Apple Vision Pro Gets Major M5 Chip Upgrade
Apple has officially launched the next-generation Vision Pro headset, powered by the new M5 chip. The update delivers significant performance, battery, and display improvements while maintaining the original design and $3,499 price point.
Key Takeaways
- New M5 chip with 10-core CPU/GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
- Battery life extended to 3 hours for video playback
- 120Hz display for reduced motion blur
- New Dual Loop Band for improved comfort
- Same $3,499 pricing; pre-orders open now
Powerful M5 Chip Performance
The heart of the updated Vision Pro is Apple’s custom M5 chip, designed for faster performance and greater efficiency. Featuring a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine, this upgrade enables the headset to handle more demanding spatial computing tasks while improving battery performance.
The new chip allows Vision Pro to render approximately 10% more pixels, enhancing visual clarity. Ray tracing and mesh shading capabilities are now up to 50% faster, delivering smoother, more immersive experiences in 3D environments and virtual applications.
Enhanced Battery Life and Display
Thanks to the efficient M5 chip, Apple has extended Vision Pro’s battery life during video playback from 2.5 hours to 3 hours on a single charge. This improvement demonstrates advanced energy management without changes to the physical battery size.
The refresh rate has been upgraded from 100Hz to 120Hz, significantly reducing motion blur and improving touch fluidity, especially when using the headset as a Mac display.
Improved Comfort and Accessories
While maintaining the same physical design, Apple introduces a new Dual Loop Band for better comfort and weight distribution. The band features an adjustment dial and uses tungsten to balance the headset more evenly.
The updated package includes new accessories: a 40W power adapter, USB-C cable, and compatibility with spatial input devices like Logitech’s stylus and Sony’s PlayStation VR2 Sense controller.
Pricing and Availability Details
The new Vision Pro maintains the $3,499 price point and comes in three storage options: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Pre-orders are currently available, with shipments starting October 22, 2025, in the U.S. and select international markets.
Apple is further integrating the headset into its ecosystem by expanding Vision Pro app support to iPads with the upcoming iPadOS 26.1 update.
