Marques Brownlee reviews the second-generation Apple Vision Pro, released nearly two years after the original and now featuring the base M5 chip. The review highlights that the new headset is structurally almost identical to its predecessor, retaining the same dimensions, cameras, displays, weight, and $3,500 price tag. The M5 chip provides only incremental performance gains, such as faster app loading and 20% longer battery life, but no visible difference in visual fidelity. The most significant and lauded improvement is the redesigned Dual Knit Band, which addresses comfort complaints by incorporating tungsten metal for counterbalancing weight. MKBHD suggests that the minimalist update indicates Apple is re-evaluating the premium mixed-reality headset market, noting low adoption and a growing interest among consumers and competitors in simpler, less socially penalized smart glasses.
What's Going on with Apple Vision Pro?
0:02 Vision Pro 2 Introduced: Marques Brownlee introduces the second-generation Apple Vision Pro, which arrives nearly two years after the original and features the new M5 chip.
0:40 M5 Chip Integration: The base M5 chip was placed in the Vision Pro (upgraded from M2) alongside the iPad Pro and 14-inch MacBook Pro, indicating a standard silicon update cycle.
1:49 Minimal Hardware Change: The VP2 is functionally identical to the first generation: same aluminum frame, glass, dimensions, buttons, speakers, high-resolution micro-OLED displays, field of view, tethered battery, and 12 sensors/LiDAR.
2:42 Discomfort Unaddressed: Complaints about the headset’s weight and discomfort were not solved by thinning the aluminum frame or redesigning the core device.
3:02 The Key Update: Dual Knit Band: Apple focused 100% of its effort on the new Dual Knit Band, which is now the default inclusion, significantly improving comfort by distributing weight better across the back and top of the head.
4:18 Counterbalancing Weight: The new band uses literal tungsten (metal) in the back to help counterbalance the weight of the heavy headset on the face, making the listed weight slightly higher but improving wearability. The band can be purchased separately for VP1 owners ($99).
5:08 Incremental M5 Improvements: The M5 chip offers incremental performance boosts, including faster app loading, quicker creation of spatial scenes, a slightly higher max refresh rate (120Hz vs. 100Hz), and 20% longer battery life. The increase in rendered pixels (10%) is unnoticeable.
6:29 Same Price, Same Weight: The VP2 remains heavy and is sold at the exact same $3,500 price tag.
6:39 Market Dynamics & Competition: The only significant competition noted is Samsung’s new Android XR mixed-reality headset ("Project Moohan").
7:12 Lack of Competition & Shift to Smart Glasses: There is a noticeable lack of other companies pursuing highly-priced, premium VR/XR headsets. The progress in the smart-glasses space (like Meta Ray-Bans) is dramatically faster.
8:46 Key Takeaway (Apple’s Strategy): Based on low sales and usage data (mostly watching movies and "gathering dust"), Apple has realized the Vision Pro will not be a "gigantic smash hit" and may be shifting resources away from extreme headsets.
9:10 Future Plans Shelved: The video cites reports that Apple has scrapped plans for a lighter "Vision Pro Air" to focus resources on developing smart glasses, aligning with the general market preference for less socially penalized, simpler devices.