Apple Vision Pro 2 development ‘suspended’ as company pins its hopes on low-cost model reportedly set to launch in late 2025

The launch of the Apple Vision Pro in eight countries outside the US may not be enough for the tech giant to continue work on the second-generation model, as a new report says that development of the Apple Vision Pro 2 has been suspended. Instead, the company is focusing more on its upcoming low-cost version, which is set to launch in late 2025. It seems that waning demand for the $3,499 headset has likely discouraged Apple’s ambitions, as the path to profitability may not justify the billions being poured into developing a premium successor.

The Apple Vision Pro series was originally intended to be divided into two models, including the standard variant

A report from The Information says that Apple has informed at least one supplier that it is halting work on its next, outrageously expensive head-mounted wearable and will focus on a cheaper version. According to previous reports, this particular version could launch sometime in 2025, sparking a massive sales boom in a category that is still nascent and will likely take years to develop. Previously, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities estimated that the first-generation Apple Vision Pro is expected to ship between 800,000 and 850,000 units, which is an excellent number considering the price, the product’s utility, and the target audience.

Unfortunately, it only took a few weeks for the analyst’s updated sales estimates to plummet, with his latest prediction falling to a disappointing 450,000 units for 2024. Based on these numbers, it’s no surprise that the Apple Vision Pro 2 would have been a tough sell, especially since its predecessor failed to gain enough traction despite its technological advancement over the competition. The new premium AR headset was set to launch in late 2026, but at the time it was reported that Apple hadn’t found a way to lower the price of the Apple Vision Pro 2.

With the lower-priced version, Apple will likely have more flexibility in pricing. Previous information suggests prices in the $1,500 to $2,500 range. Unfortunately, to reach that price, the affordable headset would have to make some sacrifices, such as fewer cameras, the lack of EyeSight, a worse display, and a possible switch from a Mac chipset to an iPhone chipset. If you think stopping work on the Apple Vision Pro 2 was the right move given the lack of positive reception to the current model, let us know in the comments and we’ll keep you updated as things progress.

News source: The Information