There have been a plethora of varying rumors for Apple’s next generation spatial computer. Is Apple prioritizing a cheaper model, or going all out with a second generation Pro model? We’ll summarize all of the Vision headset rumors here today.
Next-gen Vision Pro
In the coming months, Apple will be announcing a spec bump for the Apple Vision Pro. Rumors have fluctuated on whether or not it’ll include an M4 chip or an M5 chip, though things are currently leaning towards the upcoming M5 chip. This’ll bring a great performance boost over the current M2 chip.
Apple is reportedly also ‘prototyping’ new head straps to make the headset feel lighter on your head, despite the general headset remaining mostly unchanged.
Other than that, it’ll be a light refresh. Apple may have a version with a bolstered neural engine compared to a standard M4 or M5 chip.
Vision Pro: Mac edition
Further down the road, Apple is considering more of a Mac dependent version of the Vision Pro. This headset would target users who use the Vision Pro for high-end applications, like surgery overlays and flight simulators. From Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman:
Instead, it’s now working on a Vision Pro that plugs into a Mac. The difference between the two ideas is the level of immersion. The canceled device had transparent lenses; the product still in the works will use the same approach as the Vision Pro.
The idea is to create an ultra-low-latency system for streaming a user’s Mac display or for connecting to high-end enterprise applications.
Apple was previously working on a version of augmented reality glasses that would pair to a Mac, and it now sounds like Apple is trying to recreate that now-cancelled product in the form of a headset.
Long-rumored Vision Air
There have been rumors about a cheaper Vision Pro from the moment the product launched, probably even before the product launched. We’ve been hearing about a so-called Vision Air product that reduces weight and price for quite some time now.
In more recent months, we’ve seen and heard a lot more, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman corroborates that Apple is indeed working on a cheaper and lighter Vision Pro. Though, he does note that tariffs might make it more difficult to work on price reductions.
Gurman doesn’t provide much detail on how Apple will make it lighter and cheaper, though he does note that Apple wants to resolve neck strain issues. Design work should be done ‘next year’, and it should be on the market within the following year. So, by 2027, we’ll finally have a lighter Vision Pro.
Glasses
While AR glasses aren’t immediately on the horizon, Apple CEO Tim Cook is reportedly “hell bent” on beating Meta to launching a pair of industry leading AR glasses.
However, in the interim, we do know that Apple is working on a pair of smart glasses. Think of Meta Ray-Bans, but Apple. They’ll be light glasses with cameras, speakers, mics, but no displays – making them perfect for interacting with AI. According to Gurman, such a product will launch in 2026.
Hopefully Siri and Apple Intelligence are all set by then.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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