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The current Apple Vision Pro is the M5 model. Apple announced it on October 15, 2025, and began selling it on October 22, 2025. In the United States, it starts at $3,499 for 256GB. The earlier M2 model launched on February 2, 2024, and remains a separate generation rather than the current model for new buyers.
Vision Pro is a high-end spatial computer with two micro-OLED displays, eye tracking, hand gestures, voice control, spatial cameras, Mac Virtual Display, 3D media, and visionOS apps. Its main buying constraints are the price, 750–800-gram headset, external battery, limited battery runtime, careful Light Seal fitting, and possible need for prescription optical inserts.
Apple Vision Pro release dates: M2 versus M5
There are two Apple Vision Pro generations that can appear in reviews, listings, and used-market advertisements:
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Vision Pro (M2) | Announced June 5, 2023 | February 2, 2024, initially in the United States | A2117 | $3,499 for 256GB |
| Apple Vision Pro (M5) | Announced October 15, 2025 | October 22, 2025, in the United States and several other markets | A3416 | $3,499 for 256GB |
The original M2 generation expanded during 2024 to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The M5 generation launched in the United States and several international markets, with availability varying by country and expanding over time.
For a new purchase, the M5 model is the current generation. If a listing says only “Apple Vision Pro,” check the model number before comparing prices or specifications. A3416 identifies the M5 model; A2117 identifies the original M2 model.
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Apple Vision Pro price and storage
The M5 Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 in the United States for 256GB. Apple also offers 512GB and 1TB configurations. The research available for this guide confirms the storage options and starting price, but not a fixed current U.S. price for the larger capacities, so check the configuration page before ordering.
| Item | U.S. price or status | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Vision Pro M5, 256GB | Starts at $3,499 | Current-generation base configuration |
| Apple Vision Pro M5, 512GB or 1TB | Price varies by configuration | Both capacities are available; confirm the live total at checkout |
| ZEISS Optical Inserts Readers | $99 | For compatible reading correction |
| ZEISS Prescription Inserts | $149 | Requires a valid prescription; not all prescriptions are supported |
| Apple Vision Pro travel case | $199 | Optional; the headset package includes a front cover, not this travel case |
| Separate Dual Knit Band | $99 | The M5 package includes a Dual Knit Band; this is the separately sold band price listed by Apple |
The advertised headset price does not include prescription optical inserts, AppleCare+, the Travel Case, or other optional accessories. Taxes, financing eligibility, delivery dates, inventory, and accessory pricing vary by country and can change.
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Apple’s U.S. purchase flow offers a store demo, Specialist assistance, online video shopping, personalized setup, AppleCare+ options, and Apple Card Monthly Installments where eligible. These services and payment options are not necessarily identical in every country.
How to buy Apple Vision Pro
1. Confirm that you are buying the M5 model
For the current generation, look for model number A3416 or an explicit reference to the M5 chip. Be especially careful with marketplace and used listings, where “Apple Vision Pro” may describe either the M2 or M5 generation.
Apple’s official Store website, Apple Store app, and Apple Store locations are the safest places to verify the current configuration, regional price, included items, and delivery options. Marketplace stock and pricing are volatile, and a low price may reflect the older M2 model, a used unit, missing fit components, or an incomplete accessory package.
2. Take a guided demo or speak with a Specialist
A demo is more useful here than it is for many ordinary electronics because fit directly affects the buying experience. Apple provides in-store and online demo options and recommends Specialist assistance. You need to evaluate more than the display: Light Seal fit, headband size, prescription requirements, battery placement, and the physical weight all matter.
3. Complete the fit assessment
Apple’s purchase process can use a face scan from a compatible Face ID iPhone or iPad through the Apple Store app to help determine a suitable Light Seal and headband size. The scan is part of the configuration process, not a substitute for checking comfort during a demo.
The headset supports an interpupillary distance range of 51–75mm. That range does not guarantee that every face shape or prescription will be comfortable, so buyers should use the fitting process rather than relying only on a specification sheet.
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4. Add optical inserts if you need vision correction
Ordinary eyeglasses are not a substitute for Vision Pro’s compatible ZEISS Optical Inserts. Choose ZEISS Readers or Prescription Inserts during the ordering process if you need them. Prescription Inserts require a valid prescription, and Apple says that not all prescriptions are supported.
Readers and prescription inserts attach magnetically to the headset. If your prescription is unusual, recently changed, or outside the supported range, confirm eligibility before placing the headset order rather than assuming inserts can be added later.
