The VR Race is Officially On: Kiplinger Economic Forecasts
Tech giants like Apple and Meta are banking on VR headsets to be the next big thing.


Virtual-reality technology has come a long way from 1980s arcade games, and tech companies, such as Apple, Meta and HTC, are heavily investing in the future of VR. To help you understand what is going on and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly-experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest...
With Apple’s first virtual-reality headset, called Apple Vision Pro, set to go on sale in early 2024, the VR race is officially on. But it will be a marathon, not a sprint. Apple may sell only a few hundred thousand devices of what it calls "a revolutionary spatial computer" (because it blends digital content with the physical world) in the first sales year, maybe fewer, as the price is too high for mass adoption.
The company’s focus: luring developers to produce apps and content, similar to how it built an ecosystem of iPhone apps. The device has garnered glowing reviews and is packed with high-end tech, much of it built in-house, including two low-power computer chips. Manufacturing is complex and drives up the price to $3,500, much more than other models from Meta (with its $999.99 Meta Quest Pro device) or HTC (and its $1,099 VIVE XR Elite).

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Apple (AAPL) and Meta (META) combined have invested over $100 billion in Virtual Reality research, per one estimate, so both companies are in this promising market for the long haul.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
- The Lure of Virtual Reality
- Virtual Reality Turns Games Into Treatments
- What is the Metaverse?
- 9 Best Metaverse Stocks for the Future of Technology
- The Metaverse Explained (and Why You Should Care)
- 5 Cool New Technologies Launched via Crowdfunding
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
John Miley is a Senior Associate Editor at The Kiplinger Letter. He mainly covers technology, telecom and education, but will jump on other important business topics as needed. In his role, he provides timely forecasts about emerging technologies, business trends and government regulations. He also edits stories for the weekly publication and has written and edited e-mail newsletters.
He joined Kiplinger in August 2010 as a reporter for Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, where he wrote stories, fact-checked articles and researched investing data. After two years at the magazine, he moved to the Letter, where he has been for the last decade. He holds a BA from Bates College and a master’s degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University, where he specialized in business reporting. An avid runner and a former decathlete, he has written about fitness and competed in triathlons.
-
Berkshire Hathaway's in the 100,000% Return Club. No Surprise Here
Warren Buffett's fascination with the insurance industry has helped Berkshire Hathaway's stock return snowball.
By Louis Navellier Published
-
4 Turnaround Stocks to Consider – and 2 More to Keep an Eye On
A turnaround stock is a struggling company with a strong makeover plan that can pay off for intrepid investors.
By Nellie S. Huang Published
-
Should You Sell Tesla Stock as Elon Unrest Grows?
Tesla's CEO is wearing many hats and is managing them "with great difficulty."
By David Dittman Published
-
5 of Warren Buffett's Best Investments
Warren Buffett has had plenty of wins throughout his decades of investing. Here, we highlight five of Buffett's best investments.
By Kyle Woodley Published
-
Apple's 100,000% Return Is a Result of Innovation, Brand Loyalty and Buybacks
Apple spends billions buying back its own shares, but this is just one catalyst behind the incredible growth in its share price.
By Louis Navellier Published
-
Trump’s Whirlwind Month of Crypto Moves
The Kiplinger Letter The Trump administration wants to strengthen U.S. leadership in the cryptocurrency industry by providing regulatory clarity.
By Rodrigo Sermeño Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Struggle After Trump's EU Tariff Threats
Stocks pared early gains after Trump threatened the European Union with 25% tariffs.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Gains After Nike Gets Upgraded
Jefferies thinks Nike's new CEO will spark a turnaround in the beaten-down blue chip.
By Karee Venema Published
-
Best Investments to Sidestep Trump's Trade War
These ETFs are well-designed to weather rising U.S. protectionism and retaliatory tariffs.
By Jeff Reeves Last updated
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Gain to Start the Short Week
Stocks struggled for direction Tuesday, though Intel made a beeline higher on M&A buzz.
By Karee Venema Published