Apple's ambitious plans for mixed reality technology are expanding beyond the current Vision Pro headset. Recent reports indicate the tech giant is working on multiple new devices, including more affordable Vision Pro variants and lightweight AR glasses aimed at competing with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Two New Vision Pro Models in Development
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, Apple is developing two distinct versions of its mixed-reality headset. The first model addresses two major criticisms of the original Vision Pro: weight and price. This lighter, more affordable version could potentially be priced around USD $1,600—significantly less than the current USD $3,499 model but still positioned as a premium device. While specific details about materials remain unclear, previous reports suggested this cheaper variant might incorporate plastic components instead of premium materials, an A-series chip rather than an M-series processor, and lower-quality displays to achieve the cost reduction.
Reported Apple Vision Pro Models in Development:
- Lighter, more affordable consumer model (estimated ~USD $1,600)
- Enterprise-focused tethered model with ultra-low latency
Potential Cost-Cutting Measures for Affordable Model:
- Plastic components instead of premium materials
- A-series chip instead of M-series processor
- Lower-quality display panels
Enterprise-Focused Tethered Version
The second Vision Pro model under development is reportedly designed specifically for enterprise applications. This version would be capable of tethering to a Mac computer, delivering extremely low latency performance—a critical feature for professional applications like surgical procedures or flight simulations. Unlike an earlier prototype that featured transparent lenses, this enterprise-focused headset will utilize the same pass-through technology found in the current Vision Pro. The tethering capability would enable more powerful processing for demanding professional applications while maintaining the visual experience users expect.
Tim Cook's Grand Vision: AR Glasses
Beyond these Vision Pro iterations, Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly remains focused on what Gurman describes as his grand vision—developing true augmented reality glasses. These would be lightweight spectacles that users could comfortably wear throughout the day, overlaying digital information onto real-world views. According to sources familiar with the matter, Cook has made this project a top priority and is hell-bent on creating an industry-leading product before Meta can. One source even claimed that Tim cares about nothing else and that AR glasses development is the only thing he's really spending his time on from a product development standpoint.
Meta's Success Spurs Competition
Apple's push into more wearable AR appears to be partly motivated by Meta's success with its Ray-Ban smart glasses collaboration. Though Meta's current glasses don't offer true AR functionality, they've been well-received for their balanced combination of stylish frames and intuitive features like music playback, photo capture, and AI-powered visual recognition. This market validation has apparently accelerated Apple's interest in developing interim solutions while working toward fully-featured AR glasses.
Interim AI-Enhanced Wearables
While true AR glasses remain a distant goal, Apple is reportedly exploring interim solutions by adding AI-enabled cameras to other wearable products like Apple Watch and AirPods over the next couple of years. However, given Apple's strong emphasis on privacy, it's unclear whether these devices would capture content in the same way as Meta's glasses.
Timeline Remains Uncertain
Despite these ambitious plans, the report provides no specific timeline for when we might see any of these new devices reach the market. The more affordable Vision Pro model and the enterprise-focused tethered version could potentially be unveiled later this year, but the lightweight AR glasses appear to be a longer-term project that may take several more years to materialize.