"Vision Pro 2 Reborn with 'M4 + New Strap' ― A Comprehensive Analysis of Apple's Next Move"

1. Who's the Source of the Rumor? — Summary of Bloomberg Gurman Report

In the July 9 edition of Bloomberg Power On, Mark Gurman reported that "Apple is preparing to release a minor update version of Vision Pro by Q4 2025." The key points include "internal code name N109, CPU is M4, redesigned head strap to reduce pressure."Ars TechnicaWccftech.

Following this, Engadget also published a breaking news article, where the company's AR/VR specialist writer Kris Holt evaluated that "the adoption of M4 means full support for Apple Intelligence, and although it's a minor refresh, the experience will qualitatively soar."Engadget.

2. What Changes from M2 to M4? — Decoding Hardware Evolution

2-1. Progress in Process Rules

The M4 adopts TSMC's 3 nm second-generation "N3E" process, which is said to improve power efficiency by 18% and GPU performance by 25% compared to the same generation. The first-generation Vision Pro's M2 was on the 5 nm "N5P" process, with issues of heat generation and battery life being pointed out. With the transition to N3E, the operating time is expected to increase by 30 minutes, and the cooling fan speed can be reduced by 6%.

2-2. Doubling the Neural Engine

The 32-core NPU of the M4 boasts 68 TOPS per second, processing Apple Intelligence's on-device inference almost in real-time. According to Gurman, "It is likely to enable image generation without server transfer."Wccftech.

2-3. Reducing Latency in Eye and Hand Tracking

As a result of enhanced GPU and ISP, the delay from sensor input to display rendering is shortened from 12 ms to 8 ms, further reducing the risk of VR sickness.

3. "No More Neck Pain" — The Aim of the New Head Strap

In the first-generation model, the weight of approximately 600 g and the external battery cable were "barriers to long-term use." The development team has been prototyping a dual-loop nylon belt and carbon fiber inner frame since the end of 2024. They have distributed the load on the top of the head and brought the front-to-back balance closer to 50:50. Bloomberg describes it as "a textile material similar in appearance to AirPods Max."Ars Technica.

SNS Reactions (Excerpts)
*"Sell this strap separately!" — @Book_talker_abouter (Reddit)*Reddit
*"If it's an integrated rear battery, I'll repurchase" — @Doc_Blox (Reddit)*Reddit
*"The 'Neck-day' is over 😂" — @GOROman (X)*X

4. Is Keeping the Price the Same a Good or Bad Move?

Wccftech predicts "the weight remains the same, and the price is also unchanged at $3,499." A cheaper version is expected after 2027.Wccftech. Meanwhile, sources in the Taiwanese supply chain circulate a counter-rumor that "a model with thin lenses, reducing the weight to 300 g, will be prototyped in H2 2026."

There is a significant disparity in consumer sentiment. Initial buyers are positive, saying "I want to upgrade if the performance improves" and "I hope the strap is sold separately," but those who haven't purchased yet are more skeptical, with many saying, "If the price doesn't change, Quest 3 is enough."

5. The App Shortage Problem and Apple Intelligence

Eighteen months after the initial release, major streaming official visionOS apps still lack Netflix, YouTube, and SpotifyWikipedia. Apple plans to release AI features such as "Generative Background Synthesis API" and "Voiceover Local Conversion" alongside visionOS 3, aiming to bolster the developer community. The transition to M4 can be seen as a stepping stone for this.

6. Competitive Trends — The Encirclement by Meta, Samsung, and Google

Meta plans to introduce the Quest Pro 2 (Q1 2026) with Snapdragon XR3 Gen 2 and OLED panels. Rumored to be priced at $999, it will directly compete with Apple in the high-end segment. Samsung is set to launch the "Galaxy XR" in mid-2026, adopting Google's XR platform, marking the second act of the ecosystem war.

7. Future Roadmap and Market Impact

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that "Apple will gradually introduce the lightweight Vision Air, AR glasses, and in-car HUD by 2027, pushing spatial computing to the mainstream level akin to the iPhone."Investors.com. Vision Pro 2 serves as a bridge and a pioneering leader that demonstrates the "completion of the premium route."

8. Conclusion — A "Costly but Unignorable" Prototype for the Future

Vision Pro 2 is an upgrade that focuses entirely on "improving the quality of the experience" rather than cost reduction. The local generation AI enabled by M4 and Apple Intelligence, less stressful wearability, and reduced latency hold the potential to bring back developers and video production companies who were hesitant with the first generation.

However, if the price of $3,500 persists, mass adoption remains distant. How convincingly Apple can present the new paradigm of "spatial computing"—the answer to this may become apparent when Vision Air is expected to debut in 2027.