After Meta revealed $1,299 VR Glasses that move processor and battery off the headset, Apple is reconsidering Vision Pro designs that shift compute to an external puck. Bloomberg reporting says the project faces internal resistance and likely won’t ship before late 2028 if it ships at all.
Apple is exploring a Vision Pro redesign (codename N224) that would move processing and battery into an external module, similar to Meta’s VR Glasses.
Even if Apple commits to a new form factor, Bloomberg’s reporting indicates a release won’t happen before late 2028 or early 2029.
Apple has already shelved multiple Vision Pro projects aimed at reducing weight and cost, and its Vision team has seen organizational and staffing shifts.
Meta's new VR Glasses, shown at Meta Connect 2026 and priced at $1,299, weigh about 100 grams because their processor and battery live in a separate clip-on module. That design sharply contrasts with Apple's Vision Pro, which launched at $3,499 and can weigh up to roughly 800 grams depending on the headband. The different priorities—Meta choosing lower weight and price by moving compute off the headset versus Apple prioritizing an all-in-one experience—are shaping how Apple is debating the Vision Pro's future.
What Apple is reportedly considering
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says Apple is testing multiple Vision Pro concepts, including one (N224) that follows Meta's core idea: a lightweight glasses-style headset with external compute in a tethered puck. The external module would house the battery and main processor and connect to the headset by cable, the same fundamental approach Meta used to get its headset weight down.
Why the puck idea is contested inside Apple
Apple has already paused or abandoned several projects intended to address the Vision Pro's biggest complaints. Examples reported by Gurman include:
Apple's structure, its former hardware lead left for OpenAI, and the group experienced layoffs. All of that affects how quickly Apple can iterate on hardware and decide on a new direction.
Gurman's reporting suggests that even if Apple decides to pursue a puck-based or other redesigned Vision Pro, a shipping product isn't expected before late 2028 or early 2029. Internal resistance and organizational changes make the outcome uncertain.
What this means for consumers and the market
Meta's approach highlights two tradeoffs. By moving heavy components off the user's head, Meta cut weight dramatically and targeted a lower price point. Apple faces pressure to match comfort and price while preserving the Vision Pro's display quality and sensor-driven controls. The debate inside Apple reflects a wider industry tension between high-end, integrated hardware and lighter, tethered designs aimed at everyday wearability.
Apple is actively weighing a shift toward a Meta-like headset architecture that prioritizes lighter hardware through an external module. Strong internal opposition and organizational changes mean the company hasn't committed, and any new Vision Pro likely won't arrive for multiple years if it does ship.
Meta has finally unveiled its next-gen mixed reality headset, Meta VR Glasses. While they could technically fit somewhere in its Quest lineup, Meta seems to be making a concerted effort to bridge the gap between its experimental augmented reality projects, like Orion, and its much bulkier Quest gaming platform. Previou
Apple is working on a "completely revamped" Vision Pro headset that could go in any of four directions and likely won't arrive before late 2028 or early 2029, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter , Gurman said Apple's Vision team is exploring four concepts for the device, cod
Meta Platforms on Wednesday introduced Meta VR Glasses, a $1,299 virtual-reality device designed to look and wear more like oversized… The post Meta unveils lightweight $1,299 glasses-style VR headset aimed at Apple Vision Pro appeared first on MacDailyNews .
Meta VR Glasses cost a third of Apple Vision Pro's price and are nearly an eighth of the weight, with reportedly comparable quality. Can they finally make VR click?
Meta has unveiled Meta VR Glasses at its Connect conference, and this is the first headset from the company that I think filmmakers should actually pay attention to. It weighs about 100g, the compute lives in a tethered puck, and Meta is selling it as a personal cinema with Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced certification, 3D
Apple’s next Vision Pro is reportedly on “life support” as executives weigh multiple designs. Here’s what we know about the project. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals. )
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.