Great question - I wouldn't consider the inevitable normie edition of Apple Vision to be "Second Gen", I think the Pro will remain its own product-line and get a second generation that stays at $3499 or maybe drops down to 'just' $2999. Then there will be another, less premium product line at $1999ish, I'd guess. Based on Gurman's predicted naming scheme, this would be called the "Apple Vision One".
What exactly that will entail is interesting to think about. I understand the inclination to get rid of the front-facing OLED screen, but I don't think Apple will do that. One of their primary intentions with Apple Vision was to ensure that you don't feel isolated from, or to, the people around you. The outward-facing screen is a huge part of that, with the ability to display your face and your expressions to everybody else in the room. Dave2D talked about how this screen really serves no express purpose to the end-user, and he's right, but getting rid of that screen would bring on the exact sense of isolation that Apple is hell-bent on avoiding.
If we look across Apple's other product lines, Pro generally comes with a higher-fidelity audio experience, higher-quality materials, larger screens with better color accuracy / brightness / resolution, better battery life, etc. How do you sacrifice those things on a product similar to the Apple Vision Pro without diminishing the platform experience? I'm really not sure. Most of the engineering can't be chopped off or watered down without significantly affecting the experience the first-gen Pro is going to provide.
Economies of scale and completed recoup of their initial R&D is part of the answer here, I think. These components will come down in cost as Apple or their suppliers make more of them, and gets a hang of more efficient processes with better yield. Maybe a polycarbonate-bodied model with the specs of the current Pro (but without built-in audio?) launches in 2025 at $2499, and a new Pro gets wider FOV, M3 with better battery life, greater fidelity for colors at $2999.
Whatever happens, this is going to be such an incredibly fascinating product line to watch evolve. I'm so happy we have something that isn't at the point of diminishing returns again! The leaps and bounds this platform takes over the next 5-10 years will be massive, and I'm so excited to see it.
What exactly that will entail is interesting to think about. I understand the inclination to get rid of the front-facing OLED screen, but I don't think Apple will do that. One of their primary intentions with Apple Vision was to ensure that you don't feel isolated from, or to, the people around you. The outward-facing screen is a huge part of that, with the ability to display your face and your expressions to everybody else in the room. Dave2D talked about how this screen really serves no express purpose to the end-user, and he's right, but getting rid of that screen would bring on the exact sense of isolation that Apple is hell-bent on avoiding.
If we look across Apple's other product lines, Pro generally comes with a higher-fidelity audio experience, higher-quality materials, larger screens with better color accuracy / brightness / resolution, better battery life, etc. How do you sacrifice those things on a product similar to the Apple Vision Pro without diminishing the platform experience? I'm really not sure. Most of the engineering can't be chopped off or watered down without significantly affecting the experience the first-gen Pro is going to provide.
Economies of scale and completed recoup of their initial R&D is part of the answer here, I think. These components will come down in cost as Apple or their suppliers make more of them, and gets a hang of more efficient processes with better yield. Maybe a polycarbonate-bodied model with the specs of the current Pro (but without built-in audio?) launches in 2025 at $2499, and a new Pro gets wider FOV, M3 with better battery life, greater fidelity for colors at $2999.
Whatever happens, this is going to be such an incredibly fascinating product line to watch evolve. I'm so happy we have something that isn't at the point of diminishing returns again! The leaps and bounds this platform takes over the next 5-10 years will be massive, and I'm so excited to see it.
