Following the announcement of the launch of the first Apple Vision Pro next year, the information we have suggests that Cupertino’s company is already focusing its efforts on next-generation versions. Interestingly, as Mark Gurman stated yesterday, Apple is prioritizing the development of a more affordable model, putting other projects like augmented reality glasses on the back burner.
EyeSight could disappear in the entry-level Vision Pro
Apple’s strategy aims to offer a price range of $1500 to $2500. To achieve this cost reduction, one of the features that could disappear in the entry-level Vision Pro is EyeSight. According to Gurman, removing this feature, which uses an external OLED display to project a representation of the user’s facial expression to others, will be one of the key cost-saving measures.
The EyeSight feature, although innovative and intriguing, is a natural candidate for cost reduction because, in a way, it doesn’t offer direct benefits to the user wearing the device. Instead, it’s designed to help others in the room understand what the Vision Pro user is experiencing. For example, when the user is in an immersive experience, the screen clouds over; whereas when they view the outside world, the user’s eyes are represented.
The technology behind EyeSight is undoubtedly impressive. It projects a three-dimensional representation of the user’s face and eyes onto an externally curved OLED panel. This panel is framed in lenticular glass, providing a sense of depth. Additionally, the Vision Pro continuously tracks its position in relation to other people in the room and displays the corresponding perspective of the user’s eyes. But these features come at a cost.
While working on the entry-level model, Apple is also focusing on premium users. The company is developing a second generation of high-end Vision Pro. This device is expected to be lighter and more comfortable to wear, with improvements in its chip specifications.
There are still a few months left until the official launch of the first generation of Vision Pro, but while the device is proving to be a success among developers, Apple is already outlining its long-term strategy. While some will prefer an Apple Space Computer version without the EyeSight feature, others will opt for the Premium version of the device. For now, what is clear is that Apple’s focus on this device, both in software — as seen in the development of iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma — and in hardware, is significant, and we will soon see the fruits of it all.
