You can buy the Vision Pro in Australia right now, but don't!

The initial Vision Pro launch may be limited to the United States, but that hasn't stopped Kogan from getting its hands on imported stock and offering it to Australian customers with the product set to ship from March 1. While this may be a tempting proposition for Apple fans wanting to get their hands on a Vision Pro ASAP, there are a few good reasons to wait until the official Australian launch.

To start, the Vision Pro has a whole host of US-centric lock-ins. You'll need a US Apple ID to access the App Store, a US credit card to make purchases in the App Store, Apple Music, or the Apple TV app, and you may not be able to access to certain apps, features, or content due to licensing restrictions. In addition, US English is the only supported language.

There's also a question of fit. When you pre-order a Vision Pro from Apple, you need to perform a Face ID scan with an iPhone or iPad to ensure you get the correct size light seal and headband. The Kogan website makes no mention of Vision Pro sizing, which isn't ideal when these are necessary for a properly immersive experience. 

Kogan isn't offering the optional prescription lenses for the Vision Pro either. These require a prescription written by a US eye care professional, and only ship to US locations. This alone could make importing a Vision Pro a no-go for anyone with eye care needs.

Then there's the matter of price. The Vision Pro retails for USD$3,499, which is $5,291 at current exchange rates. Kogan is selling the headset for $6,399. Even if you factor in GST, that's almost a $600 markup. While we don't know what the Vision Pro will cost in Australia, I'm betting it will be cheaper than $6,399.

And lastly, there's warranty and support. Kogan says you'll get a one-year warranty with Vision Pro purchases, which is shorter than the two years consumer tech products come with in Australia. If there are any faults with your Vision Pro, getting them addressed will be a lot harder in a market where the product isn't sold; Apple's website notes Vision Pro support is only available in the US for the time being.

We still don't know when Apple will release the Vision Pro in Australia, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects availability outside of the United States before June this year.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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