Apple’s upgraded M5 Vision Pro brings more power, a new headband, and PSVR2 controller support
Apple’s M5 Vision Pro is here — sleeker, faster, and more powerful — but it’s still an experiment in search of its audience. The update swaps in Apple’s new M5 chip, refreshes the display experience, and adds a Dual Knit Band that rebalances comfort. There’s also a nod to gamers with new PSVR2 controller support. But does it change what the Vision Pro really is? Not quite.
A Sharper Future That’s Still Fuzzy
When Apple first launched the Vision Pro, it promised a revolution in “spatial computing.” What it delivered was a breathtaking but impractical device — $3,499 worth of futuristic potential.
Now, with the M5 chip replacing the ageing M2, Apple’s headset is finally performing closer to what its hardware was designed to do. The upgraded processor renders 10% more pixels in its foveated display area, making visuals crisper in the region you’re looking at.
This is a subtle but real improvement, especially when using Mac Virtual Display mode, where clarity finally inches closer to a desktop monitor. Apple also claims smoother visuals with refresh rates of up to 120Hz, improving responsiveness in pass-through mode when you view the real world through the headset’s cameras.
That said, most users won’t notice dramatic differences. In everyday use, the Vision Pro still feels fast — it’s the display tech, not the processing, that drives most of the device’s magic.
A Vision Still Out of Reach
The M5 Vision Pro remains a futuristic showcase rather than a mainstream product. “There are very few use cases for which I can say that, yes, the Vision Pro is a smart investment,” writes reviewer Jason Snell. “Getting a taste of the future isn’t cheap, and it’s not especially practical — but it’s a rare opportunity.”
The real purpose of the Vision Pro is as a testbed for Apple’s future — a platform to develop visionOS, refine mixed-reality interfaces, and inspire third-party developers to build the software and experiences that might power lighter, cheaper AR glasses a decade from now.
Dual Knit Band: Comfort with Weight
The most tangible change for current owners is the new Dual Knit Band, available separately for $99. It replaces the original Solo Knit and Dual Loop designs, combining both into a single, more stable fit.
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The new band is surprisingly heavy at 195g (6.9oz) — about the weight of an adult hamster, as reviewer Dan Moren notes. But that extra heft acts as a counterweight to the Vision Pro’s front-heavy design, slightly improving balance for longer sessions.
Swapping bands is simple: magnetic connectors snap into place, and a Fit Dial allows easy micro-adjustments while wearing the headset. It’s the most comfortable Vision Pro strap yet — though, ultimately, no band can fully offset the 750g of glass and metal on your face.
PSVR2 Controllers: A Step Toward Real Gaming
Perhaps the most promising update is visionOS 26’s support for Sony’s PSVR2 hand controllers. It’s a quiet admission that Apple’s gesture-only interface, while impressive, isn’t ideal for gaming or high-precision tasks.
Games like Pickle Pro and Ping Pong Club already support the controllers, though the experience varies. For now, pairing PSVR2 hardware adds a sense of physical control missing from Vision Pro’s early apps — and signals Apple’s first real step into serious VR gaming territory.
Still, as Snell puts it: “You wouldn’t buy a Vision Pro to play games — but if you already own one, VR games can be really good.”
Verdict: A Clearer Vision, Still Far Away
The M5 Vision Pro is faster, slightly clearer, and marginally more comfortable. But it’s still more of a tech experiment than a consumer product. Apple is keeping the dream alive, inching forward while the rest of us wait for a lighter, cheaper, more practical version.
For now, it remains what it always was — an awe-inspiring glimpse of tomorrow, held back by today’s price, weight, and purpose.