When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro in early 2024, the tech world held its breath. Here was a device that promised to redefine how we experience spatial computing—at a staggering $3,499 price point. Yet despite its sleek design and groundbreaking visionOS interface, many users found the headset’s 1.4‑pound weight a hurdle, leading to complaints of neck strain during prolonged use. Now, less than a year after its debut, whispers from supply‑chain analysts and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggest Apple is gearing up for a refresh “as early as this year.”

At the heart of the second‑generation Vision Pro lies the promise of an M4 chip. The original Vision Pro shipped with an M2 processor—already three years old by its February 2024 release—and featured a 16‑core neural engine. According to Gurman, Apple won’t just drop in the vanilla M4 (which itself debuted in May 2024); it may introduce a variant boasting more than 16 neural engine cores, a milestone previously reserved for Apple’s Ultra‑class chips. Even without extra cores, the standard M4’s 16‑core NPU delivers over twice the AI throughput of its M2 predecessor, setting the stage for richer, smoother mixed‑reality experiences and deeper integration of Apple Intelligence.

Performance is only half the battle—the other is wearability. Early adopters quickly discovered that despite its elegantly balanced frame, the Vision Pro could become uncomfortable after extended sessions. In response, Apple engineers are reportedly testing redesigned head straps aimed squarely at reducing neck and head pain, though the overall weight is expected to remain largely unchanged.

This refresh isn’t just about silicon and straps. Apple has been clear about its next chapter: weaving AI deeply into every product line. From Siri’s evolution on the iPhone to generative features in macOS, Apple Intelligence now spans the ecosystem. The Vision Pro, with its dedicated neural engine, is poised to be the showcase device for spatial‑AI applications—think context‑aware overlays, real‑time scene understanding, and on‑device generative assistants. By boosting the headset’s AI muscle, Apple can better highlight the unique capabilities of visionOS 26 and beyond.

Industry chatter points to a potential reveal in October, shortly after Apple’s anticipated rollouts of the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watch models in September. Despite the internal upgrades, don’t expect a discount: the refreshed Vision Pro is likely to maintain its $3,499 MSRP. For those hungry for a more wallet‑friendly entry point, hope lies further down the roadmap.

Looking past 2025, analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo has suggested that an even more powerful M5‑equipped Vision Pro could land by year’s end—a claim he’s stood by as recently as last month. Meanwhile, both Gurman and Kuo agree on Apple’s 2027 play: a lighter, cheaper “Vision Air” headset, optimized for enterprise and mainstream audiences alike. And for those eyeing true augmented reality eyewear, Apple’s own AR glasses are rumored to debut in late 2026, aiming to compete directly with offerings from Meta and others.