Everything Apple ProApple Vision Air: Why a lighter design, iPhone A-series chip, and starting at $1,750 could make Apple mixed reality more affordableSobler style)Apple Vision ProApple Vision ProApple Vision ProApple Vision Pro
Will 2027 be the The Year Apple’s Mixed Reality Headset Goes Mainstream? Apple Vision Air could be the device that drives spatial computing out of the hands of the enthusiasts and into the hands of the average consumer.
Apple Vision Air seeks lighter, lower-cost design
Apple Vision Air — a Vision Pro — is like a Vision Pro, only cheaper — As a cheaper cousin of the Vision Pro, which currently goes for $3,499. It is claimed that Apple Vision Air will weigh over 40% less, reducing the weight below 1 pound. That huge redesign would also give the headset a much more comfortable fit for longer use, a major sticking point among Vision Pro reviewers.
Apple is said to be switching from glass to plastic components, using magnesium alloy instead of titanium, and reducing the complexity of the sensor array, all to the end of cutting both cost and weight. Such tweaks might not only beckon a thinner Apple Vision Air, but could also make it more comfortable for everyday use.
Price: Close to half of Vision Pro
Apple Vision Air analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the Apple Vision Air may hit the shelves for a starting price of approximately $1,750—nearly half the price of the Vision Pro. This change in pricing parallels with the high-end iPhones and MacBooks pricing range placing the Apple Vision Air in a more accessible space that can drive wide adoption among the masses who previously considered the Vision Pro too premium.
Vision Air is powered by an iPhone A-series chip
The Apple Vision Air will differ most significantly by moving from Mac-class M-series processors to iPhone-grade A-series chips. It sounds like a step back, but Apple A-series chips now come close to older M-series in performance.
In 2027, Apple will likely be using the A21 chip, probably fabricated on TSMC’s 2nm process, which will be aided for high efficiency, powerful graphics performance, and a more proficient heat control. That power-and-cost tradeoff makes the Apple Vision Air more realistic as a day-in, day-out mixed reality solution.
Mass production timeline
Mass production is reportedly set for Q3 2027, likely with an announcement late in that year, for the Apple Vision Air. Apple may introduce the headset with other high-profile products, which are widely rumored to include the next OLED MacBook Pro family.
Why Apple Vision Air matters
A low-cost mixed reality device from Apple could really change the adoption curve for the hardware. Oculus Vision Pro (2023) While capable, the Vision Pro is hampered in use by its high price and bulk. The Apple Vision Air alleviates these two fears:
- Lighter build for everyday wear
- Consumer budget prices point nicer
- Balanced performance with an efficient A-series chip
Apple Vision Air might just be what it takes to bring spatial computing to the masses by lowering the barrier to entry.
FAQ
Finally, the Apple Vision Air is said to cost $1,750 at launch, almost half the cost of the Vision Pro.
The Apple Vision Air will be released in late 2027, with mass production in the third quarter of 2027.
Unlike the heavier, pricier Vision Pro with its M-series processors, the Apple Vision Air will be lighter, cheaper, and run off iPhone A-series chips.
The Apple Vision Air is likely to be powered by the A21 Bionic chip, which will be manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process, analysts said.
The hope here is that at $1,750, with a more accessible and lighter design, this could expand the mixed reality playing field outside of early adopters and create (in theory at least) a more consumer friendly Apple mixed reality.
Final thoughts
The Apple Vision Air is looking like something truly revolutionary in Apple’s perspective on spatial computing. The Apple Vision Air may finally open mixed reality devices up to a wider audience by appealing on weight, cost and usability.
Provided Apple delivers on its promise, 2027 could see spatial computing be as ubiquitous as the iPhone.
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