The Apple Vision Pro is anticipated to launch in early 2024, but Apple is reportedly developing a successor to its first-generation headset. In his weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman highlighted that Apple is concentrating on reducing the weight and size of the upcoming Vision Pro device.
Initially revealed at Apple’s WWDC 2023 in June, the first version of the Vision Pro will not hit the market for several months. However, plans for a successor are already underway, with Gurman detailing that tests have shown the current headset’s design may cause neck strain due to its weight and bulk. The second-generation model aims to address these issues with a more lightweight and compact build.
Additionally, Gurman pointed out challenges the Vision Pro faces, particularly for users who wear glasses. The first-generation headset requires spectacle users to order special prescription lenses from Zeiss, which are then attached magnetically. This setup complicates device sharing, especially for individuals with different prescriptions.
A Meta employee informed Gurman that the company is closely monitoring Apple’s developments in advance of the launch of its own wearable headset next year. Both Apple and Meta are targeting consumers interested in productivity and gaming, with Meta reportedly shifting its focus away from its previous metaverse initiatives to better compete with Apple.
While Apple works on a smaller version of its headset, Meta is taking steps to offer a more affordable alternative to the recently launched Quest 3. Gurman notes that Meta may consider selling its future headset without controllers included, allowing customers to purchase them separately to lower the overall cost.
Furthermore, Meta’s newly released Ray-Ban sunglasses currently lack augmented reality capabilities, functioning primarily for capturing images, recording videos, answering calls, and playing music. However, Gurman states that the company aims to introduce glasses with AR displays by the year 2025.
