Apple is working on a cheaper option of its $3,500 Vision Pro mixed reality headset. The new device will probably rely on the iPhone for processing, so it will be lighter, sleeker, and less expensive. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple might also make it an iPhone accessory, similar to Xreal’s eyeglass-like Beam Pro and Air Pro devices.
Though it is impressively equipped, the Vision Pro is pricey and not really all that appealing. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently admitted that the Vision Pro is “not a mass-market product” and is currently meant for early adopters. Meta’s much more affordable handsets are the $300 Quest 3S or the $500 Quest 3-in handset.
It could keep the flagship smartphone from Apple at the heart of its whole ecosystem, allow it to be more affordable for the new device, and, therefore, make it more appealing to consumers. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also mentioned that a less expensive version of the Vision Pro may be pushed off until after 2027, meaning that just cutting the price could not mainstream the product. He contrasted this with the HomePod mini, which hasn’t exactly done the trick yet for Apple to increment market share in the smart speaker market.
Bloomberg reports that Apple has been working on its first smart glasses, which it believes will directly compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban model. That move can put Apple in the position of investing in a lot of broader consumer-friendly devices than the premium line Vision Pro. All in all, the affordability and use give an idea of what this new wearable technology tries to do for the general user.
