Last updated: June 14, 2023, 5:30 PM IST
Cupertino, California, USA
Apple Vision Pro faces challenges before launch
The company launched its first-generation mixed reality headset that will hit the market late next year.
The Apple Vision Pro headset won’t be available in the market until early next year, but Apple is already having some trouble launching the product in one of its key markets. According to reports, the Apple Vision Pro headset will require a name change if it is to be sold in China as the trademark for the Vision Pro name is owned by Huawei in the region.
The Vision Pro branding can only be used by Huawei in China, meaning Apple will have to look for another name to sell its mixed reality headset, or find some sort of legal agreement with Huawei to market its device as Vision Pro. to sell the land.
The details for the trademark were first spotted by MyDrivers, who claim that Huawei has applied for the name and been granted the trademark to use Vision Pro from November 2021 to November 2031.
According to reports, Huawei has already used the Vision brand name to sell its smart TVs and smart glasses in the region. So for Apple to have any chance of launching its Vision Pro headset in China, it would have to agree a monetary terms with Huawei, which probably won’t come cheap.
These kinds of deals aren’t new to Apple, as the company had previously secured the license to use the iPad name in China, and reportedly paid $60 million to a company called Proview Technology to make it happen. Huawei is definitely a bigger name in China and it’s unlikely the company will grant Apple the rights to sell its mixed reality headset under its original name.
Apple plans to launch the Vision Pro headset in its home market initially and by the end of next year, China could be on the list where the mixed reality headset could debut if all goes according to plan . Apple’s XR headset costs $3,500, has about 12 cameras under the hood and is powered by an M2 chipset.
