Apple Faces Challenges in Generating Interest for a More Affordable, Less Powerful Vision Pro Model

The Apple Vision Pro, priced at a jaw-dropping $3,500, seems to be struggling to carve out a significant place in the VR realm. Initially celebrated for its top-notch visuals and exceptional hand-tracking capabilities, the buzz surrounding this high-tech gadget has rapidly faded since its debut. The steep price tag is undoubtedly part of the issue here. So, how can Apple trim those costs and make it a legitimate rival to the Meta Quest 3? It appears the solution might involve stripping away the features that make the Vision Pro distinct.

Over at Apple’s iconic headquarters, designers are in a race to craft a more affordable Vision headset, rumored to hit the market next year. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reveals that this new device may fall within the $1,500 to $2,000 price range. Gurman suggests that Apple could shave down costs for users by removing the EyeSight exterior display, which mimics the user’s eyes. Had Apple initially dispensed with this particular feature, it might have achieved a balance between innovation and affordability from the start.

This more budget-friendly Vision device, currently tagged as N107, could potentially house a less potent chip compared to the M2 chip utilized in the Vision Pro, even though that device has already taken the M2 to its limits. The company, based in Cupertino, might also scale back on the passthrough features and the field of view. However, at some point, all these cuts may diminish what set the Vision Pro apart from its $500 competitor, the Quest 3.

Things could take a turn for the worse, though. Relying on insights from undisclosed sources, Gurman indicates that Apple might even consider making the more affordable Vision depend on an iPhone or Mac. Devices like the Spacetop G1, priced at $1,800, and XReal’s new Beam Pro, rely on an external device and a wired connection to power their AR glasses, yet these glasses are far lighter than a headset. The wired external battery pack of the Vision Pro was already criticized, so adding more cables could significantly hinder the functionality of the next Vision iteration.

Looking ahead, a fresh version of the Vision Pro is penciled in for 2026, under the project name N109, per Gurman’s report. This future model might mainly focus on enhancing comfort and computational power, maintaining its status as one of the most visually striking high-end headsets available—though still outside the budget for most people.

Apple isn’t ready to give up on its augmented reality aspirations just yet. Despite analysts lowering 2025 sales forecasts for the Vision, Gurman points out that Apple is actively recruiting for its VR division. CEO Tim Cook’s initial vision was to develop true AR glasses, but insiders believe this lofty goal might still be years away.

Despite the Meta Quest 3 being a better buy overall, Meta seems to be leaning more towards products like the Meta Ray-Bans, which have exceeded expectations in popularity.

Even with the recent visionOS enhancements showcased at the WWDC, they haven’t sparked new excitement for Apple’s pioneering VR headset. Numerous roadblocks—ranging from discomfort to the prohibitive cost—still prevent it from gaining broader appeal, particularly when laptops and mobile phones can adequately serve both work and entertainment purposes. Hooking the headset up to those devices would just underline how supplementary it is compared to something portable like a laptop or a pocketable phone.