Apple is preparing to launch its next Vision Pro headset “as early as this year,” according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The upcoming device will reportedly feature an upgraded M4 processor, along with a redesigned strap to combat neck and head pain.
The $3,499 Vision Pro, which was released in February 2024, uses a now-three-year-old M2 processor. As reported by Bloomberg, the Vision Pro’s next iteration could come with an emphasis on AI, a move that would align with the company’s efforts to infuse AI across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
According to Bloomberg, Apple could outfit the next Vision Pro with more than the 16 neural engine cores available on the current M2-equipped headset. If true, that would make it the first M4 chip with more than 16 neural cores — so far, only the M2 Ultra and M3 Ultra have come with more than that. Even without the extra cores, the M4’s 16-core NPU is still more than two times faster than one on the M2.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is also testing new Vision Pro straps to make the around 1.4-pound device more comfortable to wear as well. My former colleague Wes Davis found that the Vision Pro was most comfortable when the included Solo Knit Band was paired with a $50 Belkin Head Strap than with either of Apple’s two included bands on their own.
Last month, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that Apple could launch an M5-powered Vision Pro headset by the end of this year. Both Gurman and Kuo say Apple is on track to launch a lighter — and cheaper — version of the Vision Pro in 2027. Apple is also reportedly working on a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses similar to the ones launched by Meta.
