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Apple is reportedly gearing up to unveil a significantly cheaper Vision Pro VR headset in the second half of 2025. The new model is expected to feature a plastic chassis, an M5 chipset, and generative AI integration, aiming to cut the original $3,499 price nearly in half.
Apple Vision Pro Expected to Debut in 2025 With M5 Chip and AI Integration
Supposedly expected to debut in the second half of 2025, the new Apple Vision Pro will have the M5 chipset and generative AI integration to improve the user experience.
A large portion of Apple's client base will likely be unable to justify the steep price increase, as they were with the $3,499 model. Fortunately, the tech company is cognisant of the situation and is slated to launch a more affordable variant next year.
Cost Reduction Strategies for Affordable VR Headset
In the most recent study, the cost of the inexpensive VR headgear was examined, along with potential areas of cost reduction for the tech giant's components.
The display is the first place to cut costs in production because the current-generation Apple Vision Pro has two 4K micro-OLED screens.
Lower-Resolution Displays and Potential $2,000 Price Tag
Earlier rumors suggested that Apple had gotten display samples from Japan Display with a pixel density of 1,500PPI, which is far lower than the 3,386PPI found in the Apple Vision Pro. The Bloomberg reporter mentioned that a cheap model could cost $2,000 in Mark Gurman's 'Power On' newsletter, but he didn't go into detail about the headset's display specs.
“As I’ve reported, the Vision Products Group is working on at least four new devices. I expect a lower-end Vision headset to arrive as early as next year, with a second-generation Vision Pro — sporting a faster chip — following in 2026. The lower-end model would cost about $2,000 and probably use an inferior processor and cheaper materials. It also would lack EyeSight, a gee-whiz feature that shows a user’s eyes on the outside of the headset. With the lower price, Apple is expecting unit sales of the device to be at least double the level of the Vision Pro. But that’s not saying much.”
Affordable Model to Exclude EyeSight and Use Plastic Chassis
But, as you could expect, several elements will be cut from the whole package. First, EyeSight will not be there, and the chassis will be made of plastic instead of glass and aluminum.
Since the A18 Pro's multi-core performance is on par with that of the M1, and the M2 is just slightly quicker than its predecessor, the A18 Pro could be a good fit for the cheaper Apple Vision Pro, according to WCCFTECH. Gurman disagrees with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's prediction that Apple will release the Vision Pro 2 in 2025.
Gurman Predicts Vision Pro 2 to Arrive in 2026
Although the newest newsletter did not reveal the hardware details, he predicts it will emerge in 2026 and come with a quicker system on a chip. Be sure to check back for further updates as the new year begins; we are hoping to receive more information soon.
