After the release of Vision Pro, everyone wanted to know how long it would be before the company could release a lighter version that isn’t so bulky on your face. For the longest time, we had been looking forward to a so-called Vision Air, codenamed N100. That project was shelved last year, though the company is working on a new project with similar aspirations, per Bloomberg.
Unlike the previous N100 project, it doesn’t seem the new project, N224, is necessarily targeted at being a lower cost offering. It could instead be a successor to the current M5-based Vision Pro model, though it might still come in at a lower price while offering the flagship experience.
This new version seems relatively early in the works, with Bloomberg reporting that it could arrive between late 2028 and early 2029. That said, it isn’t quite clear what exactly Apple will be going for. The company currently has four concepts in the works.
One of the concepts is similar to the recently unveiled Meta VR glasses, which offloads the compute and battery to an external puck. Given the fact that Vision Pro already has an external battery, offloading the compute doesn’t necessarily seem like a major hurdle, though you’d need better thermals and more efficient compute to pull that off.
On the other hand, some Apple executives reportedly don’t love the idea of an external puck, and “want the company to stick with something closer to an all-in-one design.”
Design wise, Apple might get a bit more experimental compared to the current Vision Pro, with the company supposedly considering other material choices. From the Power On newsletter:
One design in testing retains the basic egg-shaped form of the current Vision Pro, but Apple is actively exploring ways to reduce its weight by experimenting with plastic, titanium, other metals and various materials. The company has also continued to explore a standalone puck that combines the computing components and battery, similar to the approach used by Meta’s recent VR Glasses.
Wrap up
Time will tell what Apple will actually end up delivering. Given the A20 Pro chip being incredibly performant at its thermal envelope, it seems highly likely that in another 2 years, we could have an A-series chip capable of running visionOS at a higher capacity than the current M5, while not needing active cooling.
I do think Apple should go all in on the Meta VR glasses idea. Even at a higher price point, I think the form factor makes a ton of sense. Apple silicon, EyeSight, and visionOS will allow the product stand out.
What do you think of this new Vision Pro news? Are you a current Vision Pro owner, or are you still skeptical of the idea of headsets? Let us know in the comments.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel
