Apple Upgrades Vision Pro with M5 Chip and Dual Knit Band for More Power, Comfort, and AI Ambitions

Immersive Filmmaking

by Nino LeitnerOctober 16^th, 2025

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Apple has unveiled an upgraded version of its Vision Pro headset powered by the new M5 chip and paired with a redesigned Dual Knit Band. The new model promises faster performance, extended battery life, and greater comfort, while visionOS 26 adds AI-powered features and richer spatial experiences. Yet the update also raises an important question about the long-term future of Apple’s spatial strategy as the company appears to eye more compact smart glasses.

Apple’s updated Vision Pro combines evolutionary hardware improvements with a strategic recalibration of its spatial computing roadmap. The addition of the M5 chip, a fresh Dual Knit Band, and new capabilities in visionOS 26 cement Vision Pro’s position as a powerful, premium device for immersive content, still with the same premium price tag – but it arrives amid reports suggesting Apple’s next major hardware step might favor lighter, less immersive wearables.

M5 chip redefines performance and AI acceleration of Vision Pro

At the heart of the new Vision Pro is Apple’s M5 chip, its most advanced piece of silicon to date. Built on a third-generation 3-nanometer process, M5 introduces a 10-core GPU with a Neural Accelerator in every core, enabling over 4× the peak GPU compute performance for AI workloads compared to the previous M4. Graphics performance sees up to a 45 percent boost, with third-generation ray tracing and dynamic caching for more realistic lighting and shadows in 3D environments.

The chip’s 10-core CPU delivers up to 15 percent faster multithreaded performance, while unified memory bandwidth increases by nearly 30 percent to 153 GB/s, allowing Vision Pro to handle larger AI models entirely on-device. The 16-core Neural Engine accelerates Apple Intelligence features such as Generative Personas, Image Playground, and spatial photo generation.

In practical use, this means faster app response, smoother rendering, and more detailed micro-OLED imagery — Vision Pro now renders 10 percent more pixels per eye and supports a 120 Hz refresh rate for reduced motion blur. Combined with the R1 chip’s sensor fusion pipeline, the headset delivers more immediate spatial responsiveness and sharper visual fidelity.

Dual Knit Band: more comfort, less fatigue

The new Dual Knit Band brings a more ergonomic fit for longer sessions. The two-layer knitted structure is designed for comfort and breathability, with flexible tungsten inserts in the lower strap that act as counterweights. A dual-function Fit Dial lets users fine-tune the fit for stability. Available in multiple sizes, the band is compatible with earlier Vision Pro units and sold separately for $99 which seems quite reasonable.

This small but meaningful hardware revision suggests Apple is responding directly to user feedback about balance and pressure points during extended viewing or creative sessions. The original band definitely didn’t get too many great reviews after extended wearing.

visionOS 26 adds deeper spatial and AI integration

The accompanying visionOS 26 software update introduces new AI-powered tools and personalization features. Floating widgets can now anchor within the user’s physical environment, and Personas in FaceTime appear more expressive and lifelike. Generative “spatial scenes” add depth and motion to flat photos, while new Apple Intelligence tools like Genmoji and Writing Tools run faster thanks to the M5’s Neural Engine.

The update also broadens support for 180- and 360-degree video playback, enabling users to experience immersive footage from cameras like the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive – a camera we covered in depth for its ability to capture open-gate 3D spherical footage tailor-made for Vision Pro viewing. Combined with Apple Immersive’s growing library of spatial films and concerts, Vision Pro continues to stand as the reference device for immersive video consumption.

In recent months, we have reported extensively on a wave of high-profile Apple Immersive productions designed to showcase the headset’s storytelling potential – from the immersive short film Submerged, Bono: The Immersive Experience and D-Day: The Camera Soldier to the ambitious Bastille Day immersive film. Each of these projects leverages 3D, 180-degree, and volumetric video capture to place viewers inside the scene with cinematic realism. Vision Pro remains the only consumer device currently capable of reproducing these experiences at their intended visual and spatial fidelity.

The growing ecosystem: apps, games, and Apple Immersive

Apple claims over one million apps now support Vision Pro, with more than 3,000 built specifically for visionOS. The company’s Apple Immersive video platform is expanding with new titles from the BBC, HYBE, Red Bull, and the Audi F1 Project, alongside live NBA and MotoGP broadcasts.

On the gaming side, Vision Pro now supports PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers and DualSense gamepads, bringing haptic-rich, six-degree-of-freedom gameplay. For professionals, Logitech’s Muse stylus adds precision drawing for creative and design applications.

Gurman: Apple’s pivot toward smart glasses

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman – someone generally well-informed about all things Apple – recently reported that Apple’s long-term strategy is already shifting toward lightweight smart glasses powered by the same visionOS foundation. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman wrote:

“The smart glasses are also likely to run the Vision Pro’s operating system, visionOS, so all the work on that software isn’t going to waste.”

Gurman suggests Apple’s glasses may offer a “dual-mode” experience, running full visionOS when tethered to a Mac and a simplified interface when paired with an iPhone. This indicates that the Vision Pro’s current hardware and software ecosystem are stepping stones toward a more compact, mainstream product class.

A fork in Apple’s spatial roadmap?

While Vision Pro remains the ultimate showcase for immersive cinema, design, and AI-driven spatial workflows, a shift toward glasses inevitably raises a philosophical question: what happens to full-immersion video?

Devices like the URSA Cine Immersive camera and Apple Immersive’s 3D library rely on headsets with enclosed optics capable of rendering lifelike depth, color, and presence. If Apple’s next wave of products embraces transparency and portability over total immersion, some of these cinematic experiences could lose their ideal viewing medium.

Vision Pro M5 proves: Apple plays the long game

Yet knowing Apple, I suspect they are as usual playing the long game here, and it’s rare for Apple to quickly drop a product – so maybe the Vision Pro will remain a specialized device with a premium price tag, while a “Vision Air” might become the everyday smart glasses. Only time will tell.

For now, though, Vision Pro (especially with the M5 upgrade) remains the flagship platform for high-fidelity immersive viewing, bridging Apple’s spatial computing ambitions with the professional filmmaking world. And their M5 upgrade proves that there is severe commitment behind the product line within the company.

Pricing and availability of Vision Pro M5

The new Apple Vision Pro (M5) still starts at $3,499 (US) in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB configurations, with shipments beginning October 22, 2025. Accessories include the Dual Knit Band ($99), Vision Pro Travel Case ($199), ZEISS optical inserts (from $99), Logitech Muse ($129.95), and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller ($249.95).

Unfortunately, Vision Pro M5 seems to still be available only in select countries, including the US, UK, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France and Germany. Let’s hope that will change.

The bigger picture

With the M5’s neural accelerators, faster AI processing, and refined comfort, Apple’s Vision Pro M5 is both an evolution of a first-gen product. It remains the gold standard for immersive content today, yet may soon serve as the bridge to a new generation of Apple wearables built for everyday augmented experiences.

What’s your take on the latest Vision Pro M5 upgrades as a filmmaker? Will you dive into producing immersive video content with this refreshed commitment to the platform?