Oct 23 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) has sharply scaled

back its Vision Pro production since early summer and could stop

making the existing version of the mixed reality headset by

year-end, the Information reported on Wednesday, citing people

involved in building its components.

Sales for the device have been waning after initial

enthusiasm following its launch in February, due to the

headset's hefty price tag and competition from cheaper options

including Meta Platforms' ( META ) Quest.

While Apple's ( AAPL ) Vision Pro starts at around $3,500 in the

U.S., Meta's Quest 3 headset has a price tag of around $500.

According to the Information report, employees at three

Vision Pro suppliers have so far built enough components to make

between 500,000 and 600,000 headsets. One of the employees said

their factory suspended production of Vision Pro components in

May.

Apple ( AAPL ) in recent weeks has also told the device's assembler,

Luxshare, that it might need to wind down its manufacturing in

November, the report said, citing an employee at the

manufacturer.

The iPhone maker did not immediately respond to a Reuters

request for comment.

The Information had reported in June that Apple ( AAPL ) was working

on releasing a more affordable Vision product with fewer

features before the end of 2025 and suspended work on its next

high-end headset.

Apple ( AAPL ) launched the Vision Pro in international markets

earlier this year to reinvigorate demand at a time when it

rushes to incorporate artificial intelligence into its flagship

mobile devices to get ahead of rivals.