Apple Vision Pro M5
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| Apple Vision Pro M5[1][2][3][4] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, Spatial Computing |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | visionOS |
| Developer | Apple |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
| Announcement Date | October 15, 2025 |
| Release Date | October 22, 2025 (initial markets, including the U.S.) |
| Price | US$3,699 (256 GB), US$3,899 (512 GB), US$4,199 (1 TB); U.S. listed prices checked September 17, 2026 |
| Website | https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/ |
| Predecessor | Apple Vision Pro |
| System | |
| Operating System | visionOS 26 (at launch) |
| Chipset | Apple M5 + Apple R1 |
| CPU | 10-core |
| GPU | 10-core with Neural Accelerators, hardware ray tracing |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Memory | 16 GB unified |
| Display | |
| Display | 2× Micro-OLED |
| Resolution | 23 million pixels across both displays (Apple specification) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz, 96 Hz, 100 Hz, 120 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | Not specified in Apple's technical specifications |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Custom three-element lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 51-75 mm |
| Passthrough | Color; two high-resolution main cameras |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | Head tracking using onboard cameras and sensors |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Face Tracking | Persona facial-expression representation |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Spatial Audio pods |
| Microphone | Six-microphone array with directional beamforming |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery Life | Up to 2.5 hours general use; up to 3 hours video playback (Apple ratings) |
| Device | |
| Weight | 750-800 g with Light Seal and Dual Knit Band (varies by configuration); separate battery: 353 g |
The Apple Vision Pro M5 is the 2025 version of Apple's Apple Vision Pro spatial computing head-mounted display. It replaces the original model's M2 processor with the Apple M5, adds support for a 120 Hz refresh rate, and includes the Dual Knit Band. It shipped with visionOS 26.[5][4]
History and Development
Apple announced the M5-equipped Vision Pro on October 15, 2025. Sales began on October 22 in the U.S. and ten other initial markets: Australia, Canada, China mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, and the UK.[6] The M5-equipped 14-inch MacBook Pro and iPad Pro also went on sale that day.[5]
Pricing
The U.S. launch price in October 2025 started at $3,499, with 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB storage options.[6] On September 17, 2026, Apple's U.S. store listed those capacities at $3,699, $3,899 and $4,199 respectively.[3]
M5 Chip Specifications
The M5 configuration in Vision Pro has a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine and 153 GB/s memory bandwidth. The chip uses third-generation 3-nanometer manufacturing technology. Its GPU has a Neural Accelerator in each core.[4] It supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading.[6] Apple's stated bandwidth improvement of nearly 30% compares M5 with M4, not with the original Vision Pro's M2.[4] Vision Pro has 16 GB of unified memory.[1]
Key Performance Improvements
Apple describes faster app and widget loading and more responsive web browsing with M5.[2] The company reported up to 50% faster processing for system AI features such as creating spatial scenes, and up to twice the performance in a third-party image-generation test, compared with M2 Vision Pro. These task-specific tests used Photos and prerelease Draw Things.[6]
The Apple R1 coprocessor handles camera, sensor and microphone input. Apple says R1 streams images to the displays within 12 milliseconds.[2]
Display Improvements
Apple says M5 renders 10% more pixels than the preceding model, with sharper text and detail, and supports refresh rates up to 120 Hz. This describes rendering output; the micro-OLED displays still have a combined total of 23 million physical pixels. Apple also identifies custom three-element lenses.[2]
Apple's technical specifications do not state a field-of-view angle or width-by-height pixel dimensions for each eye.[1]
New Accessories
Dual Knit Band
The included Dual Knit Band has upper and lower straps and a dial that adjusts them independently.[7] Its lower strap contains tungsten inserts to counterbalance the headset.[6] Apple lists the band separately for U.S. $99 (checked September 17, 2026), with compatibility for both the M2 and M5 models.[7]
Apple lists the M5 headset at 750-800 g including the Light Seal and Dual Knit Band, depending on configuration. Its separate battery weighs 353 g.[1]
Battery Life
Apple rates the external battery for up to 2.5 hours of general use or 3 hours of video playback.[2] The headset can operate while its battery is connected to power, and actual runtime depends on usage and conditions.[6] The original M2 model's corresponding ratings were up to 2 hours and 2.5 hours.[8]
Software: visionOS 26
At launch, the M5 model shipped with visionOS 26.[6] The software introduced persistent spatial widgets, revised Personas, spatial scenes generated from photos, and the interactive Jupiter Environment. It also added native playback of 180-degree, 360-degree and wide-field-of-view video from supported action cameras.[9]
Apple Intelligence features include Writing Tools, Image Playground and Genmoji.[2] Availability depends on language and region.[6]
Unchanged Features
The headset retains Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and an external battery connected by a cable. Apple's listed camera and sensor configuration also matches that of the M2 model.[1][8]
In their November 2025 review, Wes Hilliard and Mike Wuerthele described the exterior as identical to the original model apart from the included head band. They noted that its battery connector and audio pods also remained the same.[10]
Reception
Hilliard and Wuerthele found sharper text, smoother scrolling and improved passthrough fluidity, but criticized the limited software support that could make use of the new processor. They considered the hardware improved while arguing that developer support remained a problem.[10]
In a December 23, 2025 review for AppleInsider, Oliver Haslam praised the Dual Knit Band, immersive video and Mac Virtual Display. He criticized the price and the inconvenience of repeatedly removing the headset during ordinary tasks, and questioned its lasting place in his workflow. He rated it 3 out of 5. His review's title described it as a "flawed wonder".[11]
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Apple Vision Pro (M5) - Tech Specs". Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/125436. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Apple Vision Pro". Apple. https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Buy Apple Vision Pro". Apple Store. https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-vision/apple-vision-pro. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Apple unleashes M5, the next big leap in AI performance for Apple silicon". Apple Newsroom. 2025-10-15. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-unleashes-m5-the-next-big-leap-in-ai-performance-for-apple-silicon/. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "New iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and Apple Vision Pro, all powered by M5, are now available". Apple Newsroom. 2025-10-22. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/new-ipad-pro-14-inch-macbook-pro-and-apple-vision-pro-now-available/. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Apple Vision Pro upgraded with the powerful M5 chip and comfortable Dual Knit Band". Apple Newsroom. 2025-10-15. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/10/apple-vision-pro-upgraded-with-the-m5-chip-and-dual-knit-band/. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Apple Vision Pro Dual Knit Band". Apple Store. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/dual-knit-band-sa/apple-vision-pro-dual-knit-band. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Apple Vision Pro - Tech Specs". Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/117810. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ "New versions of Apple’s software platforms are available today". Apple Newsroom. 2025-09-15. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/new-versions-of-apples-software-platforms-are-available-today/. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Wes Hilliard and Mike Wuerthele (2025-11-05). "Apple Vision Pro with M5 review: a chip can't fix developer relations". AppleInsider. https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/11/05/apple-vision-pro-with-m5-review-a-chip-cant-fix-developer-relations. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
- ↑ Oliver Haslam (2025-12-23). "Apple Vision Pro (M5) review three-months later: A flawed wonder". AppleInsider. https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/12/23/apple-vision-pro-m5-review-three-months-later-a-flawed-wonder. Retrieved 2026-09-17.