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5. Choose storage and protection
Choose between 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The best capacity depends on how much spatial video, downloaded media, and app content you expect to keep locally; the available research confirms the capacities but does not establish a current difference in performance between them.
Consider an Apple Vision Pro travel case if you will routinely carry the headset. The M5 package includes a front cover, but that is not the same as a protective travel case. A case is particularly relevant because the headset contains multiple cameras and sensors and is substantially heavier than a conventional pair of glasses.
6. Review the final total and delivery details
Before paying, review the exact storage configuration, Light Seal and band information, inserts, AppleCare+ selection, taxes, delivery estimate, and included accessories. Apple may offer financing to eligible customers, but approval and terms depend on region and account eligibility.
What comes in the M5 Apple Vision Pro box?
The M5 package includes:
- Apple Vision Pro headset
- Light Seal
- Light Seal Cushion
- Dual Knit Band
- An additional Light Seal Cushion
- Front cover
- External battery
- Polishing cloth
- 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with up to 60W output
- 1.5-meter USB-C charge cable
Apple has changed included band and fit configurations between generations, so confirm the package contents for the exact model and country when buying older stock or a used headset. Prescription inserts, the Travel Case, and other optional accessories are not part of the standard base package.
What Apple Vision Pro does
Spatial computing interface
Vision Pro places digital windows and 3D content into the user’s physical surroundings instead of confining everything to a conventional monitor. Eye tracking, hand gestures, and voice are the primary input methods. You can look at an item, tap your fingers to select it, move windows, resize them, and use voice for supported commands without a traditional handheld controller.
Apple’s R1 chip processes camera, sensor, and microphone input with a stated 12-millisecond photon-to-photon latency. This is Apple’s published specification, not an independent latency measurement.
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- High resolution mixed reality passthrough uses full-color sensors to let you see and engage with the physical world around you, even as you connect, work and play in virtual spaces.
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High-resolution personal displays
The headset uses two micro-OLED displays with:
- 23 million pixels combined
- 7.5-micron pixel pitch
- 92% DCI-P3 coverage
- Supported refresh rates of 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, and 120Hz on the M5 model
It supports ordinary 2D video, 3D movies, Apple Immersive content, spatial photos, and spatial videos. AirPlay mirroring supports up to 720p. The practical appeal is a large, private visual workspace or cinema-like screen without a physical monitor or television in front of you.
Spatial photos and video
The stereoscopic camera system can capture spatial photos and videos. Vision Pro also supports spatial scenes in visionOS 26. Spatial scenes use generative technology to give compatible photographs a stronger sense of depth.
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Apps, work, and entertainment
Vision Pro runs visionOS and supports native spatial apps alongside compatible iPhone and iPad apps. Apple has highlighted more than one million compatible iPhone and iPad apps, in addition to a growing catalog of spatial apps and games.
Major use cases include:
- Mac-based work: Mac Virtual Display can place a Mac screen into the spatial environment, alongside other visionOS windows.
- Multitasking: Multiple windows can be positioned around the user and resized for work, browsing, communication, and media.
- Entertainment: Watch 2D and 3D movies, Apple Immersive content, spatial videos, and other compatible media.
- FaceTime: Use spatial video and Personas for supported communication experiences.
- Education and design: Examine 3D content and visualizations in a spatial context.
- Enterprise: Use spatial visualizations and specialized workflows where the software and organization support them.
App and media availability varies by country or region. “Compatible iPhone and iPad apps” also does not mean that every app has been redesigned as a spatial app; native spatial experiences and ordinary compatible apps are different categories.
visionOS 26 features
As of August 12, 2026, Apple’s latest listed shipping release for all Vision Pro models is visionOS 26.6, released July 27, 2026. The following features are associated with visionOS 26:
- Spatial widgets: Widgets can remain positioned in the user’s environment rather than behaving only like temporary overlays.
- More natural-looking Personas: Apple’s virtual representations for FaceTime and other supported experiences have been updated.
- Spatial scenes: Compatible photographs can gain a stronger sense of depth using generative technology.
- Shared spatial experiences: Nearby Vision Pro users can participate in supported shared experiences.
- Action-camera video support: Selected action cameras can provide 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide-field-of-view video experiences.
- Apple Intelligence features: visionOS 26 adds new Apple Intelligence capabilities and expands immersive content.
