![The Apple Vision Pro headset on display at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EdunsL0E51006lrVJSpboPLuB7E=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73048554/DSC00889.0.jpg)
Apple isn’t at CES, but it had a huge presence anyway. On Monday, just before a string of CES keynotes were set to kick off, the company announced that its Vision Pro headset would be launching on February 2nd. Apple had already promised that the headset would launch early this year. So the stage was set for its rivals to compete by making CES 2024 a showcase of new ideas about virtual and augmented reality.
Ultimately, that didn’t pan out. Lots of companies showed up with AR and VR tech. A lot of the headsets offered similar functionality to the Vision Pro, like an AR / VR monitor for your computer or a substitute TV. But none were as impressive a package as Apple’s headset, nor were most arriving nearly as soon.