Things have been relatively quiet regarding the Vision Pro: It was released in the United States in February and in Europe in the summer, then got an obscure upgrade to VisionOS 2. But Apple’s “Vision Products Group” continues to work in the background: apparently several projects are starting at the same time. So the desire to lower the price of the Vision Pro (significantly) is still there. As well-known Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman writes in his latest newsletter, a lower-end model should cost just under $2,000.
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Savings Efforts in Vision Product Group
That still seems like a lot of money, especially when you compare it to the Meta, where the Quest 3 and its cheaper version, the Quest 3S, are sold at virtually cost price. But for Apple customers, such a tariff would certainly be a kind of sweet spot – especially given the fact that Apple charges just under 4,000 euros for the Vision Pro in this country.
To achieve this, Apple wants to make do with a slightly slower SoC and remove EyeSight functionality – unnecessary with external screens, among other things. Materials should also be simpler overall, expecting less aluminum and more plastic. This time, Gurman does not provide any information about the performance of the potential “approach”. However, a drop in resolution is to be expected here, as Sony’s 4K screen is by far the most expensive component of the headset. Gurman believes there will be a release next year, and a Vision Pro (with an M4 SoC, for example) coming in 2026.
More possibilities in the future: smartglasses and AirPods with cameras
Additionally, unlike smart rings, Apple is still interested in screenless smart glasses. These are reportedly reminiscent of Meta’s Ray-Bans, which – at least according to Meta – are selling well so far. Here, normal glasses will be paired with a camera and AI on the edge of the glasses, for example to communicate with Apple Intelligence on the go and explain the world to you.
Apple can use its internal “Visual Intelligence” Techniques Which will soon be available on iPhone also. Also, Apple is reportedly continuing to work on a proper augmented reality glasses format, even though the company is facing several technical difficulties. Finally, Gurman also mentioned AirPods with an integrated camera, which could be an alternative to smart glasses. These will be more inconspicuous – with Meta-Ray-Bans, some viewers feel that the visible lenses invade their privacy.
(B.Sc.)
