Regulatory filings hint at the next Vision Pro
Regulatory documents submitted to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have surfaced, hinting at Apple’s next iteration of the Vision Pro. The files describe a head mounted device with model number A3416 and include an image that MacRumors notes clearly resembles a Vision Pro unit. While the pages are focused on technical testing—data transfer, SAR (specific absorption rate) and Wi‑Fi tests—there is scant information about consumer-ready specifications. One clear takeaway is that the headset will continue to rely on Wi‑Fi 6 and won’t support the 6 GHz Wi‑Fi band, a detail that aligns with prior rumors but leaves the broader feature set mostly unconfirmed in these filings.
What the documents say about the device
Model and identification
The filings reference an Apple designed head mounted device under the code A3416, and accompanying imagery points toward the Vision Pro lineage. The presence of a physical image in the documents suggests a concrete hardware iteration rather than a mere software update, though the paperwork itself remains technical and compliance oriented rather than a product spec sheet.
Chip upgrade expected
Industry chatter has long suggested that Apple would skip a radical redesign of the headset and instead refresh the core compute hardware. The current material in the filings corroborates this approach: the new model is expected to move from the M2 chip to a new M5 chip. If accurate, this would deliver improved performance and efficiency without altering the external silhouette significantly, a pattern Apple has used in other product families when launching a next‑gen iteration.
Connectivity and spectrum constraints
The Wi‑Fi testing in the documents confirms continued use of Wi‑Fi 6, with no indication of Wi‑Fi 6E or a 6 GHz capable radio. For a device that is likely to rely on high‑bandwidth wireless connections for streaming content and application data, the absence of 6 GHz support could influence performance in crowded environments, though it may also reflect strategic hardware choices or regulatory considerations at the time of testing.
Related hardware roadmap signals
Besides the Vision Pro notes, the filings hint at broader Apple product movement, including new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models on the horizon. The presence of these references in the same document set may reflect parallel development tracks at Apple’s hardware teams and occasionally prompts analysts to map out possible release windows across the company’s product lines.
From Vision Pro to Vision Air: a broader timeline
In addition to the standard headset refresh, the documents and prior reporting allude to a more slender variant in Apple’s AR lineup, referred to as Vision Air. According to industry speculation, Vision Air is not expected to reach the market until 2027, a timeline that would place it several years after the current Vision Pro generation. If true, this would align with a measured strategy to expand the AR ecosystem gradually, providing room for software, development tooling, and consumer education to mature between releases.
What it could mean for developers and users
For developers, a new M5‑powered Vision Pro could unlock performance gains that enable more demanding mixed‑reality experiences, higher fidelity rendering, and more robust on‑device processing. For consumers, the absence of major exterior design changes means a familiar fit with potential for better battery life and smoother operation, should the M5 deliver on its rumored advantages. However, until Apple provides official specifications or confirmation, much of the narrative rests on regulatory filings and reputable leaks rather than confirmed product pages.
Bottom line
The FCC filings add a concrete thread to ongoing rumors about the next Vision Pro. They point to an M5 chip upgrade, the continued reliance on Wi‑Fi 6, and a lack of 6 GHz support, while reinforcing the expectation of limited external design changes. The broader roadmap hints at new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro models and the longer‑term Vision Air project with a 2027 target. As with any regulatory document, take these details with caution until Apple confirms them in an official unveiling.