Apple has previewed visionOS 27 features for a later 2026 release. Those announced features should be treated as forthcoming, not as features included in the currently installed public release. Apple has also announced a future capability intended to let Vision Pro users control compatible wheelchairs with their eyes; that was described as coming later in 2026 rather than as a currently shipping feature.
Apple Vision Pro M5 specifications
| Specification | Apple Vision Pro M5 |
|---|---|
| Model number | A3416 |
| Chip | Apple M5 |
| CPU and GPU | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, Neural Accelerators, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing |
| Neural Engine and memory | 16-core Neural Engine and 16GB unified memory |
| Spatial processor | Apple R1; Apple states 12ms photon-to-photon latency |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| Displays | Two micro-OLED displays; 23 million pixels combined |
| Pixel pitch and color | 7.5-micron pixel pitch and 92% DCI-P3 coverage |
| Refresh rates | 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, and 120Hz supported |
| Main cameras | Stereoscopic 3D camera system; 18mm equivalent focal length, f/2.0 aperture, and 6.5 stereo megapixels |
| Other cameras and sensors | Two high-resolution main cameras, six outward-facing tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, TrueDepth camera, LiDAR Scanner, four IMUs, flicker sensor, and ambient-light sensor |
| Audio | Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, personalized spatial audio, audio ray tracing, and six-microphone array |
| Headphone support | Selected H2-equipped AirPods connections |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery | Up to 2.5 hours of general use or up to 3 hours of video playback under Apple’s specified conditions |
| Battery operation | The headset can be used while the battery is charging |
| Headset weight | 26.4–28.2 ounces, or 750–800 grams, including the Light Seal and counterbalanced Dual Knit Band |
| Separate battery weight | 353 grams |
| IPD range | 51–75mm |
| Operating system | visionOS; version 26.6 is the listed shipping release as of July 27, 2026 |
Battery life, weight, and everyday constraints
Apple rates the M5 Vision Pro for up to 2.5 hours of general use and up to 3 hours of video playback. Those figures come from Apple’s testing with preproduction M5 units under specified conditions. Actual runtime varies with settings, wireless conditions, content, and how the headset is used.
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The battery is external rather than built into the headset. It weighs 353 grams and connects by cable. You can continue using Vision Pro while the battery is charging, but the external battery remains part of the carrying and cable-management experience.
The headset itself weighs approximately 750–800 grams, including the Light Seal and counterbalanced Dual Knit Band. Weight varies with the fit components. This is a major consideration for long sessions and one reason a hands-on demo is more informative than reading the nominal specifications.
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Optional accessories and input devices
Not every Vision Pro buyer needs extra hardware, but several accessories address specific use cases:
- ZEISS Optical Inserts: Required for users who need compatible vision correction. Readers are listed at $99 and Prescription Inserts at $149 in the United States. Prescription eligibility must be confirmed.
- Apple Vision Pro Travel Case: A $199 U.S. option listed by Apple for transporting and protecting the headset.
- Logitech Muse for Apple Vision Pro: An optional spatial-input accessory for creators and users who want pen-like or more precise interaction. It is not required for the standard eye, hand, and voice interface.
- PlayStation VR2 Sense controller for Apple Vision Pro: An optional gaming controller sold separately. Vision Pro does not require a conventional controller for its primary interface, and controller support depends on compatible software.
Apple has announced Vision Pro availability for Logitech Muse and PlayStation VR2 Sense, but accessory availability, pricing, and purchase channels can vary by region. Do not treat either as an included accessory.
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Accessibility
Apple lists a broad set of accessibility features for Vision Pro, including:
- VoiceOver
- Zoom
- Color Filters
- Hearing Device Support
- Closed Captioning
- Voice Control
- Switch Control
- Dwell Control
- Pointer Control
Availability and behavior can depend on the feature, application, and connected device. The announced eye-controlled wheelchair capability is a future feature, not part of the currently shipping visionOS 26.6 release.
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Vision Pro uses Optic ID, an iris-based authentication system. Apple says Optic ID data is encrypted and accessible only to the Secure Enclave. Apple also describes privacy controls for eye input and environmental data intended to limit what individual apps receive.
These are Apple’s stated security and privacy characteristics. They should not be read as the result of independent privacy or security testing. Buyers using Vision Pro in workplaces, schools, or public environments should also consider the privacy policies of individual apps and the sensitivity of the surroundings being captured by the cameras.
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- Pressure-Free Facial Comfort: The ANNAPRO A2 head strap, designed specifically for Apple Vision Pro, features a new design that fits the head more comfortably, effectively reducing 60%-90% of the pressure on the cheekbones and around the eyes
- Customizable Fit: Offers 4 different thicknesses of comfortable cushion (5/12/18/25mm) to perfectly fit various head shapes. The upgraded breathable ice silk cushion are soft and skin-friendly, greatly enhancing wearing comfort. Tip: If you encounter issues with eye tracking being too far or too close, select the most suitable cushion and then recalibrate the eye tracking to ensure accuracy
- Damage-Free Quick Installation: Easily install A2 head strap without harming Vision Pro’s original accessories. Simply align and push the strap into place after removing the official head strap
- Enhanced Versatility: Combining Vision Pro with our head strap allows for the removal of the light seal or light seal cushion, bringing the lenses closer to your eyes for a wider field of view and improved comfort and breathability
Who should buy Apple Vision Pro?
Vision Pro makes the most sense for someone with a specific reason to use its spatial capabilities rather than simply wanting a general-purpose tablet or gaming headset. Strong candidate profiles include:
- Spatial-media enthusiasts who want to capture and view spatial photos and videos or watch immersive content.
- Mac users who value a high-resolution private display and spatial multi-window work.
- Designers, educators, and professionals whose workflows benefit from viewing 3D models, environments, or visualizations.
- Enterprise buyers with software and training that support a spatial workflow.
- Early adopters who specifically want access to Apple’s spatial-computing platform.
The purchase is harder to justify if you mainly want inexpensive entertainment, long untethered sessions, conventional VR gaming, or a lightweight wearable. The $3,499 starting price, external battery, 750–800-gram headset, short rated battery duration, fit process, and possible cost of prescription inserts all materially affect the total ownership experience.
Buying checklist
- Confirm that the listing is the M5 A3416, not the M2 A2117.
- Choose 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB based on your expected local media and app storage.
- Book a demo or request Specialist help if possible.
- Complete the Light Seal and headband fitting process.
- Check whether you need ZEISS Readers or Prescription Inserts.
- Verify that your prescription is supported before ordering.
- Remember that ordinary eyeglasses cannot be worn as a substitute for compatible inserts.
- Budget separately for AppleCare+, optical inserts, a Travel Case, and other accessories.
- Check regional taxes, delivery, stock, financing eligibility, and accessory prices at checkout.
- If buying used, confirm model number, storage, fit components, battery, included cable and adapter, and whether the seller has the correct Light Seal for you.
Important limitations of the published specifications
The battery figures, R1 latency, display characteristics, and feature descriptions in this guide are based on Apple’s published materials. Battery ratings use Apple’s specified laboratory conditions and preproduction M5 units. This guide does not claim independent testing of comfort, image quality, battery endurance, durability, or performance.
Software features, app support, immersive media, accessories, country availability, delivery estimates, and prices can change. Check the live Apple Store configuration for your region before making a purchase, especially if you are comparing the current M5 headset with M2 inventory or a used listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Apple Vision Pro model?
The current model for new buyers is Apple Vision Pro with the M5 chip, model number A3416. The original 2024 headset uses the M2 chip and model number A2117.
How much does Apple Vision Pro cost?
The M5 Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 in the United States for 256GB. Apple also offers 512GB and 1TB versions. Optical inserts, AppleCare+, the Travel Case, taxes, and some accessories cost extra.
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Ordinary eyeglasses are not a substitute for Apple’s compatible ZEISS Optical Inserts. Buyers who need vision correction must check whether their prescription is supported and order the appropriate Readers or Prescription Inserts.
How long does the Apple Vision Pro battery last?
Apple rates the M5 model for up to 2.5 hours of general use or up to 3 hours of video playback under specified test conditions. Real-world runtime varies, and the headset can be used while its external battery is charging.
Does Apple Vision Pro require a controller?
No. The main interface uses eye tracking, hand gestures, and voice. Optional devices such as Logitech Muse and the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller can support particular creative or gaming experiences, but they are sold separately and are not required for basic operation.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Apple Vision Pro is a premium spatial computer, not a low-cost VR accessory. The current M5 model starts at $3,499 and delivers high-resolution personal displays, spatial capture, immersive media, Mac-based multitasking, and eye-, hand-, and voice-controlled interaction. Buy it after confirming the M5 model, testing the fit, checking prescription support, and calculating the complete cost of inserts, protection, AppleCare+, and other accessories.
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