Apple is reportedly underway in the development of a more affordable model of Vision Pro, and a new report from MacRumors reveals details of the more affordable headset including information on its design, speakers arrangement, and more.
The entry-level Vision Pro is being developed under the codename Project Alaska, featuring a design that “bears striking resemblance” to the first-generation headset that Apple announced a few months ago at WWDC 2023. While the overall design is said to remain largely unchanged, Apple is expected to toy around with some design specifics for the new model.
To cut down costs, Apple plans to move away from bulging audio pods that are embedded in the current Vision Pro’s temples, leaving the temples uniformly flat across their entire length. To play audio, Apple is apparently working on an external speaker accessory. Another design being tested purportedly incorporates the speakers in place of the cooling vents situation on top of Vision Pro’s housing
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Apple is also working to introduce a new simpler Head Band design, adds the report. The band will reportedly feature a less sophisticated look that resembles “flat straps commonly found on laptop bags or backpacks.” The simpler design will reportedly help Apple cut down costs and ultimately the price of the entry-level Vision Pro. The new model will continue to be powered through an external battery pack, the report adds.
Spatial sensors on the purported model include one TrueDepth camera, four computer vision cameras, two RGB cameras, and two low-light infrared illuminators. The number of cameras is fewer than that of the first-generation Vision Pro likely in a bid to reduce costs as much as possible. The headset will support Bluetooth 5, WiFi, and ultra-low latency audio, in addition to a compass, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, accelerometer, and gyroscope.
Finally, the report states that the current development schedule hints that the more affordable Vision Pro model is set to enter the Product Validation Testing (PVT) prototype phase in 2025, hinting at a release date between late 2025 and early 2026.
An earlier report from respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that Apple might have canceled the lower-cost version of its headset, which is apparently not the case for now. Apple is also expected to drop a few more components including the EyeSight external display and Mac-grade chips to bring the $3,499 price down by a thousand or more dollars.
