The Apple Vision Pro launch was met with a series of positive reviews, with a Microsoft executive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman thoroughly impressed with the product. However, that does not mean that the product is perfect because aside from the hefty $3,499 price, there are other concerns that everyday users are experiencing. Fortunately, Apple has plenty of time to address them, as the latest report states that the successor is at least 18 months away, giving the company sufficient time to make some refinements.
First-generation Apple products were never considered to be perfect, so the second-generation Vision Pro can tout the most improvements
It was previously reported that work on the Apple Vision Pro successor commenced before the first one was announced back during the company’s WWDC 2023 keynote. However, the California-based giant needs to set a particular sales benchmark for the current version before unveiling the second iteration. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, consumers who want to get their hands on a successor have to wait for quite a while because it is 18 months away at the bare minimum.
Such a large time gap between two product launches might not be the ideal setting, but it should allow for a significant number of Apple Vision Pro units to gain sufficient traction in the U.S., with the possibility that the AR headset will also launch overseas before WWDC 2024 kicks off. Also, the extended time should allow the company and its talented mixed-reality team to tweak the second-generation headset further based on the complaints received from the first one.
“Apple Inc. is probably at least 18 months away from launching a second-generation Vision Pro. Based on the early response to the first version, that may be a long time for some people to wait.
Since the Vision Pro debuted on Feb. 2, it’s become clear that the mixed-reality headset is still a work in progress. Despite the dazzling demos — and generally positive reviews — it can be challenging to use on a daily basis. It’s heavy. The interface doesn’t always work smoothly. And it’s hard to forget the fact that you paid $3,500 or more for this experience.
Vision Pro loyalists stress that the current model is only the first generation. It will get better in time. Don’t forget, they say, that the original iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch had their quirks too. If the headset feels too heavy, you’re wearing it wrong. The narrower-than-expected field of view and glare? That’s normal.”
However, the report does not mention if we will get to see the actual Apple Vision Pro successor or a low-cost version because there will be a stark difference between the two models. For instance, the more affordable headset is said to arrive with a display and chipset downgrade, switching to an iPhone SoC instead of a Mac one, and it is likely that Apple will incorporate less premium materials to bring the cost down.
The less expensive version is said to debut sometime in 2025, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicting that the Apple Vision Pro 2 will not enter mass production until 2027, and that is if the pricing issue can be addressed. However, before Apple launches any future models, its competitors will launch their own AR headsets to compete with the $3,499 head-mounted wearable, so we will pay attention to those and eventually gravitate towards the Apple Vision Pro successor in a follow-up report, so stay tuned.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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