Apple to Release Upgraded Vision Pro Headset With M4 Chip [Report]

Apple is planning to introduce its first upgrade to the Vision Pro headset as early as this year, aiming to improve the performance and comfort of a device that has been slow to catch on with consumers, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The updated model will reportedly feature a faster processor and components better suited for artificial intelligence.

The initial upgrade will use an M4 processor, an improvement over the M2 chip in the current headset. Apple is also said to be testing versions of the device with an increased number of cores in its Neural Engine, a component critical for AI tasks like processing live imagery. This is expected to be a modest refresh, likely aimed at keeping Apple relevant in the headset market and appealing to enterprise users.

Apple is also prototyping new straps designed to reduce neck strain and head pain. Discomfort from the weight of the device has been a significant complaint from early adopters, as highlighted in a recent report. While the new straps aim to address this problem, it is not yet clear if they will be ready for this first hardware update.


A more substantially redesigned and lighter model, which could be the rumored 'Vision Air,' is reportedly planned for 2027. According to a leaked product roadmap, this model may feature plastic and magnesium alloy construction to reduce weight by over 40%. The company had also been working on Mac-connected glasses, codenamed N107, but has reportedly paused that project.

The updated headset will launch with the new visionOS 26 operating system, which includes features like virtual widgets and a new eye-scrolling capability. While the timing for the hardware update could still shift, a late 2025 launch would align with some previous rumors suggesting a second-generation headset was already in production.

This all comes as Apple's competitors continue to push forward. Meta is planning its first smart glasses with a display for later this year and is also working with Oakley on performance-focused smart glasses. Samsung is also expected to roll out its own Vision Pro-like headset this year. For now, Apple's focus appears to be on gradual improvements until a more mainstream version of the Vision hardware is ready.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more Vision updates.