Apple Vision Pro timeline: release and M5 refresh

June 5, 2023 — Apple unveils Vision Pro

Apple introduced Apple Vision Pro as “Apple’s first spatial computer”. The announcement said it would start at $3,499 in the U.S., be available early the following year in U.S. Apple Stores and online, and reach more countries later in 2024. This is the product announcement, not the retail release.

January 8, 2024 — U.S. launch date and pre-orders set

Apple announced that pre-orders would begin January 19 and that Vision Pro would be available February 2 at every U.S. Apple Store and the U.S. Apple Store online. Apple listed a starting price of $3,499 for 256GB. Apple’s launch announcement is the primary source for both dates and the launch configuration.

February 2, 2024 — first commercial availability

The first Vision Pro became available in the United States on the date Apple had announced, with in-store demos and purchase support. Apple’s same-day store-arrival update documents the retail start. “First” here means the first Apple-announced commercial availability, rather than a claim about every pre-release demonstration or developer unit.

June 28 and July 12, 2024 — international rollout

Apple announced availability in China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore from June 28, followed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K. from July 12. The dates and pre-order sequence are set out in Apple’s international rollout release. This was a geographic expansion of the existing Vision Pro product, not a second hardware generation.

September 16, 2024 — visionOS 2 becomes available

Apple released visionOS 2 as a free software update for Vision Pro. It added features such as spatial-photo conversion and new hand gestures. Because Apple describes this as an operating-system update for Apple Vision Pro, it belongs in the software timeline, not as a new headset generation.

October 15, 2025 — M5 refresh announced

Apple announced an upgraded Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip and Dual Knit Band. Apple says this version improves performance, display rendering, battery life, and comfort; it starts at $3,499 and comes in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities. Apple’s wording is “upgraded” and “latest version,” so this article records it as a confirmed refresh rather than inventing a generation number.

October 22, 2025 — M5 model becomes available

Apple’s announcement set nationwide availability for Wednesday, October 22, in the listed launch markets, including the U.S.; pre-orders opened October 15. The same release says South Korea and Taiwan would follow later, without giving a date in that announcement. Apple’s availability update confirms the October 22 release.