The Apple Vision Pro may be getting an updated Developer Strap, after an update to Apple's Developer site states orders will open soon.
The Developer Strap for the Apple Vision Pro was a $300 accessory to allow users to connect their headset to a Mac using a USB-C cable. It seems that Apple may be preparing to ship a second-generation model of the accessory.
The visionOS Resources page of the Apple Developer site includes listings for various guides developers could use for making Apple Vision Pro apps. It also includes a listing for the Developer Strap, which has been updated.
The mention of the Developer Strap has a curious note highlighted on the page, spotted by Reddit user "Mastoraz". It states the Developer Strap is "Available to order on 10/22."
Apple's website notice for the Apple Vision Pro Developer Strap
The updated page is interesting, as Apple hasn't made any formal announcement or hint of a new Developer Strap being on the way. The launch focused on the new Dual Knit Band, but none of Apple' marketing materials mention the Developer Band at all.
Up until the update, Apple continued to sell the original Developer Strap. There was no sign of it being unavailable to purchase or being limited in stock at the time of the M5 update to the Apple Vision Pro, either.
While not a conclusive result, the most probable reason for the availability date is for a new version of the strap to launch. That date coincides with the availability of the new model.
AppleInsider has contacted Apple for clarification.
An attachable upgrade
The original Developer Strap was designed to replace the right-hand-side audio assembly on the Apple Vision Pro. The intention was to be a way for developers to attach the headset to their Mac over USB-C.
Doing so allowed developers to transfer data from the Mac to the headset. It also created a video feed from the Apple Vision Pro viewable in Reality Composer Pro, though over a more secure wired connection instead of relying on Wi-Fi.
While used with a high-specification piece of hardware, it wasn't really a high-bandwidth accessory. Developers could only expect USB 2 speeds at best over the physical connection, with its use meant more for security instead of increased bandwidth.
A new Developer Strap may include a new design to match the upgraded model of headset, though it may still be compatible with the original Apple Vision Pro. Developers will probably hope for the connection to work at a faster rate, such as USB 3.2 Gen 2 or even Thunderbolt.
