Apple’s Lighter Vision Headset Might Be Called “Air”
- Apple might be cooking up a new headset — and it's shedding serious weight.
- EyeSight could be out, the price might (finally) drop — but not without trade-offs.
- Vision Pro’s little sibling might just be cooler (and cheaper) than you’d expect.
Apple appears to be preparing a new addition to its Vision headset lineup — and this one might come with a lighter build, a more affordable price tag, and a fresh identity. Leaker and prototype collector Kosutami has shared compelling new details suggesting that the rumored Apple Vision Air could be Apple's response to criticisms of the original Vision Pro, particularly around weight and cost.
Photo via Yanko Design // Apple Vision Air concept design.
A Leaner, Lighter Headset
The Vision Air seems poised to address one of the Vision Pro’s biggest complaints: its heft. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the device, Kosutami’s leak hints at a thinner profile and lighter materials. Key to this redesign is the use of titanium in internal components like the battery enclosure and connectors — a first for Apple's headset line. Although the main body will still be aluminum, the integration of titanium mirrors recent Apple strategies seen in the iPhone 15 Proand iPhone 16 Pro, both of which benefited from noticeable weight reductions through the material swap.to in an April 16 post on X.
Our next friend in the Vision lineup is so thin, features titanium to reduce weight, including the connectors and the battery, and all comes with iPhone 5-era black- which looks like graphite dark blue. And be noted: this might not called as ---Pro but you can Air it out.
— Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) April 16, 2025
Midnight Hints at a New Identity
One of the most striking visual cues comes from a leaked image of the device’s power cable, which features a dark, graphite-blue anodized aluminum connector and braided black cable — a sharp departure from the silver-only Vision Pro. The color resembles Apple's MacBook Air in Midnight and, interestingly, evokes the iPhone 5’s classic black with a blue undertone.
This not only signals a possible shift in the product’s branding and aesthetic but could also point toward Apple differentiating the “Air” lineup from the “Pro” by more than just internal specs. The power connector itself is telling: the Vision Pro uses a 12-pin connector, while the Vision Air’s version is shown with only eight pins. This could reflect a less power-hungry system or a different approach to how power is managed — and may hint at internal simplifications to bring down cost and weight.
Feature Trade-Offs
To position the Vision Air as a budget-friendly alternative, Apple is reportedly exploring the removal of several high-end features found on the Vision Pro. According to earlier rumors:
- The external EyeSight display — a signature (and pricey) feature that projects the user's eyes outward — might be omitted.
- Fewer cameras and sensors are also on the table, making the Air more streamlined but potentially less immersive.
The move would mirror Apple’s broader strategy seen with devices like the HomePod mini, where a more accessible version was launched alongside a premium counterpart without cannibalizing its high-end sibling.
The Bigger Picture
Kosutami’s leaks come amid a flurry of speculation surrounding the future of Apple’s spatial computing ambitions. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple is working on two follow-up headsets: one high-end model (possibly a Vision Pro 2 featuring an M5 chip), and a more affordable version — likely the Vision Air.
Though no release date is confirmed, Apple is expected to use WWDC 2025, beginning June 9, as a possible stage for announcement — mirroring the original Vision Pro reveal at WWDC 2023.
So, How Much Will It Cost?
While Apple hasn’t officially commented on pricing, speculation online points to a potential $2,000 USD price tag for the Vision Air — significantly cheaper than the $3,499 Vision Pro, yet still far from an impulse buy. The trade-off could be worth it for users who found the Pro model excessive or impractical.
What We Know About Apple Vision Air So Far
Feature | Vision Air (Rumored) | Vision Pro (Current) |
---|---|---|
Body Material | Aluminum with Titanium Internals | Full Aluminum |
Weight | Lighter due to titanium components | Heavier |
Power Connector | 8-pin (new design, Midnight Blue) | 12-pin |
Display | Likely no external EyeSight display | External EyeSight display |
Sensors | Possibly reduced | Full sensor suite |
Color Options | Graphite Dark Blue (iPhone 5-era tone) | Silver only |
Expected Price | ~$2,000 USD (rumored) | $3,499 USD |
Launch Timeline | Possibly WWDC 2025 (June 9) | Launched February 2024 (U.S.) |
Final Thoughts
If the leaks are accurate, the Apple Vision Air could be a much-needed recalibration of Apple’s spatial computing strategy — making it lighter, sleeker, and possibly more appealing to everyday consumers. The fresh look, paired with rumored price cuts and feature simplifications, might finally bring mixed reality into the mainstream.
For now, we’ll be keeping an eye on WWDC in June — and on Kosutami’s feed. As for whether the Air will soar? That depends on how Apple balances form, function, and affordability.
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