We’ve for some time been expecting a cheaper and lighter version of Vision Pro, possibly branded as Vision Air. Potential launch dates have been variously reported as 2025, 2026, and 2027.
But a report yesterday suggested we may have even longer to wait for this as Apple shifts resources to accelerate work on an Apple Glasses product …
The problem with Vision Pro
While Vision Pro is an undeniably impressive product, it has two very substantial drawbacks. The first and most obvious is the cost, upwards of $3,500. This makes it more expensive than a well-specced MacBook Pro, and given its relatively niche appeal, it’s simply too expensive for even most Apple fans to consider.
The second issue to quickly emerge in early reviews was the weight of the headset. Users reported that it can begin to become uncomfortable in as little as an hour’s usage, and that was certainly my own experience when I tried it.
Vision Air is expected to solve both problems
While the product line is never likely to be cheap, it did seem like a Vision Air product should bring the price down to a more palatable level. Typical estimates of the likely price are somewhere in the $1,500 to $2,000 range.
I said initially that I’d probably pull the trigger at $1,500, but after trying one, I upped that to $2,000.
To make the headset lighter and comfortable to wear for longer periods, Apple is expected to drop the EyeSight feature and to use less metal in the construction. While Apple initially touted EyeSight as a way to reduce isolation between Vision Pro users and those around them, it never really gained any fans, with most seeing it as a pointless gimmick.
Another reported compromise is somewhat lower resolution displays, but it does sound like these would still be more than good enough for most applications.
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