Apple’s Vision Pro is getting the M5 chip, but that’s not what it really needs - Related to needs, vi, auto, grand, but

An industry waits for Grand Theft Auto VI to get a release date

In Take-Two’s earnings today, the massive video game publisher behind hits like the Borderlands series and Red Dead Redemption was unsurprisingly coy about Grand Theft Auto VI’s exact release date. Take-Two has resisted giving a specific date to what can likely be called the most anticipated game in the world at the moment, the sequel to Grand Theft Auto V which has sold 210 million units so far, instead only giving the vague but unmoving “Fall” timeline.

It turns out this is a bit of a problem for developers in the industry that are not Take-Two. Sending a game out near Grand Theft Auto VI, or even more perilously, against Grand Theft Auto VI, is likely a sales death sentence for any title. Market attention can sometimes be a zero-sum game and there is little point in trying to combat a title of GTAVI’s size when it has already sucked all the air out of the room. Thus, many publishers are holding their own cards close to their chest so as not to announce any dates that would just have to move to get out of developer Rockstar’s way.

This can make Take-Two’s refusal to commit to a date frustrating for developers who simply wish to know when best to launch a game without the looming danger of GTAVI. Take-Two, which presumably does have a target date in mind, is able to schedule their 2025 releases with relative ease that their competition does not have. Today, they remarked that Borderlands 4 from the newly-acquired Gearbox software would release this year, presumably not against Grand Theft Auto VI.

One reason for caution on Take-Two’s part is the fluid nature of game development. Many of Rockstar’s biggest projects, like 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, were delayed almost a full year from their presented date. When speaking to investors about the successor to what became the most profitable piece of media of all time, Take-Two’s leadership has to choose their words carefully. Rockstar likely feels the pressure to make sure Grand Theft Auto VI does not disappoint, which means it will only come out when it is finished, which may not be this calendar year.

For other developers and publishers in the industry, the pain of not knowing is unlikely to be salved anytime soon. Take-Two will need to start marketing the game later this year with a release date and they can only hope that Rockstar can cross that finish line in time. But there is surely some strategy in being able to withhold that information until it is completely necessary.

Table of Contents Table of Contents What’s this new Home Up enhancement about What else can you do with Home Up The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t so borin......

Radio Flyer Flex e-bike review: Goldilocks would say it’s just right MSRP $2,[website] Score Details “A wide selection of options adds to the Flex's vers......

Enterprise adoption of generative AI technologies has undergone explosive growth in the last two years and counting. Powerful solutions underpinned by......

Apple’s Vision Pro is getting the M5 chip, but that’s not what it really needs

Table of Contents Table of Contents The wrong priority? Taking the long view.

We’ve not yet seen the full rollout of Apple’s M4 chip family — the M4 Ultra is still yet to make an appearance — but already we’ve just learned that the M5 chip is now in production. That means it’ll probably arrive in Macs either late this year or early next year.

If you’ve been waiting to buy a new MacBook Pro, that could mean 2026 is the year to finally pull the trigger. After all, Apple is expected to fully redesign its flagship laptop for next year’s release, and if that coincides with a powerful new M5 chip, all the superior.

But there’s another device the M5 chip is rumored for: the Vision Pro headset. And on that front, things are a lot more complicated. On the surface, it looks encouraging. The M5 will likely bring increased performance and improved efficiency, the latter of which could lead to improved battery life in the Vision Pro.

But there’s another thing we could see when the M5 drops into the mixed-reality headset: the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, the enterprise’s artificial intelligence (AI) system. While the M2 in the existing Vision Pro can run AI (it does so in Macs, after all), it can’t do it in the Vision Pro where it also needs to handle many other heavy processing workloads.

Adding artificial intelligence to the Vision Pro makes sense from Apple’s perspective, as it’s trying to gain a foothold in the AI market. But does it actually make sense for Vision Pro people, both existing and prospective ones? I’m not so sure.

I lately wrote that there’s one thing the Vision Pro needs to resurrect itself, and that’s a cheaper model. At $3,500, the current Vision Pro is well out of the reach of most consumers, and sales are suffering as a result. And really, I can say that a strong chip and Apple Intelligence were not on my list of necessary improvements.

