The Apple Vision Pro recently celebrated its first anniversary, but the headset may already be losing momentum – a new report suggests that Apple has now halted work on its high-end successor.
According to The informationApple has told “at least one supplier that it has suspended work on its next high-end headset.” The reason for the move? A contributing factor is apparently that analysts and supply chain partners have “noted slowing sales of the $3,500 device.”
We also heard about this reported decline in sales last month from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but that does not mean that Apple is throwing in the towel on its ‘spatial computing’ headset.
The Information’s sources suggest that the company is “still working on releasing a more affordable Vision product” that will have fewer features than the current model and will hit the market “before the end of 2025.”
Apparently Apple’s original plan for its Vision line was to split it into ‘Pro’ and standard models, just like the iPhone. This move doesn’t necessarily mean the end of that ‘Pro’ model, with The Information stating that “it’s possible that Apple could eventually resume work on a high-end Vision product.” However, it could have major implications for the mixed reality headset space.
There are rumors of a high-end Meta Quest Pro 2 and a Samsung XR/VR headset, while Meta also announced in April that its Quest series Horizon OS will open up to new headsets from Lenovo and Asus. Considering that the Vision Pro remains the standard-bearer for high-end mixed-reality experiences, this rumored move from Apple could potentially deflate the space and hit these projects.
A reality check for the Vision Pro?
We recently learned at WWDC 2024 that the Apple Vision Pro will finally get a global launch in several countries at the end of June, plus some cool new visionOS 2 tricks.
That doesn’t mean Apple is slowing down the development of its ‘face computer’ – and it’s important to note that this report from The Information is still just speculation. But the decision would be in line with other recent moves from Apple, such as the reported cancellation of the Apple Car project, and a $3,500 (or £2,800 / AU$5,300) headset remains a tough sell in tough economic times.
Ny Breaking’s editor at Large Lance Ulanoff recently summed up the Vision Pro conundrum by saying, “I love Apple’s revolutionary headset, so why do I hardly ever use it?”. The problems, aside from the price tag, are that the incredible capabilities don’t make the headset lighter or compensate for the “plain weirdness of wearing a computer on your face.”
It looks like Apple’s next move will fix these issues sometime next year with a cheaper, lighter Vision headset. Only then can it create the upgrade path to a Vision Pro 2 or a Vision Pro successor, which will hopefully be retrieved from the cryogenic chamber Apple has reportedly placed it in – for now.