Apple Upgrades Vision Pro With M5 Chip, Sharper Display, and More Comfortable Dual Knit Band

Apple has rolled out an upgraded version of its Vision Pro headset, featuring the company’s new M5 chip and a reengineered Dual Knit Band designed for improved comfort and balance. The update arrives alongside M5-powered versions of the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, extending Apple’s next-generation silicon across its ecosystem.

The new M5 chip introduces a 10-core CPU and GPU architecture with integrated Neural Accelerators and a faster 16-core Neural Engine. Combined, they deliver higher frame rates, faster AI performance, and improved graphics fidelity. Apple says the Vision Pro now renders sharper visuals with up to 10 percent more pixels and supports a 120Hz refresh rate—an upgrade that enhances motion smoothness and clarity, particularly in Mac Virtual Display mode.

Battery life also sees a boost, with up to three hours of video playback on a single charge compared to 2.5 hours on the previous M2 model. The headset retains its dedicated R1 chip for processing input data from sensors and cameras, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Physically, the design remains consistent, but the new Dual Knit Band, made from a continuous piece of fabric with two adjustable straps, aims to make long sessions more comfortable. A tungsten insert helps balance the headset’s weight, and the Fit Dial allows for precise adjustments. The band will also be sold separately for $99 and is compatible with the original Vision Pro.

Apple is offering the updated Vision Pro in the same 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations, starting at $3,499. Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries beginning October 22 in multiple countries, including the U.S., Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. Demonstrations at Apple Stores begin the same day, giving customers their first hands-on experience with the faster, more comfortable Vision Pro.