TECH NEWS – The Cupertino-based company is trying to gain a foothold with AR headsets in two price categories, as the first model with premium features and price was a tiered product.

A cheaper version of Apple’s Vision Pro has reportedly been in development for years, but has yet to be confirmed by Apple as the company reportedly struggles to cut costs without sacrificing key features. But now Bloomberg editor Mark Gurman has written in the Power On newsletter that the company is working on not one, but two versions of the wearable head-mounted device. According to his information, the first version could be the mainstream model thanks to its reduced price, while the latter will also have tethered capability for broader functionality.

Even at an estimated price of $1,600, the cheaper headset could be as expensive as a premium iPhone, although this is a bigger change from the base model at $3,500 and may be a model that more customers will buy as it is more affordable, although it is not yet clear that many people would be willing to use it on a daily basis. According to 9to5Mac, the cheaper version will address two issues: one was weight, as it will reportedly be lighter, which could significantly reduce head strain. It is questionable whether there will be less premium materials (plastic). Gurman said at the end of the year that the cheaper Apple Vision Pro would have to have a weaker display, a plastic build, an A-series system board instead of an M-series, and a bunch of other compromises to bring the price down. This might give it a chance to compete with Meta Quest 3.

Meanwhile, the tethered version is said to be for corporate use only and will support the use of applications from various companies. This headset can be connected to a Mac and will offer incredibly low latency, making it extremely useful for flight simulation or surgery, for example. An earlier version had pass-through lenses, but the upcoming version will offer the same pass-through technology as the current generation Apple Vision Pro.

No word yet on when to expect the devices. Apple could announce them later this year.

Source: WCCFTech