Apple's second crack at spatial computing is here — the M5 Apple Vision Pro was just announced, and there is much to learn from the original Apple Vision Pro.
From the "revolutionary" interface design it unlocked and insane amount of tech packed into its premium design, to the various annoyances such as the battery pack being in your pocket and that massive $3,500 price tag, the Cupertino crew have the assignment.
So now that work has (reportedly) started on it, let's ask the obvious questions. What will it look like? What will power it? And when will it come out? Lucky for you, we've pulled together every scrap of information we know, and how it could stack up against the best VR headsets.
Apple Vision Pro 2: Specs
Spec |
Apple Vision Pro M5 |
Apple Vision Pro M2 |
|---|---|---|
Price |
from $3,499 |
from $3,499 |
OS |
VisionOS |
VisionOS |
Chips |
M5 and R1 |
M2 and R1 |
Display |
micro-OLED (23 million pixels, 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz) |
micro-OLED (23 million pixels, 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz) |
Storage |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Camera |
6.5MP Stereoscopic 3D camera with spatial video and photo captures (18mm, f/2.0) |
6.5MP Stereoscopic 3D camera with spatial video and photo captures (18mm, f/2.0) |
Sensors |
2 main cameras, 6 world-facing tracking cameras, 4 eye-tracking cameras, TrueDepth camera, LiDAR scanner, 4 inertial measurement units, flicker sensor, ambient light sensor |
2 main cameras, 6 world-facing tracking cameras, 4 eye-tracking cameras, TrueDepth camera, LiDAR scanner, 4 inertial measurement units, flicker sensor, ambient light sensor |
Authentication |
OpticID (iris-based) |
OpticID (iris-based) |
Audio |
Spatial audio pods with dynamic head tracking, 6-mic rray |
Spatial audio pods with dynamic head tracking, 6-mic rray |
Wireless |
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery |
2.5 hours of general use, 3 hours video playback |
2 hours of general use, 2.5 hours video playback |
Weight |
26.4-28.2 ounces |
21.2 - 22.9 ounces |
Apple Vision Pro 2: Price and release date
Rather than being a cheaper successor as rumors pointed to (given Apple seems to have pivoted to smart glasses), this next generation Apple Vision Pro headset is an iterative upgrade (more on the updates later).
Price is staying the same at $3,499 — pre-orders are now on and it will launch on October 22.
Apple Vision Pro 2: Design and display
As expected, the display tech itself hasn't changed too much. That means the same 4K microOLED display tech per eye, the same lenses, and that same premium construction with the EyeSight display up front.
However, the M5 chip is able to improve some things with the brute horsepower of those improved graphics. For example, the new Vision Pro is able to render 10% more pixels over the last generation — meaning sharper images and more detailed visuals (especially on the peripherals). Alongside this, the new chip is able to bring a 120Hz refresh rate for even more smoothness.
Apple Vision Pro 2: Performance and battery life
This is where you'll find some of the more dramatic upgrades. Jumping from M2 to M5 means a huge upgrade in performance — in particular that 10-core GPU is sure to keep that imagery nice and pretty.
Not only that, but it seems to be even more power efficient too. Apple is claiming an extra 30 minutes of use time out of its battery pack. That means 2.5 hours of general use and 3 hours of video playback.
Outlook
There’s one rule I always follow when it comes to brand new Apple products, which has guided me well: always wait for the second generation. From the differences between iPhone and iPhone 3G, to the improvements made to the Apple Watch, you notice a lot of the quirks ironed out if you wait for the sophomore gadget.
That very much seems to be the case with the new Vision Pro — new, powerful internals, and a streamlined mass production around some hardware similarities to drive the cost down.
