Apple Vision Pro 2 with M5 Chip Could Arrive Late 2025

What’s Coming: M5-Powered Vision Pro Refresh

Apple’s next Vision Pro headset appears to be getting a power boost, not a redesign. Leaked internal code confirms the successor (likely called Vision Pro 2) will run on the upcoming M5 chip, replacing the M2 in today’s model. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also expects mass production to begin in Q3 2025, with a launch as soon as late 2025. Earlier reports from Bloomberg had suggested an M4 chip or just a new strap, but the code makes M5 look more real.

Performance, Battery, Comfort – What’s Improved?

Though the Vision Pro’s bulky design is expected to remain unchanged, the M5 chip should bring major gains. Faster CPU/GPU, better thermal efficiency, longer battery life and improved real-time visuals could finally make the headset feel worth its premium price tag. Apple may also add a redesigned head strap for comfort during long sessions.

Roadmap: Not Just Vision Pro

According to Kuo, Apple’s mixed reality roadmap stretches from 2025 through 2028 with multiple devices. The M5 Vision Pro refresh is expected in Q3 2025. Broader smart-glasses rollouts, including lighter, lower-cost Vision Air and Ray-Ban-style models, are projected starting in 2027, with consumer smart glasses arriving by 2028.

Specs Comparison (Rumored)

Feature	Current Vision Pro (2024)	Rumored Vision Pro 2 (Late 2025)
SoC	Apple M2 + R1	Apple M5 (likely faster & more efficient)
GPU/CPU performance	Good	Significant uplift
Battery life	~2 hours	Expected longer
Thermal cooling	Warm under load	Improved via chip efficiency
Design	Heavy headset	Same shape, new comfortable strap
Release window	Feb 2024	Late 2025 / early 2026
Lower-cost models	None	Vision Air (2027), smart glasses (2028)

Why It Matters

Vision Pro launched at USD 3,500 in early 2024 as a showcase for Apple’s spatial computing, but many users complained about battery life, weight, and sluggish realism. The M5 chip could change that. This subtle upgrade gives Apple a viable stop-gap until a lighter, mainstream Vision Air model arrives. For developers, two chipset tiers (M2 and M5) could complicate app design, though demand is still niche, so it won’t matter immediately.

As for budget-friendly options, Apple seems to be pacing them for later. Vision Air and smart glasses might reach global consumers in 2027–28, lower price, lighter frame, broader reach.

MY Take

This feels like Apple’s way to tune what’s in hand rather than rush a sequel. No new look, but serious internal upgrades make sense. If you skipped the original Vision Pro because of battery, or if you’re waiting for a lighter model, you might find this refresh intriguing. Tech buyers who wait for “true redesign” may still wait until Vision Air, but the M5 bump could make spatial apps smoother today.

If Apple pins the Vision Pro 2 release to late 2025 or early 2026, expect a modest but meaningful step forward. It isn’t the revolution some hoped for, but it clears a path toward one.