In the latest edition of his “Power On” newsletter, Gurman said Apple is likely a year and a half away, at minimum, from releasing the follow-up to its first mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro.That would put the Vision Pro 2‘s launch in late August 2025 at the earliest.
According to unnamed sources speaking to MacRumors, the Vision Pro 2 will feature design tweaks like flatter temple arms without rounded speaker housings. The report also mentions potential changes to the headband and top vents.
Apple is said to be aiming to make the Vision Pro 2 cheaper to produce and, therefore, more affordable for customers. But it’s unclear if the redesign could negatively impact comfort and stability.
Design changes and hardware upgrades expected for Vision Pro 2
According to unnamed sources speaking to MacRumors, the Vision Pro 2 will feature design tweaks like flatter temple arms without rounded speaker housings. The report also mentions potential changes to the headband and top vents.
The Vision Pro 2 is rumoured to include advanced capabilities like microLED displays, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5, TrueDepth cameras, four computer vision cameras, two RGB cameras, and two low-light infrared illuminators.
Gurman reported that Apple is very interested in feedback from customers returning their Vision Pro headsets. Issues raised at Apple retail stores are being relayed back to headquarters so engineers can address them in the next version. So, we could also see some changes that might make the next-gen headset a little more comfortable.
The second-gen headset is slated to enter product validation testing in 2025, pointing to a late 2025 or early 2026 release.
If Apple encounters any major issues or setbacks, it could presumably delay the introduction of next-gen hardware beyond the rumoured timeline. For now, the company is still working on bringing the Vision Pro to more countries later this year.
It would take more than two generations for Vision Pro to reach its “ideal form.” If Gurman’s previous comments are correct, the second-generation Vision Pro might not be as perfect as Apple’s standards. In one of the previous editions of his newsletter, Gurman said that engineers at Apple’s Vision group believe it may take up to four generations before it reaches its ideal form.
A cheaper mixed-reality Vision headset under the works at Apple
Also, rumours have it that Apple has an affordable headset planned for release in 2025. Apple’s affordable follow-up to the Vision Pro might ditch the external display, which means that EyeSight, one of Vision Pro’s most notable features, will only be available on the more expensive models.
Rumours have it that the cheaper version will have fewer cameras and lower-resolution screens. Apple is reportedly targeting a price range of $1,500 to $2,500 for its affordable Vision headset.