Apple is developing a lower version of its Vision Pro in an effort to make the revolutionary technology more accessible to a larger audience. Due to its extravagant price tag, which is seven times that of its primary competitor, Meta Quest, the current Vision Pro may have difficulty acquiring widespread popularity.
According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is examining methods to reduce the price of the Vision Pro without significantly compromising its quality or features. Apple has slated the release of the lesser model for the end of 2025, roughly two years after the original Vision Pro was introduced. According to the report, this release coincides with Apple’s two-product strategy, similar to the iPhone and iPhone Pro variants. In typical Apple fashion, the American tech behemoth may have already begun developing a Vision Pro with a speedier processor of the second generation.
How will Apple lower the price of the Vision Pro model?
According to the report, the device’s camera and sensor array, dual Apple silicon processors, and dual 4K microLED virtual reality displays are the primary components that contribute to its high price. Apple may opt for lower-quality displays, iPhone-grade or older Mac processors, and fewer cameras for slightly diminished performance in order to produce a more affordable variant.
In addition to hardware modifications, Apple may simplify the headband design, requiring users to use AirPods for spatial audio rather than the Vision Pro’s built-in speakers. In addition, the report suggests that the less expensive model may switch from automatic to manual IPD adjustment, allowing users to adjust the distance between their eye pupils manually. Additionally, features such as the 3D camera could be eliminated. Apple could potentially reduce the price of the Vision Pro by several hundred dollars by implementing these modifications, expediting the manufacturing process, obtaining economies of scale, and using a cheaper frame.
What will be conserved?
However, Apple is likely to retain certain characteristics in the lower model. The EyeSight external screen, which displays the wearer’s eyes, and the eye- and hand-tracking system are integral to the Vision Pro’s core functionality and would likely be retained in the less expensive model.
Apple confronts the challenge of ensuring that the Vision Pro’s high price does not deter consumers from investigating the category. The company hopes that by offering a more affordable alternative by 2025, it will be able to garner a large customer base anxious to experience the revolutionary capabilities of the Apple Vision at a more affordable price.
