Recent reports indicate a significant pivot in Apple's development strategy, revealing that there are currently no redesigned Apple Vision headsets in active development. Instead, the company is concentrating its efforts on the creation of smart glasses. When Apple introduced the Vision Pro in mid-2023, it heralded the device as the beginning of a new era in spatial computing, positioning it as a groundbreaking technology that could eventually rival the iPhone in significance. Priced at $3,499, the Vision Pro was tailored for premium early adopters, featuring an intricate design and a novel operating system. However, the headset's appeal has waned faster than expected, leading to whispers of a collapsed multi-year roadmap.
Following the Vision Pro's launch, Apple reportedly shifted its focus towards the Vision Air, intending to make spatial computing more accessible for the general public. The Vision Air was designed to be lighter, thinner, and significantly more affordable, aiming for a weight reduction of over 40% and a price cut of around 50%. This move would make mixed-reality technology viable for mainstream consumers. To achieve this, Apple planned to utilize lower-cost display panels and simplified optics while enhancing ergonomics by eliminating non-essential features.
At the high end, Apple had ambitious plans for a redesigned Vision Pro 2, envisioned for release after the Vision Air, but the timeline for this flagship product has since slipped to 2028. This second-generation model was expected to include a more comfortable design, advanced displays, extended battery life, and a reduced price point. Together, the Air and Pro models were meant to create a two-tier product structure, similar to Apple's existing iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and AirPods lines.
By mid-2024, the momentum surrounding the Vision Pro appeared to wane, prompting a reorganization of Apple's future product plans. A crucial report from The Information revealed that Apple had suspended development of the Vision Pro 2, reassigning its engineering resources to accelerate the release of the Vision Air. The company seemed to recognize that the Vision Pro's combination of high price, bulkiness, discomfort, and limited use cases had significantly narrowed its appeal, even among early adopters.
Initially, Apple aimed to release the Vision Pro 2 by the end of 2024, but by mid-year, the absence of a firm prototype became apparent. Reports suggested that Apple struggled to cut costs without compromising essential features, leading to a revised release date that slipped to the end of 2025. By October, supply chain leaks indicated that Apple was winding down production of the original Vision Pro due to weak demand and excess component stockpiles, with production likely ceasing completely by year-end.
In a recent bombshell, Bloomberg reported that Apple has also halted work on the Vision Air. The company aims to expedite the development of a glasses product to compete more effectively against rivals like Meta. If the reports from Bloomberg and The Information are accurate, both the Vision Air and the redesigned Vision Pro are currently on hold, with no headset-class hardware actively being developed. While Apple is unlikely to abandon spatial computing entirely, the next steps will likely deviate significantly from the headset model launched in 2024.
As Apple prepares to debut its new M5 family of chips, the current Vision Pro still operates on the M2 chip from 2022. It appears that Apple has decided to refresh the existing hardware with the M5 chip, potentially coupled with a second-generation coprocessor, the R2 chip, and a new Dual Knit headband. This strategy would allow Apple to keep the existing device updated for a few more years while utilizing leftover components from the first-generation model. The updated device is expected to launch in the coming weeks, with details already emerging from FCC filings.
The upcoming M5 Vision Pro is likely to offer a modest update for users who appreciate the device or potential customers yet to experience it. However, it remains doubtful that this refresh will attract mass appeal or provide a significantly different user experience. While the M5 Vision Pro may support the headset product line temporarily, it risks becoming outdated if Apple fails to introduce successors. Apple is anticipated to launch its first smart glasses product as early as next year, and there remains a possibility that work on the Vision Air and Vision Pro 2 could resume once the glasses initiative gains traction.
Ultimately, Apple's headset may find itself in an unusual position by 2027 to 2028, with aging hardware available for sale and no signs of a new model. As of now, visionOS 26 and the forthcoming M5 refresh demonstrate that Apple is still committed to the realm of mixed reality headsets. However, the future trajectory of this product line, especially amid a sudden shift towards smart glasses and artificial intelligence, remains uncertain.
