Apple Puts ‘Vision Pro 2’ on the Back Burner in Favor of a Lower-Cost Headset
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A new report from The Information reveals that Apple may be shifting its priorities for the next generation of its spatial computing headset, focusing on producing a more affordable model rather than a sequel to the current Apple Vision Pro.
From the beginning, it has seemed clear that Apple’s $3,500 headset was never intended to be the sole device in its spatial computing lineup. In February 2023, before we even knew what Apple planned to call its headset, rumors were already swirling that Apple was working on two different versions — effectively a duo of standard and “pro” models.
However, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested at the time that Apple might wait until both versions of the headset were ready, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman was consistently sure that Apple intended to put its best foot forward, releasing the most powerful headset it was capable of designing as soon as it could. That became what we know now as the Apple Vision Pro, but we also kept hearing murmurings of Apple working on a more affordable “Vision” counterpart that could arrive sometime in 2025.
Since then, reports of Apple’s plans for the next phase of its spatial computing devices have been mixed. In September, Kuo suggested Apple may have canceled its plans for the standard version. Gurman later added that Apple was focusing on the second-generation Pro model, and while it hadn’t ruled out a more affordable headset, that was only in the “consideration” stage at that point. Nevertheless, a later report from Gurman revealed Apple was “funneling resources toward a lower-end version” that could cut a few reasonable corners, such as using lower-resolution displays and a lower-specced A-series chip to bring the price down.
While most folks believed that Apple was working on the two devices in parallel, it seems that Apple has shelved the second-generation Vision Pro to focus all its efforts on the cheaper headset instead. According to The Information, Apple has gradually been shifting more and more employees from the Vision Pro over to the “Vision,” as the company’s engineering teams try to find ways to reduce the cost of the device without compromising on the experience.
While the standard “Vision” headset will likely still be pricey, Apple’s goal is to get it down to the price tag of a high-end iPhone — around $1,600. Gurman previously reported that Apple was aiming to land in a $1,500 to $2,500 price range, but the lower end of that is a best-case scenario that could be hard to achieve.
Sources say that Apple plans to keep the same high-res displays as the Vision Pro but could remove other features like sensors and cameras to reduce the price and the weight by up to one-third. The 3D video capture cameras would be an easy tradeoff for this, considering the iPhone 15 Pro already supports Spatial Video Recording, and there are rumors it will come to the entire iPhone 16 lineup later this year. That would not eliminate the need for the feature on the Vision Pro and even make it somewhat redundant, as the iPhone is a much better tool for capturing videos.
That doesn’t mean a second-generation Vision Pro isn’t still on the table, but the aim is to get the more affordable version onto the market by the end of next year. However, that’s a tall order since it has yet to even reach a prototype stage.
Meanwhile, the Vision Pro is launching internationally in the coming weeks. The headset will be available in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore on June 28 and then in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK on July 12.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
