Apple is working on a new headset that will reduce the weight of the Vision Pro and eliminate some of the limitations of the current design. According to information provided by Bloomberg, a single design has not yet been decided for the product developed within the company under the code name N224. Among the options Apple is considering are a design that moves the processor and battery to an external unit, as well as an integrated model that is closer to the current Vision Pro. It is stated that the new device may be available in late 2028 or early 2029. Therefore, the current phase of the project seems still open to significant changes in the design and specifications of the final product.
Since the first generation of Vision Pro, there have been various reports that Apple would develop a lighter headset. The project developed by the company under the code name N100 and unofficially known as “Vision Air” was also at the center of this expectation. However, it is stated that Apple shelved the project in question last year. The N224, on the other hand, may not be directly positioned as a cheaper Vision Pro, although it focuses on reducing weight. According to Bloomberg, the product could be a high-end model as a successor to the current Vision Pro with the M5 processor. Despite this, there is a possibility that changes to the design and components will pave the way for a lower price compared to the current model.
External processor option is being evaluated in the new Apple Vision Pro design
Apple is reportedly working on four different concepts for the new Vision Pro. One of them separates the processor and battery from the headset and places them in an external unit, similar to the VR glasses Meta recently showed off. Since the Vision Pro already uses an external battery connected via cable, keeping the power supply outside the headset would not be a completely new approach for Apple. The real difference may come when the processing units are also moved to the same external box. While such a design can reduce the burden of the headset on the face and head, carrying the external unit and cable connection may create new problems in terms of user experience. In addition, Apple’s ability to provide sufficient performance with lower power consumption and heat generation will directly affect the feasibility of this design.
It is also reported that there is no consensus within the company regarding the external unit. It is stated that some Apple executives are not keen on the idea of having the processor and battery in a separate box, and instead want to maintain a design closer to the integrated structure in the current Vision Pro. Apple is therefore exploring ways to change not only the layout of electronic components but also the physical structure of the headset. One of the tested designs reportedly retains the essentially egg-like form of the current Vision Pro, while plastic, titanium and different metals are being considered to reduce weight. Material changes may help improve weight distribution, which is one of the most criticized aspects of the Vision Pro, especially over long periods of use.
The current Vision Pro’s combination of processor and display hardware under one roof provides high performance but also brings with it the need for cooling. Future Apple Silicon processors may provide Apple with more design flexibility at this point. As pointed out in the source text, the progress made in performance and energy efficiency by mobile processors in the A20 Pro class raises the possibility that the processing power required for visionOS will be provided within lower thermal limits within a few years. Such an improvement could reduce the need for active cooling and help shrink some components within the header. However, there is no definitive information at this stage regarding which processor a device developed for 2028 or 2029 will use.
The main choice for Apple is between keeping all the basic hardware of the Vision Pro in the headset or transferring some of the weight to an external device. While an external processor box could provide a lighter and potentially more comfortable headset, having to carry a second device could make using the Vision Pro more complicated. Although the integrated design offers simpler use, it requires more engineering work on weight, cooling and battery capacity. Since the N224 project is still in the early stages of development, it is not clear which of the four concepts Apple is testing will choose. For now, it appears that the company is considering multiple options to achieve a physical design that is lighter and more suitable for long-term use while preserving the core experience of the Vision Pro.