Apple continues to work on new variants of the Vision Pro, its first space computer. The Cupertino giant is currently focusing on two editions: a version designed to accompany the Mac, and a lighter, less expensive iteration. This version is expected to address the main flaws of the first headset and boost sales, which are reportedly lower than expected. Last year, Apple reportedly sold only 500,000 Vision Pro units worldwide, well below the company's expectations.
The cheaper Vision Pro is coming
According to the latest indiscretions from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple plans to launch the more affordable Vision Pro sooner than expected. The source says that "all signs" point to a release "between the end of this year and the first half of 2026". If it's released later this year, we can hope that Apple will discuss the new Vision Pro at the September 2025 keynote, which will be dedicated to the new iPhone 17. Initially, Apple didn't plan to launch a cheaper Vision Pro until 2027, if rumors are to be believed.
Rumors suggest a price between $1,500 and $2,500, a far cry from the $3,699 the Vision Pro was asking for. To reduce the price of the headset, Apple reportedly intends to revise the Vision Pro's spec sheet. The company is reportedly banking on less powerful components and lower-end materials. By replacing certain materials, Apple could also reduce the accessory's weight. This is the case with aluminum, which would be replaced by titanium, at least inside the mixed reality headset.
Mark Gurman doesn't know if Apple plans to present the new headset as "a replacement for the Vision Pro or a cheaper alternative". In short, Apple could well present the device as a Vision Pro 2 or a lower-end Vision Pro. We'll have to wait a few months to find out.
Something new on the market of virtual reality
In any case, a new mixed reality headset from Apple is about to hit the market. More affordable, it could reshuffle the cards in the virtual reality market, which is in decline. Sales of headsets have indeed fallen by 12% between 2023 and 2024. Unsurprisingly, Apple hopes that its new headset will do better than the original Vision Pro. Very expensive, the spatial computer represents less than 10% of VR headset sales worldwide over the past year.
To explain Apple's acceleration, the American journalist points to competition from Meta, which sells "devices that are both lighter and about seven times cheaper". The Meta Quest 3 is in fact sold for $499 in the United States, and €549.99 in France. On the French market, the first Vision Pro is sold 3 999€ for the basic version, with 256 GB of internal storage.
Source: Bloomberg
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