The Apple Vision Pro, with its hefty $3,500 price tag, is still struggling to hit its stride. While it boasts some of the best visuals and hand-tracking capabilities in the VR realm, the initial buzz around it has noticeably waned just a few months post-launch. A major factor in this is undoubtedly the steep cost. So, what could bring that down and make the Vision Pro a real competitor to devices like the Meta Quest 3? It seems it might involve stripping away some of the features that make the Vision Pro stand out.
Apple’s team at their iconic spaceship campus is facing quite the challenge, reportedly working on a more affordable version of the Vision headset expected to debut next year. According to insights shared by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, this upcoming model could be priced between $1,500 and $2,000. Gurman outlines a few strategies Apple might use to cut costs for consumers. One potential move could be ditching the EyeSight exterior display, which is used to mimic users’ eyes but might be seen as unnecessary. If Apple had taken this route from the start, it could have been a smart move, leading to a more appealing price point.
Currently, this budget-friendly Vision headset model is referred to as N107. Apple might opt to equip this version with a less powerful chip than the M2 found in the Vision Pro, even though that high-priced headset already utilizes the full capabilities of its CPU. Additionally, scaling back on the passthrough features and reducing the field of view could be on the table. However, by doing so, they’d be trimming down the elements that distinguish the Vision Pro from the far more affordable $500 Quest 3.
Other potential changes aren’t very promising either. Based on anonymous sources, Gurman has mentioned that Apple might be contemplating a design where the cheaper Vision headset must be connected to an iPhone or Mac. Similar products, such as the Spacetop G1 and XReal’s recent Beam Pro, already rely on an external device for power, demanding a wired connection to their AR glasses. But at least, those glasses are considerably lighter than a full-on headset. One of the Vision Pro’s major drawbacks is its wired external battery pack, and introducing more wires would severely hinder the next Vision model’s functionality.
Looking ahead, a new iteration of the Vision Pro is set for a 2026 release, known under the codename N109, as per Gurman. This model might only need to focus on enhancing comfort and processing power of an already visually stunning high-end headset, a device that, unfortunately, remains out of reach for most due to its price.
Apple isn’t ready to abandon its dreams of transforming reality just yet. Gurman points out that the tech giant is still actively recruiting for its VR division, although there’s talk of Apple scaling back its Vision sales forecasts for 2025. The grander vision for the future, aligned with CEO Tim Cook’s initial dream, is to debut true AR glasses, but it’s believed that this breakthrough is still years away according to Apple’s team.
Meanwhile, despite the Meta Quest 3 offering a better overall value, Meta seems to be redirecting its focus towards products like the Meta Ray Bans, which have exceeded their initial popularity expectations.
Recent developments with visionOS highlighted at the WWDC haven’t sparked much renewed excitement for Apple’s inaugural VR headset. Several technological hurdles remain—from restricted comfort levels to their substantial expense—posing a significant challenge for most consumers, particularly when laptops and phones satisfactorily meet work and leisure needs. Tethering the headset to existing devices would further underscore how non-essential the headset is compared to something easily portable like a laptop or phone.
