Apple would seek to accelerate the development of a new version of its Vision Pro… and to drastically reduce costs. Expected by 2025 or 2026, this version could cost $2,000 less than the current model.
Apple is reportedly working hard on the design of a new version of its Vision Pro headset. A new version that more users could this time purchase. This is what we learn from Tom’s Guide, which reports that the Californian giant would seek to accelerate the development of a new mixed reality headset, much more affordable (and no, we are not talking about that one). This product will probably not arrive on the market before 2025, or even 2026, but it would have the advantage of being marketed almost 2000 dollars less than the current model… and therefore at around 1500 dollars, compared to 3500 dollars today.
To achieve this new pricing placement, Apple would however make some adjustments, particularly in terms of display. Because, as a reminder, the current Apple Vision Pro has two 4K micro-OLED screens worth a small fortune alone.
Towards a (much) more affordable headset… with less sophisticated screens
In detail, the sum of all the components constituting the current Vision Pro reaches 1,542 dollars according to data compiled by the analysis firm Omdia (quoted by CNBC). As for the headset’s two Micro-OLED screens, they cost $456 per pair, or almost a third of that amount. So obviously, they are the ones Apple is targeting first to reduce the production cost of its next headset as much as possible. We thus learn that the firm is looking for ways to reduce the price of these screens by 50%. And in this case, this would involve diversification of the supply of slabs.
For the moment, only Sony supplies Apple with the Micro-OLED screens for its Vision Pro, but in the future (at least according to @Tech_Reve on X), SeeYa and BOE could enter the dance in order to boost production and reduce costs. However, Apple, SeeYa and BOE are currently only in talks. It is therefore possible that no agreement will be reached in the end, or that the two groups will not reach the quality standards imposed by Apple. In which case, Sony would remain the sole supplier, with the hope that it can increase its production of small Micro-OLED displays in the coming months.
“ In addition to seeking suppliers for micro-OLED displays, Apple is also accelerating R&D for its entry-level mixed reality headset to reduce the cost of these displays», also saysleakersometimes well informed.
We also know from Mark Gurman, journalist for Bloomberg, that Apple would have the idea of downgrading certain features on its new, more affordable headset. This model could thus feature fewer cameras, screens with a lower definition or even a simple “A” chip, coming from an iPhone, instead of the current “A” chip.Apple M2» from Vision Pro. The device would also be renamed “Apple Vision” Or “Apple Vision One» to reflect this potential reduction in functionality… and little by little create a range.