Breaking Down the Business of Apps: The Rise of Premium Pricing in the Vision Pro Era

Hey there, tech aficionados! Remember when the App Store revolutionised the way we interacted with our phones? Gone were the days of shelling out cash upfront for apps; instead, we embraced the era of “free to play,” where apps were free to download, but revenue came from in-app purchases and ads. Well, fast forward to today, and we’re witnessing a fascinating shift back to the old-school model, thanks to none other than Apple’s latest innovation: the Vision Pro headset.

Picture this: a virtual or mixed reality experience powered by a souped-up version of iOS called ‘VisionOS’. Sounds pretty futuristic, right? Well, strap in because it’s here, and it’s bringing a slew of apps along for the ride. But here’s the kicker – most of these apps come with a price tag.

According to a recent study by Techcrunch, the majority of apps exclusive to the Vision Pro aren’t freebies. Nope, they’re charging an average of $5.67 per download. And get this – a good chunk of them aren’t even monetising through the App Store; they’re opting for subscription models instead.

Now, before you start worrying about breaking the bank to try out these VR wonders, let me assure you that the Vision Pro isn’t exactly targeting your average Joe. With a hefty price tag of $3,500, it’s mainly attracting businesses, developers, and those with deep pockets. And let’s face it, if you’re dropping that kind of cash on a headset, you’re probably not sweating a few extra bucks for premium apps.

But hey, don’t fret just yet. As the user base for the Vision Pro expands (and trust me, it will), we might see a shift back to the freemium model. After all, if history has taught us anything, it’s that where there’s demand, there’s bound to be innovation. So, who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be swiping through virtual worlds on our Vision Pros, downloading freemium apps like it’s 2008 all over again.