iPhone manufacturer reportedly working on cheaper Reality Pro AR/VR headset

Foxconn are said to be working on the second-generation already – but don't expect it to be cheap

A mock-up of the soon-to-be-released Apple Reality AR/VR headset, in four colours, on a white background
(Image credit: Ahmed Chenni, Freelancer.com)

Apple has been working on a VR headset for a while now. Dubbed the Reality Pro headset, speculation has been rife about the product, although very little has been confirmed in any official capacity.

Regardless, though, it has the potential to be another iPhone moment for the Cupertino-based company. VR technology has come a long way in recent years, but has yet to see truly widespread integration among the general population. Crack that code, and Apple's tech industry dominance could be set to continue for the foreseeable future.

The first device Apple releases is expected to come with an eye-watering price tag. Industry analysts have estimated that the model could retail at up to $5,000, meaning that only those with a love of new technology and a significant amount of disposable income will be able to get their hands on one.

Fortunately for those of us without a spare $5,000 to drop on a VR headset, Apple is already working on a cheaper, second-generation model. That's according to Nikkei Asia, who cite iPhone manufacturers, Foxconn, as the team behind the lower-priced model. 

Sourced from an unnamed executive with knowledge of the development, Nikkei says, "Apple hopes to push the price down in the second generation of devices to a more affordable price, like a high-end Mac computer, and hopes to attract a bigger user base."

That could put the "affordable" device in the £2,000-£3,000 range – certainly not as budget-conscious as many would have hoped. It's a far cry from popular models like the Meta Quest 2, and even makes the Meta Quest Pro look like something of a bargain.

With an announcement widely expected at the annual WWDC conference in June, it shouldn't be too long until we have a clearer idea of what Apple has planned for the VR sector. Expect more information to surface in the run up to that event, too.

Sam Cross
Staff Writer

Online news writer at T3.com, Sam has five years of experience in online and print journalism, with work featured in publications like Metro and Last Word on Sports. After years writing about music and football, Sam now turns his hand to bringing you news about new phones, smart home products, smart watches, laptops and TVs. Sam is a longtime fan and user of Apple products, including iPhones, MacBooks and Apple Watches.He’s also T3’s resident football expert, bringing you everything you need to know about the big games, including how to watch them. In his spare time, Sam is a keen guitarist, watch lover and (very) amateur golfer.