The Apple Vision arrived late, was poorly designed, cost $3500 and was as popular as the Boston Strangler. Many in the Tame Apple Press saw the device as a beta model and expected Apple to develop a cheaper and better product.

However, it appears that Apple still has not worked out how much it can gouge its users before they think they have better things to spend their money on.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new “more affordable version” of its spatial computing headset will cost $2,000 and might even be in the shops by next year.

The new headset will not precisely be a leap forward in functionality. Apple says it will be a lower-end counterpart to the existing Vision Pro. However, Apple thinks that knocking a grand and a half of it will sell at least twice as many units as the Vision Pro.

This is not saying much, given that Apple will struggle to hit 500,000 Vision Pro sales this year.

The “affordable” Apple Vision will use a less powerful processor and cheaper materials than aluminium and glass to achieve a lower price point. It will also eliminate certain inessential features, such as the EyeSight display that shows the user's eyes on the outside of the headset. According to previous reports, Apple could also use larger, lower-resolution displays.

In short, it will be a product with little to offer and four times the cost of rivals on the market.

Apple's Vision Products Group is reportedly prioritising the development of this lower-cost option. The team recognises that the Vision Pro's high price and ergonomic issues have limited its appeal.

Gurman's report also mentions that Apple is working on a second-generation Vision Pro, slated for release in 2026. This update would primarily feature a faster processor, with few other hardware changes expected. Apple is also said to be working on a smart glasses project alongside the Apple Vision and Apple Vision Pro headsets.