Apple's dual Vision Pro strategy might just persuade you to choose one.

      Apple’s Vision Pro headset is indeed an engineering feat, but it did not generate the market disruption the company may have anticipated. According to industry experts, the steep price tag of $3,500 and a shortage of varied software experiences dampened the excitement surrounding it.

      It appears that Apple plans to address these fundamental issues with its next endeavor. The company is said to be developing two new headsets, one aimed at reducing the cost and the other designed to address a significant computing need.

      “A new model is planned that will make the headset both lighter and more affordable,” reports Bloomberg. This version is expected to be priced between $1,500 and $2,500 and might compromise on features by offering a screen with lower pixel density.

      Almost suitable for the general public

      Apple

      Earlier speculation suggested that the cheaper headset would utilize a mobile processor, but the latest report indicates that Apple intends to equip it with the forthcoming M5 processor, which will debut in iPads and Macs later this year.

      In addition to lowering the price, the new headset may also aim to be lighter. Apple engineers are reportedly targeting a weight of less than a pound, which could be appealing, given that the Vision Pro is often regarded as quite bulky and uncomfortable.

      When Giovanni Colantonio from Digital Trends tested it, he noted that the Vision Pro felt constricting on the head, making it unsuitable for prolonged use. Another colleague described their experience with the headset:

      “Even when it fit properly, I noticed its weight, and it consistently felt like there was pressure on my face from the light seal. I’m not sure I’d want to use this for a long time, especially since I had small marks on my face after just 25 minutes.”

      Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

      It remains uncertain how long the wait for these new models will be. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently suggested that a budget-friendly Vision Pro headset could take two to three years before becoming available.

      Targeting power users

      As previously mentioned, Apple is working on two separate headsets. The second one is reportedly aimed at enterprise users or scenarios requiring the use of resource-heavy software. In such cases, a fast processor is essential, as is a quick input-output interface.

      Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

      In brief, a wireless connection has its limitations due to latency. To address this issue, Apple is said to be developing another Vision Pro model that will connect directly to a Mac. This approach mirrors that of gaming-oriented VR devices that link directly to a PC.

      “The goal is to create an ultra-low-latency system for streaming a user’s Mac display or for accessing high-end enterprise applications,” the Bloomberg report states. For those who require substantial computing power, a wired connection is more suitable.

      Over the past few years, I have explored various smart glasses and enjoyed the immersive computing experience they provide on a large screen. Brands like RayNeo, Viture, and Xreal present their own versions of a computing environment that seamlessly runs Windows, macOS, and even iPadOS without lag.

      View inside the AR environment of the Nebula app for the Xreal Air 2 glasses. It’s quite smooth and engaging to interact with, spread across a large curved canvas allowing for multiple floating windows. pic.twitter.com/25WLjBYEh8— Nadeemonics (@nsnadeemsarwar) October 30, 2023

      Xreal’s Nebula app exemplifies connected spatial computing in smart glasses, enabling users to interact with multiple floating macOS windows. Users can customize the distance, resize them, or adjust the angle of each application window.

      I hope Apple aims to separate its next-generation XR headset from issues related to latency and data throughput. For demanding users — and enterprise clients willing to invest — a wired connection to the Mac seems like the ideal solution.

      Devices like the Mac Studio already possess significant processing power. Apple simply needs to harness that raw capability with suitable spatial computing hardware. A next-gen Vision Pro that links directly to a Mac and provides a computing view alongside its advanced optical technology seems like a promising strategy.