So why is Apple prioritizing a new chip instead of a cut-price model? Well, a new form factor takes time to develop, especially if Apple wasn’t planning on launching one and was instead forced into action by lacklustre Vision Pro sales.

But are AI and a more powerful chip really what the headset needs? It’s already one of the most powerful and feature-rich virtual reality headsets on the market, and that’s precisely why its price is so high. Adding in a brand-new chip is going to do nothing to make the Vision Pro more affordable, something that desperately needs to happen.

As well as that, Apple Intelligence is very limited right now. While it has some good uses, it will need to be in a far advanced state by the time it launches in the Vision Pro to actually have any major impact (or convince buyers to snap one up).

While I can see how AI could help Vision Pro consumers navigate a new interface and an unfamiliar way of working (just ask Siri to do something if you can’t find it, for example), it will be irrelevant if the headset is still too expensive for most people to actually purchase one.

I expect that this M5 modification is intended to keep the Vision Pro relevant while Apple works on a more affordable sibling model, which we know is in development. But really, the M5 inclusion just helps to highlight how much of a drastic rethink the Vision Pro needs. Simple chip upgrades and artificial intelligence aren’t going to cut it.

I’m hopeful that that kind of overhaul is exactly what Apple has planned. There’s no need to ditch the current Vision Pro entirely — that can carry on as a model for enthusiasts and those for whom money is no object. For those people, the M5 chip will be a welcome upgrade.

But I expect that everyone else would be willing to skip the M5 chip if it meant Apple could bring down the cost and release a more affordable headset. It’s just a shame that the cut-price headset might not launch until 2028. Until then, Apple will have to hope upgrades like the M5 are enough to keep people happy.

Enterprise adoption of generative AI technologies has undergone explosive growth in the last two years and counting. Powerful solutions underpinned by......

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) showcased the launch of the Interactive Innovation Conference (iicon), a new event designed to connect vi......

Radio Flyer Flex e-bike review: Goldilocks would say it’s just right MSRP $2,[website] Score Details “A wide selection of options adds to the Flex's vers......

JBL’s 100W portable Bluetooth has a nice discount today

The Super Bowl is only a few days away now, which means we can expect to see plenty of last-minute sales on TVs, soundbars, and other home theater gear. But if you want to treat your Super Bowl party guests to an evening of immersive audio they’ll never forget, you’ll want to have a solid Bluetooth speaker lying around. Fortunately, we came across a great sale while vetting through Bluetooth speaker deals:

For a limited time, when you purchase the JBL Partybox Encore Essential through Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and a handful of other retailers, you’ll only pay $250. The full MSRP on this model is $300.

Why you should buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential.

Nothing says “party” like a 100W speaker with a built-in, customizable RGB light show! The JBL Partybox Encore Essential delivers bold, bass-forward audio and can fill up most medium listening spaces with sound. It performs well both indoors and outdoors, too, and thanks to its IPX4 IP rating, you won’t have to worry about an accidental beverage spill putting an end to your tunes. The tough chassis also attributes a built-in carrying handle for seamless A-to-B portability.

On a full charge, you can expect up to six hours of playtime from the Partybox Encore Essential, so you shouldn’t have to worry about recharging before your Super Bowl shindig is over (actual battery performance will vary based on volume level, EQ settings, etc.).

We also recommend downloading the JBL Partybox app, which allows you to pair two Partybox speakers together for an even bigger soundstage. The app also provides audio customization tools and a handful of other settings.

It’s hard to say how long this discount is going to stick around, so today might be the best (and last) day to take advantage of this offer. Take $50 off the JBL Partybox Encore Essential when you purchase today. We also recommend having a look at our roundups of the best Amazon deals and the best Walmart deals for even more markdowns on top-rated Bluetooth speakers.

Last week, Boom Supersonic completed its first supersonic test flight of the XB-1 test aircraft. I watched the broadcast live, and the vibe was infect......

Many SoCs are being prepared for upcoming 2025 devices, and a recent benchmark hints at that a MediaTek chipset could make Chromebooks as fast as they......

This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we’re publishing each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. J......