Is Apple feeling OK? Reports indicate it's suspending work on the Vision Pro 2 to focus on making—wait for it—a cheaper version

HardwareVR HardwareIs Apple feeling OK? Reports indicate it’s suspending work on the Vision Pro 2 to focus on making—wait for it—a cheaper versionWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Apple)

A screenshot from the advert for the Apple Vision Pro, showing a man holding on to one like goggles

The Apple Vision Pro headset may not have been a resounding success for the company, what with analyst reports indicatingmassively slashed production numbersoff the back of poor sales. Chief user complaints (among many) have includedcracking screens, feelings of isolation, and looking like a bit of a plum while wearing one. Oh, and the price:$3,499, before extras.

Now reports indicate that Apple has done the most un-Apple of things, and suspended work on the next generation of the device in favour of a cheaper model.

The company is said to have told at least one of its suppliers that work on the Vision Pro 2 has been suspended, in order to prioritise a version with fewer cameras, a simpler headband, and smaller speakers (viaMacRumors). This cheaper version has reportedly been in the works since 2022 with the codename “N109”, and aims to retail for the same price as a high-end iPhone, which would be around $1,600.

Crucially, however, it’s said that Apple is keen to keep the fancy internal display components the same. While the original Vision Pro was criticised for many things, some reviewers did point out thatthe internal displays were impressive, so a much cheaper unit featuring the same essential hardware would likely be a bit of a winner if Apple could pull it off.

Not only that, but those high-end displays are almost certainly the most expensive part of the device. Keeping the best bits while massively reducing the end cost is very, well, pro-consumer, if true. And that’s just grand.

Another major critique was the overall weight of the original device, as depending on the spec it ranged between 600 to 650 g. Even in its lightest configuration, that’s a little under 100 g heavier than theOculus (Meta) Quest 2, and when it comes to something you strap to the front of your face, that can make quite the difference.

The new model, however, is reportedly focused on being much lighter. So that’s the same display as the previous model, but easier on the neck, with fewer cameras and for much less cash. Tidy!

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

As to whether you’ll still look like someonetrapped in overly tight scuba goggleswhile wearing one? Unclear at this time.

Virtual reality(Image credit: Valve)Best VR headset: which kit should you choose?Best graphics card: you need serious GPU power for VRBest gaming laptop: don’t get tied to your desktop in VR

Virtual reality

(Image credit: Valve)Best VR headset: which kit should you choose?Best graphics card: you need serious GPU power for VRBest gaming laptop: don’t get tied to your desktop in VR

(Image credit: Valve)

Best VR headset: which kit should you choose?Best graphics card: you need serious GPU power for VRBest gaming laptop: don’t get tied to your desktop in VR

Still, if these rumours prove out it’d be refreshing to see Apple focus on consumer cost and refinement over upgraded specs, which seems to me like a pretty smart move at this point.

Otherwise, the original Vision Pro may well be regarded as one of the worst launches in Apple’s history, even worse than theworld’s least comfortable mouse(a personal opinion, I hasten to add). Turns out that if you bought the original Vision Pro, you may have been wearing an expensive prototype for something that in the end turns out to be much more palatable. The tech industry, ey? Early adoption at your peril.

More about vr hardwareThis upcoming Micro-OLED VR headset has absolutely everything and weighs less than 200 grams but of course it costs nearly 4x the Quest 3Meta could take a step back from designing VR headsets and lend other companies access to its Horizon OS insteadLatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►

More about vr hardware

This upcoming Micro-OLED VR headset has absolutely everything and weighs less than 200 grams but of course it costs nearly 4x the Quest 3Meta could take a step back from designing VR headsets and lend other companies access to its Horizon OS instead

Pimax Dream Air VR headset on a grey background

This upcoming Micro-OLED VR headset has absolutely everything and weighs less than 200 grams but of course it costs nearly 4x the Quest 3

A Meta Quest 3S, alongside a Quest 3 and Quest 2, on a stack of PC Gamer magazine.

Meta could take a step back from designing VR headsets and lend other companies access to its Horizon OS instead

LatestToday’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11See more latest►

Latest

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

Wordle answers

Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11

See more latest►

Most PopularPiranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod sceneSorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our faultTeam Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40KIs the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anythingIf you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 offAMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fabI tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bayFinal Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their altsTikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it

Most Popular

Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’

Marvel Rivals' latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene

Sorry everyone, Minecraft 2 is cancelled, and it might be our fault

Team Fortress 2 just had the single biggest trade in its history, with ‘the absolute best hat you can get’ going for around $40K

Is the new RTX 5070 really as fast as Nvidia’s previous flagship RTX 4090 GPU? Turns out the answer is yes. Kinda.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is getting a closed network test, and I’m totally not fuming because PC players aren’t invited to the party, or anything

If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off

AMD is now reportedly making all-American Ryzen 9000 CPU dies at TSMC’s Arizona fab

I tried a sim racing rig that generates ‘wind’ at CES 2025 and it’s claimed to help keep VR nausea at bay

Final Fantasy 14 communities panic as it turns out change to blacklisting, meant to help reduce stalking, also lets players use mods to track their alts

TikTok’s time in the US may be ticking to a close as it makes a last stand in the Supreme Court, though Trump now says he ‘opposes banning’ it

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals