Project Alaska: Apple's Second-Generation Vision Pro Headset

[MacRumors]

Over the last several months, we've heard reports that Apple is working on a second-generation AR/VR headset, although there have been few details shared about the device. MacRumors has now received new information about the project, giving us some insight into the design and hardware of the successor to the Vision Pro.

The second-generation Apple Vision Pro headset, known internally under the codename Project Alaska and device identifier N109, bears striking resemblance to the first-generation Vision Pro announced at WWDC 2023. While the device maintains the curved aesthetic and button placement of the first Vision Pro, the speaker placement is expected to be different.

Early designs of the second-generation Apple headset do not include the rounded areas that house the speakers on the first-generation model. Instead, the headset features temples that are flat and uniform throughout their entire length. Documentation related to the Alaska project contains references to a non-descript audio accessory, possibly an external speaker. At one point in development, there were two different design configurations for the top vents – one being the same as the vents on the first-generation Apple Vision Pro, and the latter featuring two clusters of tiny speaker-type holes.

Another key difference has to do with the rear straps. The second-generation headset features straps that are simpler in design and appearance, being somewhat reminiscent of the flat straps commonly found on laptop bags or backpacks. Prior rumors have suggested that the next Apple headset could be cheaper than the Vision Pro, and the design of the rear straps on the second-generation headset lends some credence to this theory. More streamlined straps would presumably be easier to mass produce, perhaps resulting in a lower overall price for end consumers.

Along with the possibility of an audio accessory, information from our sources suggests that Apple has plans for an external battery pack, similar to the battery pack used for the first-generation Apple Vision Pro.

In terms of hardware, the second-generation Vision Pro will continue to include an array of cameras and sensors similar to those in the first headset. To be more specific, the device will feature a compass, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, and gyroscope, all of which are already present in the iPhone. For connectivity, the second generation Apple headset will support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, and ultra-low latency audio (ULLA).

Key hardware components of the second-generation Apple headset:

• 2 micro-OLED displays
• 1 TrueDepth camera
• 4 computer vision (CV) cameras
• 2 RGB cameras
• 2 low light infrared illuminators
• Semi-automatic interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment
• Compass, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, accelerometer, gyrocope

Current information indicates that the second-generation Apple headset is scheduled for the product validation testing (PVT) stage of development in 2025, suggesting a release date of late 2025 or early 2026. The information we've shared comes from a reliable source that has provided us with details about Apple's plans in the past, but it is worth noting that this is pre-production information and Apple's plans could change before final mass production begins on the second-generation headset.

For more information on the current Apple Vision Pro, check out our dedicated Vision Pro roundup.

Article Link: Project Alaska: Apple's Second-Generation Vision Pro Headset

 

[t0rqx]

Just cancelled my preorder to wait for 2nd gen.

 

[gsmornot]

Maybe by the time these come out, I will have met someone with a pair that I can use for a bit. I have no doubt this is going to be great but I am not a candidate with the current pricing. It would be nice, always working to be in position, but not there yet.

 

[madmin]

Looking forward to the third-generation with the pear-shaped battery pack with haptic feedback

 

[RedGT]

I know this how the tech industry works. But it seems V1 will be redundant before it even comes out.

 

[JordanCautious]

Interesting. Since the AVP is expected to release in 2024, Apple is planning to start a potential cadence of 1-2 years between headsets.

But if they're really planning to have the 2nd gen price of the AVP to be lower than the 1st gen price...wouldnt that mean that the only people who should buy the first gen are early adopters who want to be the first to a new ecosystem?

Sure, it's possible the second generation could be delayed past 2026 in the coming years, but if they take the learnings from whatever goes wrong on release with the 1st gen and use it to improve the 2nd gen that's going to be cheaper...

 

[ryan102]

"bears striking resemblance to the first-generation Vision Pro"

That sounds like Apple alright

 

[macfacts]

Still no killer apps

 

[MICHAELSD]

Is the first-generation also using Micro-LED?

I am confident that they will eventually be able to produce a comparable headset at a consumer price point. $999 should be the eventual price target.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Why do people think the headset will get cheaper each version? Apple does on occasion drop the price a bit year-over-year for a line of hardware, yes. Then some years raise the price at the reasoning of giving you even more performance. If you're holding out for a $500 headset, it will NEVER be this flagship series. Apple will need to come out with something simpler. I think that's a long way off yet. It's going to be an elite priced product for a while.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

V2 will be the one to buy. It's the same for every Apple product. The first gen is effectively a public beta test where they learn the most from how people are using their products. Gen 2 is where they implement all that they've learned and finally have a true 'finished' product. Support for the first generation is always much much shorter than for subsequent ones. It's been this way with iPhones, iPads and Watches and is just the way that Apple functions.

If you *can* wait for the second gen, you'll get a much better and much longer lived product. Of course, then you won't have the new shiny for a whole generation and those first gen adopters are what fuel further products so there's nothing wrong with buying the first gen and there's a good chance I'll be among them.

I think realistically, we'll likely get an interesting Gen 1 product and then a truly impressive Gen 2 product as well as a really good lower priced 'consumer' product that itself is better than the Gen 1 headset in almost every way.

