We’ll likely still have a long wait for a basic version of the Apple Vision Pro, with industry experts estimating a second-generation release window sometime in 2025 or 2026. But that doesn’t mean Apple isn’t still hard at work. behind. scenes in a more affordable version of their mixed reality headsets.
Apple aims to reduce the cost of the Apple Vision Pro from $3,500 to $1,500, according to a new report from The Elec discovered by leaker Revegnus. As? Apple is apparently going back to the drawing board when it comes to one of the headset’s most expensive components: its two 4K micro-OLED displays.
TO “Bill of Materials” Breakdown The headphones estimate that it costs Apple around $1,542 to manufacture each unit. Of that $1,542, the price of the Vision Pro’s displays takes up a big chunk: $456. So when it comes to coming up with a more basic alternative, naturally Apple is starting there first. The iPhone maker is reportedly investigating how to reduce the price of the display by up to 50 percent.
According to The Elec, Apple is currently considering companies like SeeYa and BOE to join the display supply line alongside its only existing micro-LED supplier, Sony. Relying on a single supplier can hamper the production process, and Sony is likely working at full capacity to meet Apple’s shipping needs. Spreading the work among several display manufacturers could reduce costs. Of course, given Apple’s high level of quality control requirements, these talks with SeeYa and BOE may go nowhere, and we see Apple relying on Sony once again as its exclusive supplier for Apple’s Vision Pro. second generation.
“In addition to seeking micro OLED suppliers, Apple is also accelerating research and development of the second-generation entry-level XR product to reduce the cost of micro OLED displays,” Revegnus explained in a post on x (formerly Twitter).
Previously, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple is considering downgrading some of the Vision Pro’s technologies and functionality to reduce costs as well. These options include fewer cameras, lower-resolution displays, and an iPhone-like chip, unlike the M series you’ll find in a MacBook. Gurman said the final device will likely be called something like Apple Vision or Apple Vision One to indicate that it is related to the Apple Vision Pro, but doesn’t have as many features.
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