a $50-100k stainless steel origami electric pickup.  At $3500, to experience for the first time, a truly worth mixed reality experience, entirely plugged into the Apple ecosystem, with a whole lot of familiar apps already available by ship date, I think there’s a quite significant number of potential customers. I’ll be buying one for a lifelong friend who had a stroke six years ago as it looks like something that will be helpful for him, and I’ll buy one for myself to experience this new computing realm. 
    watto_cobramattinoz
  • Reply 8 of 9
    tundraboytundraboy Posts: 1,908member
    That battery attachment should have the cable oriented vertically aimed straight down rather than horizontally towards the back.  Less bending stress on the cable, and no wire sticking out from your head like some kind of stupid hair ornament.  (Watch for it in the demo video.)
  • Reply 9 of 9
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,520member
    Clearly somebody needs to make a helmet+mask accessory to go with this. 


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