Apple will delay next Vision Pro headset release by years

Apple's Vision Pro headset is reportedly being shelved for years, with the next iteration not expected until 2028 at the earliest.

3

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a known Apple insider with a fantastic track record of understanding the company's inner workings, Apple is shifting its focus to AI-powered wearables like smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods. The Vision Pro, launched in early 2024, has struggled to gain traction, with only 600,000 units sold to date.

The Vision Pro is still quite far away in terms of design to what Apple desires with its AR glasses, but that's not what has caused skepticism among top executives. The headset's high price and heavy design have been cited as key barriers to adoption, along with practical use cases that warrant a general consumer, or even a power user, getting one.

3

Gurman also noted that Apple's Vision Products Group is actively working on next-gen AR hardware, suggesting the Vision Pro may be repurposed for commercial or niche use cases in the future. According to Gurman, instead of doubling down on high-end VR/AR headsets, the company is exploring more accessible and practical wearable tech, such as an AI pendant that pairs with AirPods, which is reportedly currently undergoing prototype testing.

Additionally, Apple is reportedly exploring other areas, including augmented wearable smartglasses, likely powered by artificial intelligence in some capacity. Gurman also believes the creation of augmented reality smartglasses is a natural progression of the Vision Pro development, with the Bloomberg reporter writing that the Vision Pro is a "stepping stone" toward the upcoming glasses.