If you were waiting for a lighter, more affordable Vision Pro to fix the “weight and wallet” problem anytime soon, I have some sobering news. Apple’s spatial computing ambitions have officially hit a massive speed bump.
According to the latest from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the Vision Pro category is essentially “on ice” for the foreseeable future. While the engineering teams are still tinkering with a successor, don’t expect to see it until late 2028 or even 2029.
The Reality Check: Slimmer, Cheaper, or Bust
Apple has reportedly realized that the current $3,499 price point and the bulky form factor are the two biggest walls standing between the Vision Pro and the mainstream.
- The Problem: The current headset is widely criticized for its weight and eye-watering cost.
- The Mission: Apple is now mandated to develop a significantly slimmer design and a more palatable price tag before they commit to a “Generation 2” launch.
- The “Vision Air” is Dead: Gurman clarified that the long-rumored, budget-friendly “Vision Air” project (codenamed N100) was officially cancelled last year. Whatever comes in 2028 will be a true successor, not a secondary “Air” model.
The Great Talent Migration
Where did all those Vision Pro engineers go? They haven’t left the building—they’ve just been reassigned.
Apple has reportedly shifted the bulk of its Vision Products Group over to the Smart Glasses team. Apple’s focus is now laser-beamed on a “display-less” pair of AI-powered spectacles.
- The Timeline: These smart glasses are now the immediate priority, targeting a late 2027 release.
- The Strategy: By moving engineers to glasses, Apple is betting that wearable AI—think cameras, mics, and Siri integration—is a more winnable market right now than high-end VR.
The Mid-Cycle Lifeline: The M5 Refresh
Lest we forget, Apple didn’t totally abandon the current headset. In October 2025, the Vision Pro received a quiet but significant internal refresh, bumping the processor up to the M5 chip.
This M5 model is now the standard for the next three years. Apple is clearly hoping that software updates (like visionOS 27) and a beefier processor will be enough to keep the category alive while they spend the next 1,000+ days trying to make the headset actually comfortable for a human face.
The Strategy Behind the Delay
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the mixed-reality category is essentially “on ice” at Apple Park. The engineering talent that once focused solely on the headset has been siphoned off to work on AI-powered glasses and camera-equipped AirPods.
| Project | Status | New Estimated Launch |
| Vision Air (Cheaper Model) | CANCELLED | N/A |
| Smart Glasses | Top Priority | Late 2027 |
| Vision Pro Successor | In Development | Late 2028 – 2029 |
If you were holding off on a purchase in hopes of a cheaper model next year, the “Vision Air” cancellation means that 2028 is now the earliest floor for a hardware reset.
With the next headset nearly three years away, do you think the M5-powered Vision Pro can stay relevant, or has Apple effectively handed the “Pro” market over to competitors like Samsung and Meta?
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