Apple’s Next Vision Pro Could Get a New R2 Chip

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Apple isn’t done tweaking the Vision Pro just yet. The latest round of rumors suggests the company has a new chip in the works—the R2—which could show up in an upcoming version of the headset.

Key points

  • Apple is reportedly working on an R2 chip to replace the current Vision Pro’s R1 processor.
  • The R2 will be built on TSMC’s 2nm process, promising better efficiency and performance.
  • The chip manages sensor data like eye tracking, hand gestures, and head movement.
  • A refreshed Vision Pro may arrive this year, though a true successor isn’t expected until 2027.
  • Apple is also moving toward in-house chips across its lineup, with the iPhone 18 expected to get a custom modem.

If you’ve followed Apple’s mixed-reality push, you’ll know the current Vision Pro relies on the R1 chip. That processor doesn’t run the apps or the operating system; instead, it deals with all the headset’s constant input. Cameras, sensors, microphones—basically anything that tracks where you’re looking or how you’re moving—goes through the R1. Without it, the Vision Pro wouldn’t feel responsive enough to trick your brain into believing virtual objects are part of your surroundings.

The R2 is said to be its replacement. Built on TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, it should be faster and draw less power. On paper, that means less lag and possibly better battery life. Apple hasn’t shared specifics (it never does this early), but given how central the R1 already is, a stronger follow-up feels inevitable.

When will it be unveiled?

What’s less certain is timing. Some leaks point to a lightly refreshed Vision Pro coming before the end of the year, while a true second-generation headset seems further out—2027 has been floated. Which of those models will debut the R2 isn’t clear. Apple could hold it for the bigger update, or sneak it into the interim version to keep momentum going.

There’s also a bigger story here: Apple is steadily building more of its own chips. Alongside the Vision Pro news, the iPhone 18 is expected to gain a self-developed C2 modem paired with the A20 processor, also using TSMC’s 2nm process. That’s another move away from outside suppliers and toward tighter control over performance, power, and features.

So, while the R2 chip itself may sound like an incremental step, it fits into Apple’s broader pattern. The company doesn’t usually make sudden, dramatic leaps with hardware. Instead, it chips away (pun half intended) at performance bottlenecks and efficiency, leaving software teams more room to experiment.

If these reports are accurate, the next Vision Pro might not look dramatically different, but under the hood, it could be a more refined piece of gear—one designed to handle longer sessions and more demanding apps without breaking a sweat.



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