Apple readies first upgrade to its struggling Vision Pro headset

The Star

10-07-2025

Apple Inc is planning to introduce its first upgrade to the US$3,499 (RM14,881) Vision Pro headset as early as this year, aiming to improve the performance and comfort of a device that has been slow to catch on with consumers.
The updated Vision Pro will include a faster processor and components that can better run artificial intelligence, according to people with knowledge of the matter. There also will be a new strap to make it easier to wear the headset for long periods of time, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven't been announced.
With the latest version, Apple is bolstering a product category that launched in February of last year – heralded then as the dawn of a new era for the company. The Vision Pro blended virtual and augmented reality in a novel way, but cumbersome hardware and a hefty price tag hurt its prospects.
The pending update sets the stage for bigger changes later. Apple is working on a redesigned model for 2027 that significantly reduces the weight of the headset, the people said. The company's plans could still change and the timing may shift, they added.
A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.
The initial upgrade will use an M4 processor currently offered in the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, iMac and other computers. That's an improvement from the M2 chip in the current headset. The M2 was first rolled out three years ago in the MacBook Air, making its use in the Vision Pro seem outdated now.
Apple is also testing versions of the new device that increase the number of cores inside of the neural engine – a component for processing artificial intelligence tasks. The neural engine in the current Vision Pro includes 16 cores, a measure of processing power. These capabilities are critical for a device that relies on AI for the live processing of imagery and applications in complex virtual environments.
The company is also prototyping new straps that are designed to reduce neck strain and head pain. Discomfort from the roughly 1.4-pound device has been one of the biggest complaints about the first Vision Pro. The hope is to address that problem without meaningfully reducing the weight of the hardware – at least with the first update.
The current Vision Pro includes two strap options: one that sits around the back of a person's head and another that also goes over the top of a wearer's head. There have been other attempts to ease the load. A developer of masks used in sleep apnea treatment even began offering a third-party band for the device. But the issue hasn't been resolved.
The Vision Pro also has suffered from a lack of compelling and exclusive apps. That's all added up to a lackluster debut for the new product category – a far cry from Apple's successful push into smartphones, tablets and watches. The company has only sold hundreds of thousands of units so far and has slowly expanded its availability.
The second generation's minor changes are unlikely to make the headset a consumer hit. But they may give corporate customers a reason to consider the Vision Pro – and prod more app developers to support the technology. Later this year, Apple will roll out the headset's new visionOS 26 operating system, which includes virtual widgets and an eye-scrolling capability.
More than anything, the new model is meant to keep Apple relevant in the headset market until the lighter and cheaper model – code-named N100 – will be ready in two years. Design work for that device, which Bloomberg first reported on in April, is slated to be complete next year.
Apple is also developing a tethered headset designed for enterprise applications and reduced lag, Bloomberg has reported. The company had been working on Mac-connected glasses that could serve as a virtual computer monitor, but it paused work on the project – code-named N107 – several months ago.
In its current from, the Vision Pro relies on so-called pass-through cameras to create an augmented reality effect. That means users can see the world around them, while still having the more immersive experience of VR.
This mixed-reality approach is unlikely to be a successful formula for Apple in the long run, especially because Meta Platforms Inc. offers a rival device for much less. But the technology could lay the groundwork for products with more mainstream appeal. The goal at Apple is to eventually dominate the smart glasses category – whatever form that takes.
The industry is pushing toward true AR glasses, which would superimpose data and images on real-world views. Users would see their surroundings through ordinary glass, rather than having to rely on the pass-through cameras. But this more elegant approach is a difficult technical challenge.
In the meantime, Meta has a hit with non-AR glasses that can handle tasks through a voice assistant, such as recording video, making phone calls and requesting information. Apple is looking to introduce a similar device as early as the end of 2026, Bloomberg News has reported.
The company is also still working on true AR glasses, with the goal of bringing a product to market before the end of the decade. Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive officer, is fixated on succeeding in this area, Bloomberg has reported.
But Apple's competitors are moving quickly. In addition to offering Ray-Ban smart glasses, Meta has introduced athletic-focused versions under the Oakley brand. It's also planning its first smart glasses with a display for later in 2025.
Samsung Electronics Co, meanwhile, will roll out its a headset code-named Moohan later this year. That device works similarly to the Vision Pro but is expected to be cheaper and feel noticeably lighter during use. In 2027, Meta plans to release its first true AR glasses, potentially beating Apple to market by several years.
Earlier this year, Apple reshuffled the team behind the Vision Pro. The device's top manager, Mike Rockwell, left to focus on the Siri voice assistant and the headset's operating system. And the Vision Pro's software and hardware teams were broken up and put in different development groups. – Bloomberg