Gurman: Low-Cost Vision Pro Model to Drop EyeSight and M-Series Chip

Apple's upcoming low-cost variant of the Vision Pro headset will lose out on features including EyeSight and an M-series chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

vision pro headset 1
Both The Information and Bloomberg have previously claimed that Apple is working on a more affordable version of the Apple Vision Pro headset. The initial version set to launch early next year will be priced at $3,500, placing it out of reach of many Apple customers.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple has planned to launch a cheaper mixed-reality headset since before the announcement of Vision Pro and is now actively funneling resources toward the lower-end device. The company has apparently shifted staff away from developing a standalone AR glasses product toward the lower-cost headset. Apple has purportedly discussed pricing it at around $1,500 to $2,500.

Gurman previously mentioned that Apple plans to bring down the price of the headset using lower resolution displays and a chip designed for the iPhone, rather than the Mac. Now, he also believes that Apple is likely to remove EyeSight, Vision Pro's external display that shows the wearer's eyes, as well as reduce the number of cameras and sensors on the device.

Gurman also reiterated his report from last week that Apple is continuing work on the second-generation of the fully fledged Vision Pro headset, featuring a slightly smaller and lighter design to make it more comfortable to wear. Apple is also exploring integrating prescription lenses directly into the device to simplify its design.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Top Rated Comments

Le0M Avatar
23 weeks ago
What sets the VP and other headsets apart is its quality. I seriously doubt they're going to lower screens' res and computing power.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wikiverse Avatar
23 weeks ago

What’s going to be the point of this device if it’s just a slightly nicer Oculus? The extra features are what makes it unique. If they can’t do that at a price point that’s currently feasible that just means they’ve released it a few years too early. Releasing a hamstrung product is pointless.
This is a $3500 computer monitor for ONE person that requires a tethered battery with less than 2 hours of charge, and still requires at least a Macbook to use in any meaningful way.

A 'Slightly nicer Oculus' at $1500 still doesn't fix the fundamental problem of this thing being a solution in search of a problem. Just like the touchbar, there is no real use case and Apple are really hoping that developers will figure out what to do with this thing.

If this is a VR headset that blocks out all light and is tethered to anything, then it needs to compete in the gaming space - which means controller support. If it's an AR headset, it needs to be portable and be comparable to a pair of chunky sunglasses in size and weight (possibly paired to your phone which does a lot of the processing). It currently achieves neither while looking dorky and/or creepy AF.

It's a screen that only one person can use, and it's going to be an extremely niche product - most likely for people that buy it simply because they are tech enthusiasts, but it will mostly sit on a desk and not get used.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
koil Avatar
23 weeks ago
Getting rid of the external display I understand, but downgrading the chip substantially would be hell for the already small bunch of developers who will be making apps for this thing. Doubt it very much personally, but I guess we'll see.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spaceboi Scaphandre Avatar
23 weeks ago
Called it. Knew the external eye display would be the first thing cut for the consumer model. It’s such a pointless addition that does nothing but complicate the manufacturing process and turns people off from the HMD for how creepy it looks.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Motawa Avatar
23 weeks ago

What’s going to be the point of this device if it’s just a slightly nicer Oculus? The extra features are what makes it unique. If they can’t do that at a price point that’s currently feasible that just means they’ve released it a few years too early. Releasing a hamstrung product is pointless.
its simply because Tim Apple wanted to release one more "big thing" before he retires.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rosuna Avatar
23 weeks ago

What’s going to be the point of this device if it’s just a slightly nicer Oculus? The extra features are what makes it unique. If they can’t do that at a price point that’s currently feasible that just means they’ve released it a few years too early. Releasing a hamstrung product is pointless.
The Apple Vision Max Pro:

Attachment Image
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
iPhone 15 General Feature Green

Apple Says These New iOS Features Are Coming Later This Year

Sunday March 24, 2024 7:45 am PDT by
Apple has previously announced three new iOS features that it said are coming to the iPhone later this year, as outlined below. The new features include the ability to install iPhone apps on the web in the EU, RCS support in the Messages app, and next-generation CarPlay. Web Distribution Apple recently announced that eligible developers will soon be able to distribute their iOS apps to ...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

Seven Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Tuesday March 19, 2024 5:20 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
maxresdefault

iOS 18 Rumored to Feature 'More Customizable' Home Screen

Sunday March 24, 2024 7:10 am PDT by
iOS 18 will feature a revamped Home Screen that is "more customizable," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He revealed this information in his Power On newsletter today, but he did not provide any specific details. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple will announce iOS 18 at its annual developers conference WWDC in June. Other features and changes rumored for...
combine images

Top Stories: iOS 18's Generative AI Features to Rely on Google?, Latest on New iPads, and More

Saturday March 23, 2024 6:00 am PDT by
We're getting closer to the launch of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, while rumors about iOS 18 are continuing to ramp up with this week's surprise revelation that Apple has been talking to Google and others about potentially helping power the generative AI features expected to be a major part of this year's update. Other news this week saw the release of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1...