Apple Vision Pro Affordable Version Shelved Till 2027, M5 Upgrade To Arrive Next Year? Here's What We Know

The only headset Apple intends to launch in 2025 will reportedly be an updated version of the Vision Pro featuring an enhanced M5 processor.

Apple introduced its inaugural mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, during the WWDC 2023 event.

Source : Apple

Apple is rumoured to be preparing an affordable variant of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset for release next year. However, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the company has decided to delay the announcement of this budget-friendly model until after 2027. Instead, Apple is reportedly focusing on upgrading the existing headset with a new M5 chipset in the upcoming year.

In contrast, the anticipated lower-priced headset is expected to utilise a less powerful chip, feature displays with reduced resolution, and forgo the EyeSight functionality, which projects the user's eyes on the front of the Vision Pro display.

New Apple Vision Pro With M5 Processor Coming?

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple has postponed its plans to introduce a more budget-friendly Apple Vision Pro headset, originally set for 2025, with production of this lower-cost version now pushed beyond 2027. Kuo also noted that the only headset Apple intends to launch in 2025 will be an updated version of the Vision Pro featuring an enhanced M5 processor.

As I understand it, production of the cheaper Vision Pro has been delayed beyond 2027 for a while now. This means Apple's only new head-mounted display device in 2025 will be the Vision Pro with an upgraded M5 processor.

I think what really drove Apple to delay the cheaper…

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) November 3, 2024

The analyst drew parallels between the budget-friendly Apple Vision Pro and Apple's HomePod mini, saying that “even after launching the cheaper HomePod mini, Apple's smart speakers failed to become mainstream products.” He added that Apple delayed a budget-friendly option of Vision Pro possibly because simply reducing the price of the headset wouldn't "help create successful use cases" for the product.

How Much Will It Cost? (Expected)

The anticipated budget-friendly head-mounted device is projected to retail for around $2,000 (approximately Rs 1,68,000) and is likely to be constructed from less expensive materials while utilizing a lower-tier chip. Additionally, this headset may omit the highly promoted EyeSight feature found in the first-generation Apple Vision Pro. To further cut costs, Apple might also downgrade the quality of the internal XR screens in this new model.

In contrast, the original Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 (about Rs 2,90,000) for the 256GB storage version, with options for 512GB and 1TB available as well.

Apple introduced its inaugural mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, during the WWDC 2023 event. It is currently available for purchase in select markets, including the United States, China, Europe, and Japan. This device combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and operates on the visionOS platform, powered by Apple's M2 processor alongside an R1 chip.