Apple finally announced its upgraded Apple Vision Pro with M5, an updated spatial computing headset that aims to deliver a leap in performance, battery life, display rendering and even comfort with the new Dual Knit Band. So, how does it stack up against the first Apple Vision Pro with M2?
At first glance, not a whole lot has changed in an M5 Apple Vision Pro vs M2 Apple Vision Pro comparison. The latest Vision Pro comes with the same design (aside from the new headband), micro-OLED displays, cameras, sensors and more. But there are improvements here that count, and it's not just with the improvements the M5 chip offers.
It's clear that the M5-equipped Apple Vision Pro will see huge performance gains over its predecessor, but there are still features we hoped to see over the very first Vision Pro worth considering. The main question is, does Apple's M5 Vision Pro upgrade make the headset worth its lofty price?
We'll learn more once we get our hands on (and head in) Apple's latest headset. But for now, let's dive into the biggest differences between the M5 Vision Pro and M2 Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Specs
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 array |
Spatial audio pods with dynamic head tracking, 6-mic array |
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 M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Price and availability
The Apple Vision Pro with M5 starts at $3,499, which is exactly the same price as the first-gen headset. That means you're getting upgraded performance, specs and the (hopefully) comfier Dual Knit Band without any price jumps, which is always welcome.
Like the original, the latest headset comes in different storage sizes, including 256GB, 512GB and 1TB, with prices going as high as $3,899. Plus, there's the option to get optical inserts for prescription, which adds another $149 to the cost.
It's great to hear that Apple hasn't increased the price of its more powerful M5 headset, but $3,499 is still a steep ask. By the way, there's no trade-in available for the new Vision Pro headset, so expect to pay full price if you're after an upgrade.
Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Design
Take away the headband, and the Vision Pro with M5 hasn't changed compared to the Vision Pro with M2. That includes its sleek, curved glass front panel and modular design, and you'll find the same Light Seal and Light Seal Cushion that attach magnetically to the device.
However, a quick look at the new headset's weight compared to the M2 Vision Pro reveals an unfortunate difference. The first-gen spatial computing headset weighs 21.2 to 22.9 ounces, while the latest headset weighs 26.4 to 28.2 ounces. That's worrying, as when we tested the original Vision Pro, we noted that it was heavy to wear over extended periods, so the next headset won't fix that issue at all.
Otherwise, the M5 Vision Pro comes with an all-new Dual Knit Band. This features upper and lower straps that are 3D-knitted as a single piece to create a unique dual-rib structure. Apple says this provides cushioning, breathability and stretch. Fortunately, this comes as standard for the new headset.
However, the Dual Knit Band is also sold separately for $99, meaning it can also be used for the previous-gen headset. The original Apple Vision Pro comes with the Solo Knit Band and the Dual Loop band, with the former being a stretchy single band that wraps around the back of your head, and the latter being quite like the new Dual Knit Band, providing more stability with a strap that goes across the top of your head and the back.
In any case, expect the same look and feel of Apple's latest headset as with the original Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Performance
The star of the show is the M5 chip in the updated Vision Pro, which will see huge performance gains over the M2 chip found in the first headset. The silicon is set to be optimized for visionOS 26 and new Apple Intelligence features.
The M5 chip is based on 3nm architecture, featuring a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. That's already a step up from the M2, which offers an 8-core CPU, but still a 10-core GPU. Both chipsets come with a 16-core Neural Engine for AI performance.
However, the advanced GPU brings support for greater hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, especially compared to the graphics power of the M2.
We expect the most immediate impact on day-to-day use to be multitasking improvements. On the current M2 chip, Vision Pro does experience moments of slowdown when you have multiple apps open, especially with visionOS 26.
The upgraded M5 model can render 10% more pixels on the custom micro-OLED displays compared to the previous generation. That means a sharper image with crisper text and more detailed visuals.
Also, unlike the original Vision Pro, which goes up to a 100Hz refresh rate, the new Vision Pro increases the refresh rate up to 120Hz for reduced motion blur when users look at their physical surroundings. That should also mean an even smoother experience when using Mac Virtual Display. If you're going all-in with Vision Pro for productivity, this improvement could be a massive advantage.
One feature we hoped to see was the rumored R2 chip make its way onto the M5 headset, but the new version is equipped with the same R1 as the first Vision Pro. This processes input from the cameras, microphones and sensors to the user in under 12 milliseconds, which is already fast. But for something a little more snappier, an R2 upgrade would have been nice to see.
Regardless, you'll be doing everything you would do on the Apple Vision Pro M2 as on the Vision Pro M5, but with faster performance, smoother refresh rates and sharper detail.
Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Battery
Thanks to the M5 chip and its better power efficiency, the updated Vision Pro should deliver improved battery life. That said, expect to still carry around its tethered battery pack.
The first headset is rated for 2 hours of battery life for general use, along with 2.5 hours of video playback. In our testing, after 2 hours, the Vision Pro was down to about 60% and then down to 40% after another couple hours.
As for the M5 Vision Pro, Apple claims it will have an improved 3 hours of battery life, along with 2.5 hours of video playback. That's not the biggest improvement, but getting more time out of the headset isn't something to sneeze at.
Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Apple Vision Pro M2: Outlook
While the Apple Vision Pro with M5 comes with hugely welcome upgrades, it isn't a major overhaul over the first-gen Apple Vision Pro.
We'll be putting all this to the test once we get our hands on the updated headset, but in the meantime, the Apple Vision Pro lives on with a fresh upgrade. As for everything else Apple had up its sleeve for its big October announcement, check out the all-new M5 MacBook Pro and M5 iPad Pro.
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