According to the popular Apple analyst, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple is ‘seriously considering’ developing a cheaper version of its $3,500 Vision Pro mixed-reality headset that shifts all the computing power to the iPhone.
It also plans to develop lower-cost versions with scaled-down technologies and a less advanced chip, essentially a headset with primarily displays and battery, to improve the device’s appeal.
In his newsletter, Gurman previously mentioned this idea, but it was considered one of the plans Apple was experimenting with for its future products. However, now, it seems like this idea might turn into a reality.
Mark Gurman wrote, “I … continue to hear that Apple is seriously considering a device that offloads the computing components to an iPhone and serves as an accessory for watching movies.” He further added, “That’s something that would be roughly akin to the glasses offered by companies like Xreal.”
This implies that the new product would be similar to Xreal’s Beam Pro and will show content from your iPhone through the glasses’ displays.
It is believed that the new designs for Apple’s Vision lineup could help the company find new customers looking for a cheaper and sleeker design in the wearable. Moreover, the idea of an iPhone-powered Vision device would help keep Apple’s phone at the center of its ecosystem.
On Sunday, analyst Ming Chi-Kuo reported that the production of a lower-cost Vision model has been “delayed beyond 2027.”
Kuo wrote, “I think what really drove Apple to delay the cheaper Vision Pro is that simply reducing the price wouldn’t help create successful use cases.” He also added, “It’s similar to the HomePod situation — even after launching the cheaper HomePod mini, Apple’s smart speakers failed to become mainstream products.”
For more information, stay tuned for more updates!
