Apple Plans to Make Vision Pro Lighter with External Processing Unit

Apple is exploring a new design for the Vision Pro that could significantly reduce its weight and improve comfort. The company has detailed a concept where key processing components would be moved to an external unit—similar to the current tethered battery pack. This external "cartridge" would house the chipset, storage, and other processing components, allowing the headset itself to be much lighter and better balanced on the user’s head. By offloading these components, Apple aims to address a common concern with Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) headsets—weight distribution. A lighter Vision Pro could make extended use more comfortable, appealing to both casual users and professionals in fields like gaming, enterprise applications, and virtual collaboration. This potential redesign aligns with trends seen in other high-end VR headsets like the Meta Quest Pro, Valve Index, and HTC Vive XR Elite, which focus on improving ergonomics and reducing user fatigue. If