Apple today shattered expectations for its mixed-reality headset lineup by unveiling the Vision Pro 2 at a stunning $1,999 starting price—nearly half the original model’s cost—while introducing groundbreaking eye-tracking that fully replaces traditional keyboards for seamless spatial typing.
The announcement, made during a surprise virtual event streamed from Cupertino, marks Apple’s aggressive push to mainstream spatial computing just 21 months after the first Vision Pro’s debut. Pre-orders open immediately, with devices shipping to U.S. customers by December 15 and international rollout hitting key markets like the UK, Germany, and Japan in early 2026. CEO Tim Cook called it “the moment spatial computing becomes accessible to creators, professionals, and dreamers everywhere,” emphasizing the price cut as a direct response to feedback on affordability.
At the heart of the Vision Pro 2 lies the new M5 chip, Apple’s most powerful silicon yet, packing 20% more cores than the M4 and a beefed-up neural engine with 24 cores for lightning-fast AI processing. Paired with upgraded micro-OLED displays boasting 10% higher resolution and a buttery 120Hz refresh rate, the headset delivers sharper visuals with zero motion blur—perfect for immersive workflows or cinematic escapes. The R1 co-processor, now handling data from 14 cameras and advanced LiDAR, slashes latency to under 10 milliseconds, making virtual interactions feel indistinguishable from reality.
But the real game-changer is the eye-tracking keyboard replacement, a feature Apple dubs “GazeType.” Gone are the clunky virtual keyboards of yore; now, users simply gaze at letters or words on a floating holographic interface, confirmed by a subtle head nod or pinch gesture. In demos, developers typed full paragraphs at 60 words per minute—rivaling physical keyboards—while multitasking across floating Mac windows. “It’s like your eyes are the ultimate input device,” said Apple’s VP of Hardware Engineering, Bob Mansfield. “No more pecking at air; GazeType anticipates your intent, suggests completions via Apple Intelligence, and learns your habits for predictive text that’s eerily accurate.”
This innovation builds on the original’s eye-tracking but supercharges it with machine learning, enabling “contextual cursors” that jump between apps based on where you look. For power users, it integrates dictation and gesture-based editing, turning the headset into a hands-free command center. Early testers from Adobe and Autodesk raved about redesigning 3D models mid-stride, with one architect noting, “I ditched my desk setup entirely—GazeType feels like telepathy for creation.”
Ergonomics get a major overhaul too, addressing the original’s weight complaints. The redesigned Light Seal and Solo Knit Band distribute pressure evenly, shaving 20% off the overall heft to just 1.1 pounds, while an adaptive cooling system keeps things whisper-quiet during marathon sessions. Battery life stretches to 3.5 hours of mixed use, up from 2 hours, with a new external pack option for all-day tethering to a Mac.
Software leaps forward with visionOS 3, rolling out Apple Intelligence features like real-time spatial scene generation—summon photorealistic environments from a voice prompt—and enhanced Personas for FaceTime that capture micro-expressions for lifelike video calls. Developers gain PlayStation VR2 controller support, opening doors to enterprise gaming and training sims, while a new “Infinite Canvas” mode lets you pin unlimited virtual screens across a room-scale workspace.
Priced at $1,999 for 256GB (with 512GB at $2,399 and 1TB at $2,799), the Vision Pro 2 undercuts competitors like Meta’s Quest Pro while retaining premium touches like ZEISS optical inserts for prescription lenses. Apple sweetened the deal with trade-in credits up to $600 for old Vision Pros or qualifying iPads, plus a bundled GazeType accessory kit for $149.
Critics who dismissed the original as a rich person’s toy may need to rethink that stance. With sales of the first-gen headset topping 500,000 units despite supply constraints, analysts predict the Vision Pro 2 could move 2 million in its first year, fueled by holiday bundling with M5 MacBooks. As one venture capitalist put it post-event, “Apple didn’t just drop the price—they dropped the barrier to the future.”
For teams in design, medicine, and education, this isn’t an upgrade; it’s an invitation to rethink how we work, play, and connect. The Vision Pro 2 arrives not a moment too soon, proving spatial computing was always meant for everyone—now, at last, it is.
