This Year’s Biggest Vision Pro Upgrade May Be a New Headband
Apple Vision Pro demo presentation in Wangfujing Beijing store [Apple]
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A second-generation Vision Pro could be arriving sooner than we thought, but it doesn’t appear to be anything to get too excited about. In fact, it could be one of the most minor updates to a high-end product that we’ve seen Apple come out with in a long time.
Even before we knew what Apple would call its new headset, the rumor mill was filled with grand visions for its leap into “mixed reality.” Analysts predicted it would usher in the next generation of computing; as the unveiling date crept closer, reports conceded that, while Apple planned to lead with its most expensive model, it had a more affordable version in the works.
Now, two years later, it appears that, while the Vision Pro is still undoubtedly the long-term future of computing, Apple’s plans haven’t quite gone the way that many hoped. Last week, we heard a report that the more affordable “Vision Air” is dead in the water — for now, at least — as Apple pivots to focus on smart glasses before Meta gets further ahead.
Whatever form the “Vision Air” would have taken — and that remains something of a mystery — Apple doesn’t seem to have done much to prepare an encore for the flagship Vision Pro. Over the past year, every report we’ve heard suggests it will be getting a faster chip — the jury’s out on whether it will be an M4 or an M5 — and little else.
That will be a significant performance boost over the M2 in the current model, but it doesn’t really address the elephant in the room. Amidst all the varied reports of buyer’s remorse from early adopters, we can’t recall seeing any complaints that it was too slow.
Many of the concerns raised by users who reported either returning their Vision Pro or relegating it to a dusty corner of their home or office centered on comfort. The Vision Pro weighs 600–650 grams — well over a pound — depending on the Light Seal and headband configuration, and that’s not counting the 353-gram battery, which has to be carried separately.
That’s a lot of weight to keep on your head for anything more than a few minutes, so it’s not surprising that sources inside Apple said the company was looking for ways to reduce its weight. Shortly after the Vision Pro launched in February 2024, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple was already working on a second-generation model, with weight reduction being a top priority. That was expected to arrive in late 2025 or early 2026.
Now that it’s late 2025 and a Vision Pro is “imminent,” according to Gurman’s recent Power On newsletter, it seems that Apple’s only solution for reducing the headset’s weight may have been to redesign the headband.
As Gurman, Ming-Chi Kuo, and others have repeatedly shared over the past 12 months, the “Vision Pro 2” is not being redesigned. Gurman even tacitly reiterated this over the weekend when he said the updated version was code-named “N301A.” Since the original Vision Pro was “N301,” tacking on the “A” suggests only a minor modification.
That means we’re almost certainly still in for the same 1.3-pound experience, but Apple hopes to soften it with “a new strap system,” designed to distribute the weight more evenly.
Apple is also preparing a new strap system that aims to make the device feel lighter during extended use (given the Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag, it seems reasonable to be able to use it for a few hours without hurting your neck).
Mark Gurman
Gurman didn’t share any specifics, but backend code found on Friday by MacRumors reveals something called a “Dual Knit Band” for the Vision Pro. Since that doesn’t exist right now, it’s a safe bet that it refers to Apple’s upcoming strap system, and Gurman confirms it’s the one he’s been reporting on since at least July.
Apple currently offers two bands: the Solo Knit Band and the Dual Loop Band. “Dual Knit Band” sounds like a hybrid of the two, which suggests it will use the comfortable “knit” material of the single-band in a two-band design. The text description suggests an upper band that goes over the head and another that runs around the back.
It will be interesting to see how Apple chooses to announce the new Vision Pro. An October event may still be in the cards; Apple could devote some stage time to the new headset, especially if it chooses to go all the way to an M5 chip, which has yet to be introduced in any new products. In that case, the iPad Pro and Vision Pro could bask equally in the M5’s glory at the same event.
However, as Gurman points out, “Apple is a company focused on shipping mainstream products. There is nothing mainstream about a too-heavy and unaffordable headset.” While the Vision Pro has found a home in several niche industries, for most folks, it’s little more than a cool (and expensive) curiosity that’s only worth checking out at your local Apple Store. Until Apple can make the Vision Pro lighter and more affordable, no amount of new fabric will change the fact that it’s still a headset in search of its mainstream moment.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
