Apple Vision Pro reportedly shelved after M5 refresh falters, as Cupertino shifts focus to AI smart glasses
Apple has reportedly scaled back work on the Vision Pro headset after an updated model failed to broaden demand, raising questions about the near-term future of the company’s spatial computing push.
Apple has not announced any cancellation, and the headset remains on sale. Recent reporting points to the M5 refresh doing little to overcome the device’s core hurdles, including its premium price and comfort trade-offs for long sessions.
The Vision Pro launched at $3 499 in the US, positioning it well above mainstream consumer headsets.
Why Vision Pro demand stayed limited?
Analysts and developers have long said the Vision Pro’s challenge is less about technical capability than about value and everyday use cases.
A limited library of must-have apps and experiences can make repeat, sustained usage harder to justify for many buyers.
Separate reports have also highlighted elevated return rates for first-generation headsets across the category, often tied to comfort, motion sensitivity, or unmet expectations. Apple has not published Vision Pro sales figures, and the company does not break out headset revenue in its earnings reports.
Teams reshuffled as priorities change
According to MacRumors, Apple has reallocated members of the Vision Pro hardware group to other projects as it reassesses its product roadmap. Earlier reporting from Bloomberg has described internal debate over whether to pursue lower-cost headsets or pivot to lighter wearables.
One widely discussed direction is AI-first smart glasses, a form factor popularized by Ray-Ban Meta, which emphasizes hands-free photos, audio, and assistant features rather than full mixed-reality immersion. That approach could allow Apple to reach more users with a lower price and simpler daily utility.
The broader XR market remains competitive, with Meta continuing to invest heavily in Quest devices and Samsung publicly confirming work on Android XR hardware. For Apple, the next signal will likely be whether it commits to a successor headset, a cheaper alternative, or a clear shift toward smart glasses.
