One of Ternus' first Jobs as CEO? Apple cancels Tim Cook's beloved Vision Pro headset, says leak - here is why

Apple has effectively abandoned its Vision Pro ambitions after the recent M5 refresh failed to capture consumer interest, according to a report from MacRumors. 

Despite an October 2025 update that introduced the faster M5 chip and a more ergonomic “Dual Knit Band,” the headset’s sky-high $3,499 price tag and the cumbersome (to say the least) 1.3-pound weight remained unaddressed. And apparently, most people don’t want to wear a football helmet to work or watch YouTube videos.

Total lifetime sales for the headset sit at a disappointing 600,000 units, with insider sources noting an unprecedented return rate that far exceeds any other modern Apple device - including, perhaps, the $1,000 Mac Pro wheels?

One less thing... Apple pulls the plug on Tim Cook's Vision Pro-ject to focus on smart glasses; was it John Ternus' call?

MacRumors claims that Cupertino has now stopped development on the Vision Pro and redistributed its hardware team to other departments. This move follows the cancellation of a more affordable "Vision Air" project last year. Notably, Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell has shifted his focus to leading the Siri team - you can be the judge of how well that’s going (Google just announced Gemini AI models will be powering Siri).

Reportedly, CEO-elect John Ternus hasn't been the biggest believer in the Vision Pro (which Tim Cook loved), so perhaps he envisions a more practical direction for the platform than the one Cook pursued. While the specific motives behind his pushback remain unreported, his track record (he worked on the MacBook, iPad, AirPods) implies a preference for products that prioritize mass-market appeal over niche, experimental hardware.

While the Vision Pro M5 model remains on sale, Apple is pivoting its strategy toward smart glasses. Unlike the VR-heavy Vision Pro, these upcoming glasses will mirror the Ray-Ban Meta design, focusing on AI without an integrated display and, more importantly, a far more affordable price tag.

That said, the rest of the XR landscape is far from done. Meta remains the market leader, though it has reportedly pushed the Quest 4 back to 2027. Meanwhile, Samsung (still) makes and sells the Galaxy XR headset, while working on the just-leaked Galaxy Glasses (to compete with Apple’s smart glasses).

Note: At this point, Apple hasn't officially announced plans to give up on the Vision Pro (which is still on sale). It's worth taking the leaked information with a dose of scepticism.