Vision Pro 2 is set for late 2026 and Apple is struggling to make a cheaper headset first, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports.
Gurman has a strong track record of reporting on Apple’s future plans. Gurman has been able to accurately report many details about Vision Pro, even before the product was revealed. Gurman reported that Apple had discussed prices between $1500 and $2500 in his report from last year. Gurman’s statement that Apple was “confused” about how to lower the price suggests Apple may not be willing to compromise on features such as EyeSight. Apple’s cost per headset is estimated at $700, or $350 for each display. Using small LCD displays would significantly reduce cost, but would result in inferior contrast and necessitate either significantly reduced resolution or a much bulkier design, so it’s extremely unlikely Apple would take this path.
The real path to a much cheaper Vision headset relies on the price of high resolution micro-OLED displays falling over time.latest newsletterMicro-OLED are manufactured directly onto silicon wafers with a process very different to regular OLED. The technology is not new but it has only been used for low-volume products such as high-end cameras and industrial smart glasses. Sony is reportedly Apple’s sole supplier, but can
for 500,000 headsets this year. Last year, The Information reported that Apple had been testing micro-OLED displays from BOE and SeeYa Technology, two Chinese suppliers. If the samples meet Apple’s standards, Ma wrote, displays from these companies could be used in both Vision Pro 2 and the cheaper headset.
Cheaper Apple Vision Could Use iPhone Chip And Lack EyeSight
Apple’s in-development more affordable Vision headset could use an A-series chipset and lack EyeSight.
Apple bringing in new suppliers could enable much larger production volumes than the current Vision Pro, and thus more affordable Vision headset prices. It’s unclear which suppliers can meet the high-quality standards Apple demands while also meeting micro-OLED display production challenges. Apple may be struggling to produce a Vision headset that is more affordable due to difficulties with BOE or SeeYa.