Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop

[MacRumors]

Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested.

The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight. The device is over 1.3 pounds, and even with the more comfortable Dual Knit Band that Apple added to redistribute weight, it continues to be hard to wear for long periods of time. The M5 chip added a 120Hz refresh rate, 10 percent more rendered pixels, and around 30 additional minutes of battery life, but the price tag stayed at $3,499, and it ended up not selling well.

The Vision Pro has been unpopular since it first launched, and Apple only sold around 600,000 units in total. Insider sources told MacRumors that Apple has received an unusually high percentage of returns, far exceeding any other modern Apple product.

Apple has apparently stopped work on the Vision Pro and the Vision Pro team has been redistributed to other teams within Apple. Some former Vision Pro team members are working on Siri, which is not a surprise as Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has been leading the Siri team since March 2025.

There have been mixed rumors about a new Vision Pro over the last couple of years, with Apple rumored to be working on a lighter-weight Vision Air that's much cheaper, but the project was stopped last year. If Apple finds a way to create a much cheaper, more comfortable VR headset in the future, the Vision Pro line could be revived, but right now, the company has no plans to launch a new model. Apple has not discontinued the Vision Pro and is continuing to sell the M5 model.

Instead of continuing to experiment with virtual reality, Apple is working on smart glasses that will eventually incorporate augmented reality capabilities, but the first version will be similar to the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with AI and no integrated display.

Apple has not been able to use the technology developed for the Vision Pro in its smart glasses because that tech draws too much power for a smaller, lighter device.

Article Link: Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop

 

[Nik]

Steve Jobs would never have released it like this in the first place.

 

[Naraxus]

I was wrong then. I will readily admit to it.

Anyone know what tastes good with crow?

 

[zachz]

Who would’ve guessed! A total shock! /s

 

[blairh]

It’s a flop. I knew it the moment I tried it on during a demo. What an uncomfortable headset. That lame battery pack. Desperately trying to find a proper ‘why’ to use it.

 

[Howard2k]

I wonder if it was the totally outrageous price tag.

All the same, sometimes you need to push the boat out and try new things.

 

[CrysisDeu]

Did they seriously think M2 and the headstrap was the only issue, not the vr goggle format?

As for the price.. it’s still a useless device at $349

 

[boswald]

Good. This thing was a colossal misfire. I hope the team involved moved on to better things (We'll see about Siri).

 

[MrGimper]

Bigger disaster than Apple Maps.

 

[Kylo83]

I love mine to watch imax quality movies

 

[MacUserFella]

You release a $3500 device that isn’t comfortable to use and then release a new model with barely any changes and don’t allow trade ins, what a surprise

 

[canadianreader]

Since the day it launched and even before we knew this would be a flop except Apple.

 

[Rickjames7454]

Hahaha, that wasn’t a refresh at all. TBH I’d love a real refresh and would buy it immediately, but my day-one Vision Pro is still perfect. A few extra pixels and nothing else just isn’t worth upgrading for.

The moment visionOS 26 dropped and iPad apps were still there, we all knew they’d checked out.

I'd love to see an immersive maps app. Think of it, they could make those appear at scale and it would be absolutely incredible.

 

[SidricTheViking]

Speaking for a community of one — myself — I’m still hoping that a lighter, cheaper Vision Pro will appear in the next year or two. Having ‘taken it for a test drive’ last year, I know I’d buy a more affordable (and lighter) one to replace my Home Cinema setup.

 

[swester]

You didn’t need “pro vision” to see where this was headed from launch day. It was dead on arrival at the price point and lack of a killer app. End of story.

 

[vantelimus]

Is "MacRumors has learned" more or less reliable than "Bloomberg has learned"?

 

[S.B.G]

I've said it from the beginning, if I have to wear something on my head like that, I'm not interested in it. It's not about how it looks, but how it feels.

 

[tranceme]

It’s a flop. I knew it the moment I tried it on during a demo. What an uncomfortable headset. That lame battery pack. Desperately trying to find a proper ‘why’ to use it.

Good points. It was awkward with the accessories. However, it worked really well. The real issue is price. If it was $500, those other issues wouldn't be the death of it.

 

[NeekonMike]

Make me an offer that I can't refuse!

 

[AusMness]

We’re not even three years and a proper Gen 2 into its product line, relax

 

[Populus]

Really curious to see how the VisionOS development evolves over the next years if Vision Pro is kept in a sort of stasis… will they introduce new features or will it be kept with minor updates like they did with OS X during a few years?

 

[Dirk Pieters]

The thought of being able to do work on macOS using Vision Pro with 2 virtual monitors sounded appealing. I always thought it would be cool to have a desk without physical monitors. I could sit anywhere and have my development environment with me.

But, we don’t get Vision Pro here. I’ve never seen one or tried one so the entire premise of comfort and weight is an unknown.

I still think it’d be great to try and experience that.

 

[jzuena]

I was waiting for the Vision Air, or even the Vision Neo before jumping in.

 

[Nate Weir]

They really should have sold this at a lower price and incurred a slight loss just to get it in more hands and build the ecosystem.

 

[IceManNCSU]

wonder if I should buy one and never open it, maybe sell closer to retirement, LoL it just might work considering most folks don't even know someone that owns one