Apple may have canceled plans to produce a lower-cost version of the Apple Vision Pro headset, says Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. While there have been multiple rumors of a lower-cost model for 2025, that may not happen.
Apple may have canceled the low-cost Vision Pro version plan (with market consensus expecting a 2025 launch). Unless Apple significantly reduces the price of Vision Pro, the anticipated significant shipment growth in Vision Pro shipments starting in 2025 may not materialize.
Kuo does not provide any explanation for why Apple’s plans for the lower-cost headset may have been dropped. He did note that unless Apple significantly cuts down on costs for the headset, significant shipment growth in shipments may not take place in 2025. Kuo expects to see Apple ship anywhere from 400,000 to 600,000 headsets in 2024. He also said that while the headset will provide an “excellent experience,” it may take “longer than the market expects” to become Apple’s next big product.
Most observers expect to see a second-generation version of the Apple Vision Pro go into mass production by the first half of 2027 “at the latest.” Kuo believes that it is possible there will be no hardware-related updates for the Vision Pro until that time.
The initial version of the Vision Pro will be priced at $3,500, which will put it out of the financial reach of many of Apple’s customers. This has spurred rumors that Apple is planning on making a more reasonably priced version of the headset.
Some rumors claim Apple’s plans for a lower-priced Vision headset include a price closer to its iPhone handsets. However, Apple would have to make several cuts in component costs to accomplish such a feat. Apple could drop the 3D camera from the headset while using a cheaper processor, a lower-resolution display, and other cheaper materials.