Apple Vision Pro will launch Feb. 2, preorders start Jan. 19

Apple's highly anticipated mixed-reality Vision Pro headset will be available starting on February 2 at US retail Apple locations and on the Apple Store website, the company announced this morning. Preorders for the $3,499 "spatial computing" headset will start on January 19 at 5 am PST.

The stock model of the Vision Pro will include 256GB of storage, which can be used to store existing iOS apps or apps made specifically for the Vision Pro's new spatialOS. The package will include the flexible Solo Knit Band seen in previous marketing materials, as well as a newly revealed "Dual Loop Band," which adds a portion that goes over the top of the skull. Apple says the extra included band will "give users two options for the fit that works best for them."

Here are the other items included in the Vision Pro box, according to Apple:

• Light seal
• Two light seal cushions
• Apple Vision Pro cover
• Polishing cloth
• External battery
  USB-C charge cable
• USB-C power adapter

For those needing corrective lenses while inside the Vision Pro, Apple says Zeiss "Readers" will be available for $99, while prescription Optical Inserts will run $149. Both options attach magnetically to the device to give an unobstructed view and allow for eye tracking while in Vision Pro.

What can this thing do, again?

In its press release announcing the launch details, Apple highlighted the availability of "more than 150" movies and TV shows that can be viewed in 3D on the device. The company also mentions Vision Pro's support for "new spatial games," including Game Room, What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja, which "take advantage of the powerful capabilities of Apple Vision Pro to transform the space around players, offering unique and engaging gameplay experiences."

Aside from those visionOS-enhanced experiences, Apple's release talks up Vision Pro's support for 2D productivity apps, including "Fantastical, Freeform, JigSpace, apps from Microsoft 365, and Slack." Vision Pro users can also view streaming services like Apple TV+, Disney+, and Max, which can be viewed "on a screen that feels 100 feet wide with support for HDR content" or play more than 250 Apple Arcade titles on the device.

Ars Technica went hands-on with the Vision Pro shortly after its original announcement last June, testing out its eye-tracking interface, avatar-based FaceTime calls, and immersive, 3D mixed reality content. We're eager to get more time with the device for testing in Ars' Orbiting HQ soon.