Apple’s Souped-Up Vision Pro AR/VR Headset Still Costs $3,500, but It May Be the Product’s Last Upgrade for a While
Key Takeaways
- Apple announced an upgraded Vision Pro headset featuring the new M5 processor, promising performance improvements and faster AI workflows.
- The price of the upgraded Vision Pro remains high at $3,499, significantly more expensive than competitors like the Meta Quest 3.
- Apple has reportedly postponed plans for a lighter, less expensive Vision Pro version to focus on developing AI-enabled smart glasses.
- The upgrade includes enhancements like a 120Hz refresh rate, extended battery life, and new content partnerships for entertainment and sports.
- The Vision Pro is gaining traction in enterprise applications, including pilot training, medical imaging, and vehicle personalization.
Apple introduced an upgraded version of its $3,500 Vision Pro headset, touting significant performance leaps driven by the new M5 processor, including improved display rendering, faster AI capabilities, and longer battery life. This refresh comes after the initial launch failed to meet sales expectations, leading to reports that Apple has postponed plans for a lighter, cheaper version originally slated for 2027 to instead focus development resources on AI-enabled smart glasses aimed at competing with Meta. The company is aggressively promoting the headset's entertainment value by adding native streaming apps, immersive concert experiences, and live NBA broadcasts, while also detailing enhancements like 120Hz refresh rates and new visionOS 26 features. Despite the consumer focus, Apple emphasized the product's growing utility in professional sectors, citing examples like pilot training simulations with CAE and vehicle personalization tools being used by Porsche. The new model maintains its premium cost, positioning it far above competitors like the Meta Quest 3, as Apple continues its push to establish spatial computing as a major platform.
