Should you purchase the new updated Vision Pro with M5 chip?

Apple’s next-generation Vision Pro has officially arrived, powered by the new M5 chip and refined with a more comfortable Dual Knit Band. It’s the company’s most ambitious update yet to its mixed-reality headset, one that focuses less on radical redesigns and more on meaningful performance, comfort, and visual upgrades. But at a starting price of $3,499, is this the right time to invest?

Here’s a breakdown of what’s new, what’s improved, and who the M5 Vision Pro is really for.

Performance: M5 Brings a Major Boost in Speed and Efficiency

At the heart of this Vision Pro is the new M5 processor, the same chip found in Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. The M5 features a 10-core CPU and GPU, each GPU core equipped with its own Neural Accelerator, and a faster 16-core Neural Engine. Together, they deliver noticeably smoother performance across the entire interface, from navigating 3D environments to multitasking between spatial apps.

Apple claims up to 50% faster AI performance compared to the original M2-based model. That translates into quicker object recognition, improved gesture tracking, and better responsiveness when interacting with virtual elements.

The M5 chip also enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, technologies that dramatically enhance lighting realism and texture detail inside apps and immersive environments. This results in visuals that feel sharper and more lifelike, especially during 3D rendering, gaming, or movie playback.

Display and Visual Experience: Sharper, Smoother, More Immersive

The upgraded Vision Pro can now render 10% more pixels than before, giving the display even greater clarity for reading text, viewing detailed images, or working in Mac Virtual Display mode.

A new 120Hz refresh rate (up from 100Hz) brings a smoother and more natural viewing experience, reducing motion blur during movement or head tracking. It’s a subtle but important improvement for comfort, particularly for long sessions or productivity use.

While the headset’s external design hasn’t changed much, the visual performance improvements make the M5 model feel more polished and immersive in daily use.

Comfort and Design: The Dual Knit Band Makes a Big Difference

The most immediately noticeable physical change is the new Dual Knit Band, which replaces the previous single strap. This version distributes weight more evenly across the head, with one strap across the top and another across the back.

Apple added tungsten inserts in the lower band to help counterbalance the headset’s weight, improving comfort during longer wear. Both straps can be adjusted through a Fit Dial for a precise fit. Users who already own the first Vision Pro can even buy the new band separately for $99, and it’s compatible with older units.

The headset still uses an external battery pack, which Apple says contributes to its lighter design and allows for up to three hours of video playback per charge (an increase from 2.5 hours on the M2 model).

Pricing and Availability

The updated Vision Pro starts at $3,499 with 256GB of storage and can be configured up to 1TB. It’s available for pre-order now and launches in stores October 22, rolling out across major global markets including the U.S., U.K., China, France, and Japan.

Apple has also added a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter in the box, replacing the older 30W charger.

Who Should Buy It

The M5 Vision Pro is clearly designed for early adopters and professionals who want the very best Apple has to offer in spatial computing. You should consider buying it if you:

• Use your Vision Pro for productivity, design, or 3D content creation, where every bit of power and display clarity matters.

• Are interested in immersive entertainment, like high-resolution films, VR games, or large-scale virtual workspaces.

• Want to experience the most refined and future-ready version of Apple’s spatial computer so far.

  
  

However, casual users or those just curious about mixed reality may find the price, and the current app ecosystem, a little too steep for everyday use. The headset remains best suited for professionals and enthusiasts who can make the most of its hardware.

Our Final Thoughts

The new Vision Pro doesn’t reinvent Apple’s spatial computing strategy, it perfects it. The M5 chip’s speed, enhanced graphics, and smoother visuals make the experience feel more seamless and grounded in reality, while the redesigned Dual Knit Band solves one of the biggest comfort complaints from the first model.

That said, at $3,499, this headset is still a niche product. For those who already own the original Vision Pro, the performance jump is meaningful but not transformative. But if you’re buying into Apple’s vision for the first time, the M5 model is unquestionably the version to get, faster, sharper, and more refined than ever.