New Vision Pro With M5: A Worthy Upgrade?

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Apple had itself quite a Wednesday! On October 15, 2025, Apple released three new products with the new M5 chip: the MacBook Pro 14”, the iPad Pro, and, of course, the new Vision Pro. Of the three, the new Vision Pro seems to be the biggest surprise. Rumors pointed toward Apple pulling team members and resources away from the Vision Pro for other projects, but clearly, that ain’t so.

So, how does Apple’s more niche product stand up to its predecessor, and is it worth the unchanged, eye-watering $3,499 retail price? The answers might surprise you.

M5: Just a 5 on the chip?

History has shown that some chip updates in the Apple ecosystem are spec bumps, while others provide powerful, meaningful performance upgrades.

How does the new M5 Vision Pro stack up to the outgoing 2024 model? Well, since the now-discontinued model used Apple’s M2 chip, the differences are not just noticeable—they’re jaw-dropping:

• CPU cores: M2 = 8-core (4 performance + 4 efficiency); M5 = 10-core (4 performance + 6 efficiency).
• GPU & graphics features: M2 = 10-core GPU without hardware-accelerated ray tracing; M5 = 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing + per-core Neural Accelerators.
• Neural Engine: Both list 16-core NEs; Apple calls M5’s NE “improved.”
• Unified-memory bandwidth: M2 = 100 GB/s; M5 = 153 GB/s.
• Process technology: M2 = enhanced 5-nm (2nd-gen); M5 = 3-nm (3rd-gen).
• On-device memory amount (Vision Pro): 2024 M2 model lists 16 GB unified memory; Apple’s M5 Vision Pro tech specs do not state a memory capacity (they do state 153 GB/s bandwidth).
• Companion chip: Both use R1 (12 ms photon-to-photon latency, 256 GB/s bandwidth).

That’s Not All That Changed

If the M5 chip upgrade was all that changed internally, it would be a significant improvement to the Vision Pro in and of itself. But the upgrade to M5 power isn’t the only thing that Apple fine-tuned in this 2025 update. The entire Vision Pro was rethought, evaluated, and improved from small tweaks to complete overhauls in the technology both inside and out.

Here’s the list of what’s changed:

• Max refresh rate: 100 Hz → 120 Hz (still supports 90/96/100).
• Battery rating (external pack): ~2.0/2.5 hr → 2.5/3.0 hr (general use / video).
• In-box power adapter: 30 W USB-C → 40 W “Dynamic Power Adapter” (60 W max).
• Included band: Solo Knit + Dual Loop → new Dual Knit Band (counterbalanced design; dual-function Fit Dial).
• Supported “spatial accessories” expanded (e.g., Logitech Muse; PS VR2 Sense).

There are some significant and meaningful improvements here. First, the move up from 100 Hz refresh rate to 120 Hz will make everything in the virtual environment feel smoother, snappier, and easier to read and watch.

Second, that battery life increase, at around 15% overall, keeps the Vision Pro in service longer during each session. Fewer recharges mean more time working and playing, and they extend the overall life of the battery from reduced charge cycles.

And last, but perhaps most important of all, are the improvements to wearability and comfort. If you’ve never worn a headset like the Vision Pro, or even the Meta Quest, for more than a few minutes, wearer fatigue can set in—and fast. The original Vision Pro was often criticized for comfort problems during even short use sessions. Apple’s refinements toward making the Vision Pro a more comfortable device to wear will go a long way toward it being a device you will want to use because you want to, not just because you have to justify the price you paid.

VisionOS 26 Makes Vision Pro Even More Pro

Not only does the new 2025 Vision Pro M5 model benefit from the hardware upgrades, visionOS 26 also has features that are specific only to the M5 model. These include:

• 120 Hz system refresh option (including smoother Mac Virtual Display); previous model topped out at 100 Hz.
• “Renders 10% more pixels” on the micro-OLED displays for crisper text and visuals.
• Metal hardware-accelerated ray tracing + mesh shading for games/apps (enabled by the new M5 GPU architecture).

To put a finer point on it all, the M5 and visionOS 26 give you clearer, higher-resolution images, faster movement, and more beautiful game graphics. All of these take what you see in the headset and make it look, as Apple itself might say, more magical.

Is the Vision Pro Right for You?

Well, first, there’s no sugar-coating it: the Vision Pro ain’t cheap. At $3,499, it’s one of Apple’s most expensive base prices for ANY of their products. Base models (and, in many cases, maxed-out) Macs, iPhones, iPads, and everything else can all be had for a fraction of the Vision Pro’s starting price.

Deciding to buy a Vision Pro isn’t like buying the rest of Apple’s product lineup. You’re not as likely to follow the “new every two” type of upgrade path of iPhones, for example. When you buy a Vision Pro, you’re buying a high-end product that will likely stay with your setup for years. Apple regularly promises seven years of OS updates for their products, so you’re likely to get ongoing value from your Vision Pro for a long time to come.

But the most important questions to answer about the value of buying a Vision Pro are whether it’s something you will get joy from, and how often? If you buy it, slap it on your head once in a blue moon for the novelty of it, and it turns back into a shelf queen, you’ve likely wasted your money.

If you see the Vision Pro in the same way you see a monitor or device screen on the other devices in your Apple setup, you’re likely to love the Vision Pro. Think of it like a monitor for your Mac, an extended display for your devices, and an entertainment hub that surrounds you with glorious visuals and sound. Then you’ve got the idea of the Vision Pro. It won’t be a novelty to you; it will be a part of how you use your technology, how you enjoy the movies and games you enjoy, and how you connect with others around the world.

Once you see the Vision Pro as THAT device, the conversation shifts from price to cost. And when you think about the cost of missing out on the experiences that the Vision Pro can bring to you, your family, and others around the world, the value proposition and the purpose of the Vision Pro become as clear as the new OLED displays it bears.

And that is where the magic of the 2025 Vision Pro M5 comes from. Not from the specs, but from the way it makes you feel when you use it. It’s hard to put a price on a feeling, but if I could, I’d say the feeling of being transported to another world inside the Vision Pro, or just being transported across town to connect with friends and loved ones, in the completely immersive environment that visionOS provides, is priceless.