The Apple Vision Pro has struggled in terms of sales, primarily due to its hefty price of $3,499 and discomfort during extended use. Apple insider Mark Gurman reported in his newsletter, Power On, that the company is now developing two successors to the Vision Pro, with at least one model aimed at alleviating these issues. The XR (Extended Reality) market is comparatively small, leading to fewer consumers willing to spend thousands on a headset that lacks dedicated controllers and sufficient content.
In-store demonstrations revealed that potential buyers found the Vision Pro heavy and uncomfortable after about 30 minutes of wear. Apple is reportedly working on a successor, possibly dubbed the Vision Air, which is expected to be more lightweight and affordable. These improvements could be achieved by eliminating unnecessary hardware that was included purely for aesthetic reasons.
As former Oculus head Hugo Barra pointed out, the Vision Pro is somewhat of an over-engineered development kit. Removing features like EyeSight, the external display that reveals the user’s face, and opting for a plastic chassis instead of premium materials could significantly lower both the weight and cost. Additionally, incorporating a more comfortable head strap, similar to the one used in later store demos, could make a more favorable impression on users.
In addition to the Vision Air, Apple is also developing another headset designed for professionals who require a Mixed Reality experience with minimal latency. This device will connect to a Mac or other Apple products, resembling AR glasses from other companies like Xreal. Despite the cancellation of earlier AR glasses, Apple remains focused on creating innovative products, with CEO Tim Cook eager to outpace Meta in the competitive landscape of AR technology.