RUMOR: What to expect from Apple’s Vision Pro 2
Yes, yes, we know Apple hasn’t shipped its first Vision Pro systems yet, and when it does they’ll only be available in the US for a while, but the company is already working away at the next generation of the new product family. And that’s good enough for the rumours to begin….
Focus on the AR prize
We can look forward to a plethora of parables concerning what to expect from the next edition mixed reality goggles in the months ahead. This speculation will almost certainly hit overdrive just as soon as Apple manages to ship its first goggles “early next year”.
With this in mind it’s unwise to place your heavy bets just yet – the best thing to think about is the extent to which the experience Apple is preparing to introduce us to will capture people’s imagination.
The jury remains out on that topic – and the AR industry is quiet pending the arrival of the Apple storm. But industry watchers will be able to tell a lot about the future once they get to see what Apple introduces us to. Meanwhile, here’s the first speculation on Vision Pro 2.
What to expect from Apple’s Vision Pro 2
Vision Pro will get cheaper in its second iteration, but it is not expected to arrive until late 2025 or early in 2026. The design will be more or less the same with a few tweaks, but price may fall by “several hundred dollars”. Given the first edition product no one can purchase yet is expected to cost $3,499, a few hundred dollars price reduction may convince a few more shoppers to go over the top.
Additional changes that are being speculated upon include:
- Different bands – no longer braided.
- Lower-resolution micro LED displays are possible.
- Compass, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, accelerometer, and gyroscope, as included in Vision Pro 1.
- Fewer cameras?
- An external speaker, such as AirPods for audio.
- Potentially cheaper materials.
- ULLA, BT 5.0, Wi-Fi.
There are many rivers to cross
Much of this feels like guesswork at the moment, as some of the changes sound like a list of potential places in which cost cuts could be made. It’s also odd that the processor included within the device isn’t being discussed.
Given the 25/26 launch point, is it possible the devices may include an M4 or even M5 chip? Or will they maintain a slightly older processor to reduce build costs? To what extent has Apple already planned downward mobility for the cost of sensors and other components used in the device? How will recycling be encouraged in Vision Pro 2? In other words, there are many questions concerning the future of the contraption.
We’ll know more later, I guess, particularly once people actually start using the OG Vision Pro and getting hooked on the experiences it provides.
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