Apple Vision Pro launched in early 2024, and now rumors indicate Apple’s follow-up model is almost ready to ship. Here are three upgrades expected with the new Vision Pro 2.

#1: M4 or M5 chip

The current Vision Pro includes an M2 chip as its main processor alongside the brand new R1 chip.

There have been conflicting reports around the new chip coming to Vision Pro 2:

• Ming-Chi Kuo has consistently said M5 will be the new chip.
• Mark Gurman more recently claimed it would be an M4 instead.

Either chip seems plausible, and Kuo and Gurman both have strong track records with their reporting.

Whichever proves true, Vision Pro 2 will get a chip that’s at least two generations better than its predecessor, and possibly three. We don’t yet know the specs of the M5, however they should be revealed soon as part of the new M5 iPad Pro unveiling.

#2: New, more comfortable head strap

One of the most common critiques of the existing Vision Pro hardware is that it’s too heavy.

Though a lighter weight model is reportedly not coming until 2027, Apple has good news in the interim.

Vision Pro 2 will feature a new strap that, per Bloomberg, is “designed to reduce neck strain and head pain.”

How much the strap differ from existing options? It’s hard to say, but this is clearly an area in need of change.

#3: Upgraded Neural Engine for AI and more

Finally, regardless of whether the new Vision Pro includes an M4 or M5 chip, it seems Apple has a custom build coming with special upgrades to the neural engine.

Mark Gurman writes at Bloomberg:

Apple is also testing versions of the new device that increase the number of cores inside of the neural engine — a component for processing artificial intelligence tasks. The neural engine in the current Vision Pro includes 16 cores, a measure of processing power. These capabilities are critical for a device that relies on AI for the live processing of imagery and applications in complex virtual environments.

Vision Pro 2 features: wrap-up

Reporting indicates Vision Pro 2 will largely be a spec bump update, but there’s certainly potential for a new strap to make a big difference for users.

And fortunately, if that proves true, I suspect this strap will also be available for existing Vision Pro owners to purchase separately.

Vision Pro owners are unlikely to shell out another $3,499 for upgraded chips, but if Apple’s strap solution can alleviate the weight problem, then that paired with visionOS 26 could make for some nice improvements to the existing Vision Pro hardware.

Source: 9to5mac