Highlights
- Apple is working to release a more affordable Vision headset.
- It will potentially cost around $2,000.
- The launch is expected to be by next year.
- The cheaper headset will likely feature a less powerful A-series chipset.
- Apple will drop the expensive EyeSight feature.
- A second-generation Vision Pro is expected to arrive in 2026.
A few months ago it was reported in the tech circles that Apple had halted its plans for a cheaper Apple Vision headset. We are now getting an update that it might not be true and Apple is well on track on this front.
Bloomberg’s Apple reporter Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter revealed that Apple is still moving ahead with plans to release a more affordable version of its Vision headset.
Gurman also mentions that a release could happen as early as next year. And if Gurman’s words are to be believed, this lower-end Apple Vision headset model is expected to cost around $2,000.
Earlier this year, Apple introduced the Apple Vision Pro at a premium price of $3,499.
The launch was headline-grabbing across the tech community. It made Apple fans and critics talk about the Apple Vision Pro and its future possibilities for months. It was immediately in the news that the Cupertino giant was also already working on a successor.
However, it was later suggested that Apple had paused further development of the Vision Pro successor to focus on creating a more budget-friendly version.
This makes sense as the high price of the Vision Pro has made spatial computing out of reach for many potential users.
Gurman reports that the cheaper headset will likely feature a less powerful processor and use more affordable materials.
While the Vision Pro is powered by the M2 chip, the lower-end version could come with an A-series chipset, possibly the A18 Pro, which is roughly equivalent to the M1 in terms of performance.
In terms of design, Apple may replace the Vision Pro’s aluminium and glass construction with more plastic components to cut costs.
Moreover, the lower-cost headset is expected to drop the EyeSight feature. This is a unique but expensive display that allows others to see the wearer’s eyes from the outside. While EyeSight was an interesting innovation, it added significant expense, and Apple has decided to leave it out of the more affordable model.
Apple reportedly anticipates that this cheaper version of the Vision headset will sell twice as well as the Vision Pro. However, given the high price of the Pro model, this might not be a huge sales figure.
Meanwhile, a second-generation Vision Pro is also in the works. As per reports, it is expected to arrive in 2026 and will feature a faster processor.
FAQs
Q1. Is Apple still planning to release a cheaper version of its Vision headset?
Answer. Yes, Apple is moving forward with plans to release a more affordable version of its Vision headset, with a potential release as early as next year.
Q2. What changes to expect in the cheaper Apple Vision headset?
Answer. The cheaper headset will likely feature a less powerful processor, possibly the A18 Pro, use more affordable materials, and will drop the EyeSight feature to cut costs.
Q3. When is the second-generation Vision Pro expected to arrive?
Answer. A second-generation Vision Pro is expected to arrive in 2026 and will feature a faster processor.
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