The Vision Pro, Apple's first attempt at a VR/AR spatial computer, is getting an upgrade. Alongside the company's new M5-equipped MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, the Vision Pro is also getting the new chip.

You can preorder the new headset update today, and it'll go on sale on Oct. 22. Recent reports had indicated that the company is pivoting away from Vision-type VR headsets to smart glasses in the future, but the new Vision Pro upgrade looks like it's set to push this headset into a territory where few other VR headsets can match, although its price is still sky-high.

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The Vision Pro's price is still the same, at $3,500 (£3,199, AU$5,999). Most of the headset's other features also look identical. But the new dual-knit strap looks like a more comfortable fit this time, even though there are other straps for Vision Pro that have a similar fit.

That new Dual Knit strap looks like a fusion of the two bands Apple included with the first-gen Vision Pro, and adds a top layer of support that feels overdue. You can buy the strap separately for $99, and it'll work with the original Vision hardware.

M5 upgrades: Graphics and battery life

The M5 chip promises a few key upgrades, according to Apple's press release. Battery life should be higher, to a degree: 2.5 hours of regular use, compared with the 2 hours' use the first-gen model had. There's also up to 3 hours of video playback -- enough at last for at least one movie. 

Pixel rendering on the displays should be better, with less motion blur. The graphic upgrades should also allow this headset to run a wide range of games, provided they get ported over. Vision Pro already supports PSVR 2 controllers in VisionOS 26.

A Logitech stylus is on its way

A wireless stylus, made by Logitech and designed for the Vision Pro, will arrive at the same time as the Vision Pro 2. The $130 Logitech Muse will work with a handful of art apps including Crayon, Doppl by Interaptix, Sketch Pro and Spatial Analogue. All these apps are getting updates in the "coming weeks."

I reviewed the Vision Pro in 2024. It's an impressive first effort at a new kind of computing, but a flawed and expensive one. The last Vision Pro had an M2 processor onboard, making the M5 boost a significant leap in power. I'm curious about how much faster the general performance and comfort will be in the Vision Pro 2.

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