The distinguishing feature of the Apple Vision Pro is, unfortunately, that it is very expensive. That’s why we’re so interested to see it Mark Gorman Bloomberg He claims we may see a cheaper version by the end of 2025.
In the June 11 issue of his Power On newsletter, Gorman wrote that he still thinks that Apple’s entry-level headset, currently known informally as the Apple Glasses, may arrive in the next couple of years. Another analyst previously suggested we might wait until 2026 for the new headset instead, rather than Gurman’s estimate of 2025.
While we’ll call this product Apple Glasses, Gurman says the final device will likely be named something like Apple Vision or Apple Vision One. This will show that it is related to the current Apple Vision Pro, but it is not quite as special.
Gorman goes on to say that Apple can lower the Vision Pro’s sensors, processors, built-in speakers, and displays to cut costs, as well as remove other features to help get the cheaper headset right at the right cost. Gorman argues that an external EyeSight display (to show the user’s eyes when transit mode is enabled) and tracking systems for the user’s eyes and hands are likely to remain, as they are essential parts of the experience.
While Apple is working on this, Gurman also claims that the team in Cupertino is already working on the second generation Vision Pro as well. This model is supposed to feature a processor upgrade, but Gurman didn’t mention any other changes.
A headset for the rest of us
The Apple Vision Pro certainly looked impressive at Apple’s demos at WWDC 2023, but at $3,500 it’s hard to sell to anyone but a dedicated or professional AR fan. A cheaper headset, even if it needs an iPhone linked to take care of processing as some rumors claim, could be just what is needed to entice the majority of people to experience the world of Apple’s so-called spatial computing.
If you’re still trying to figure out if Apple’s new headset is really the future, or just an expensive toy, read our Vision Pro training to see what we thought. And maybe we’ll follow it up with our thoughts on what this means for the post-iPhone Apple.
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