Apple Scales Back Vision Pro Work After M5 Refresh Disappoints [Report]

Apple has reportedly scaled back work on the Vision Pro lineup after the M5 refresh failed to revive interest in the device. According to a new report from MacRumors, Apple has redistributed the team behind the headset across other software and hardware groups within the company.



An updated Vision Pro with the M5 chip was released in October 2025 with several updates following early criticism. The update introduced a 120Hz refresh rate, increased rendered pixels by about 10 percent, and extended battery life by roughly 30 minutes. Apple also added a more comfortable Dual Knit Band to help offset the headset's 1.3-pound weight. Despite these changes, the device retained its $3,499 price and did little to improve demand.


The Vision Pro has struggled to gain traction since launch. Apple is said to have sold around 600,000 units overall, with an unusually high return rate that reportedly exceeded other modern hardware releases. Plans for a lower-cost Vision Air model aimed at a broader audience were shelved last year.

With demand remaining limited, engineers and developers who worked on the headset have been reassigned to other teams. Some are now contributing to Siri, where Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has been leading efforts tied to the assistant since March 2025.

Apple is working on smart glasses that focus on AI-driven features like voice interaction and computer vision rather than full augmented reality displays. Early versions are expected to resemble products like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, without integrated displays. The high-resolution display technology developed for Vision Pro has reportedly proven too power-intensive for a smaller, lightweight form factor.

Apple has not discontinued the Vision Pro and continues to sell the M5 model through its retail and online stores. According to the report, the company currently has no plans to launch a new version of the headset.