Now, it has been reported that Apple is working on an affordable Vision Pro headset that will help normal (read non-pro) users will be able to experience the mixed reality headset without shelling out a tonne of money. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has revealed in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple knows that at this price point, it will not be able to sell Vision Pro. Despite the cutting-edge technology that Apple has packed in the headset, it remains out of the reach of a large chunk of users. Gurman says Apple has chosen a top-down approach for introducing its AR/VR headset. It is the reason why the Cupertino-based company has launched Vision ‘Pro’ first. Apple has never released a Pro product before introducing the vanilla version. The ‘Pro’ moniker in the name suggests that some day we might see a highly affordable Apple Vision or Apple Vision One, as per Gurman.
Cheaper Vision Pro with some compromises?
How Apple will be able to bring down the cost of the Vision Pro headset, remains something to be pondered over. Three of the priciest components of the headset are cameras and sensors, two 4K micro-OLED displays, and the M2 and R1 chipset. To make Vision Pro, affordable, Apple can choose to include a lesser number of cameras, LCD screens instead of micro-OLED ones, and A-series chips that we get in iPhones. Other cost-cutting measures that Apple can deploy include a simpler headband design, AirPods for spatial audio instead of speakers fitted in the strap, and removing features like a 3D camera. “Apple could also probably get away with a simpler headband design, require AirPods for spatial audio instead of the strap with speakers in the Vision Pro, move to a physical versus automatic IPD — distance between eye pupils — adjustment and remove features like the 3D camera. Combined with a more refined production process, economies of scale and a cheaper frame, I’d imagine Apple could knock several hundred dollars off the price,” writes Gurman. At the same time, Burma says that Apple will not compromise on certain features like EyeSight, eye, and hand-tracking stem. Vision Pro is slated for a release in early 2024. Gurman mentions that a cheaper Vision Pro headset could be released by the end of 2025.
title: “A More Affordable Version Of Vision Pro In The Works Might Be Released By 2025” ShowToc: true date: “2023-06-18” author: “Tanya Holland”
Now, it has been reported that Apple is working on an affordable Vision Pro headset that will help normal (read non-pro) users will be able to experience the mixed reality headset without shelling out a tonne of money. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has revealed in his latest Power On newsletter that Apple knows that at this price point, it will not be able to sell Vision Pro. Despite the cutting-edge technology that Apple has packed in the headset, it remains out of the reach of a large chunk of users. Gurman says Apple has chosen a top-down approach for introducing its AR/VR headset. It is the reason why the Cupertino-based company has launched Vision ‘Pro’ first. Apple has never released a Pro product before introducing the vanilla version. The ‘Pro’ moniker in the name suggests that some day we might see a highly affordable Apple Vision or Apple Vision One, as per Gurman.
Cheaper Vision Pro with some compromises?
How Apple will be able to bring down the cost of the Vision Pro headset, remains something to be pondered over. Three of the priciest components of the headset are cameras and sensors, two 4K micro-OLED displays, and the M2 and R1 chipset. To make Vision Pro, affordable, Apple can choose to include a lesser number of cameras, LCD screens instead of micro-OLED ones, and A-series chips that we get in iPhones. Other cost-cutting measures that Apple can deploy include a simpler headband design, AirPods for spatial audio instead of speakers fitted in the strap, and removing features like a 3D camera. “Apple could also probably get away with a simpler headband design, require AirPods for spatial audio instead of the strap with speakers in the Vision Pro, move to a physical versus automatic IPD — distance between eye pupils — adjustment and remove features like the 3D camera. Combined with a more refined production process, economies of scale and a cheaper frame, I’d imagine Apple could knock several hundred dollars off the price,” writes Gurman. At the same time, Burma says that Apple will not compromise on certain features like EyeSight, eye, and hand-tracking stem. Vision Pro is slated for a release in early 2024. Gurman mentions that a cheaper Vision Pro headset could be released by the end of 2025.