 

[MICHAELSD]

"bears striking resemblance to the first-generation Vision Pro"

That sounds like Apple alright

That was an odd statement regardless. Second-generation products usually don’t change their design drastically. Striking resemblance in this context is an oxymoron.

 

[smulji]

Why do people think the headset will get cheaper each version? Apple does on occasion drop the price a bit year-over-year for a line of hardware, yes. Then some years raise the price at the reasoning of giving you even more performance. If you're holding out for a $500 headset, it will NEVER be this flagship series. Apple will need to come out with something simpler. I think that's a long way off yet. It's going to be an elite priced product for a while.

Agree. End goal is something akin to this

https://www.patentlyapple.com/2023/11/a-new-apple-patent-does-a-deep-dive-into-the-inner-workings-of-their-future-ar-glasses.html

 

[squirrelist]

Why do people think the headset will get cheaper each version? Apple does on occasion drop the price a bit year-over-year for a line of hardware, yes. Then some years raise the price at the reasoning of giving you even more performance. If you're holding out for a $500 headset, it will NEVER be this flagship series. Apple will need to come out with something simpler. I think that's a long way off yet. It's going to be an elite priced product for a while.

Apple has a history of charging a lot for the first gen of a product line and then dropping it with a later revision. The first MacBook Air was $1,799 starting. Within two years it dropped to $999. iPhone was $599 (which dropped to $399 a couple of months later) but the iPhone 3G started at $199 (note that this doesn't compare with modern phone pricing which uses loans instead of carrier subsidies). The first Apple Watch (aka Series 0) had a starting point of $349 and the Series 1 dropped to $269. The original Apple TV was $299 and the second-gen was $99.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Apple has a history of charging a lot for the first gen of a product line and then dropping it with a later revision. The first MacBook Air was $1,799 starting. Within two years it dropped to $999. iPhone was $599 (which dropped to $399 a couple of months later) but the iPhone 3G started at $199 (note that this doesn't compare with modern phone pricing which uses loans instead of carrier subsidies). The first Apple Watch (aka Series 0) had a starting point of $349 and the Series 1 dropped to $269. The original Apple TV was $299 and the second-gen was $99.

I’m confident they can reduce the cost of these individual components significantly with the type of volumes that an iPhone would do. I have no doubt that there will be an Apple Vision headset with typical generationally superior quality over the first-generation Vision Pro at a ~ $999 starting price within 5-10 years.

 

[nt5672]

Why do people think the headset will get cheaper each version? Apple does on occasion drop the price a bit year-over-year for a line of hardware, yes. Then some years raise the price at the reasoning of giving you even more performance. If you're holding out for a $500 headset, it will NEVER be this flagship series. Apple will need to come out with something simpler. I think that's a long way off yet. It's going to be an elite priced product for a while.

Exactly this, with 4% to 10% inflation (depending on who you believe) Apple would be pretty dumb to not get into the mode of increasing prices each year.

 

[victorvictoria]

Expect many, many cancellations on version 1 if this is true.

 

[smulji]

I’m confident they can reduce the cost of these individual components significantly with the type of volumes that an iPhone would do. I have no doubt that there will be an Apple Vision headset with typical generationally superior quality over the first-generation Vision Pro at a ~ $999 starting price within 5-10 years.

That's assuming the Vision Pro even ends up selling in high enough volume. I'm skeptical.

 

[smulji]

Expect many, many cancellations on version 1 if this is true.

or trade-ins.

 

[t0rqx]

Apple has a history of charging a lot for the first gen of a product line and then dropping it with a later revision. The first MacBook Air was $1,799 starting. Within two years it dropped to $999. iPhone was $599 (which dropped to $399 a couple of months later) but the iPhone 3G started at $199 (note that this doesn't compare with modern phone pricing which uses loans instead of carrier subsidies). The first Apple Watch (aka Series 0) had a starting point of $349 and the Series 1 dropped to $269. The original Apple TV was $299 and the second-gen was $99.

iPhone got cheaper???? Have you seen the prices in the current store?

 

[Surf Monkey]

Looks like zero compelling changes between their V1 and V2 of a device that wasn’t compelling to begin with.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

This sounds more like a non-Pro version to me. Regarding audio, maybe this version will require AirPods?

 

[lovehateapple]

I hope apple takes their time to get the 2nd gen device right. This first gen device is more like a trial run. I'm sure apple is going to learn a lot about the mass production process, the design process, as well as consumer demand preferences from the first gen AVP. At this point there's simply no need for them to update the headset every year. As the technology matures and becomes more widely adopted that may change, but I think it's going to take a while for that to happen.

 

[cpnotebook80]

Isn't the 1st version more so for developers and early adopters who can afford it? I think for the mass, it will be a few years and more years later before we see these on facebook marketplace! 🙃

 

[chucker23n1]

Why do people think the headset will get cheaper each version?

Vision Pro may not get cheaper, but the Vision line-up will absolutely get a cheaper entry level offering.

Why?

Because $3,499 is too much to build a sizeable user base, which means there won't be enough of a market for a healthy app ecosystem.