*Rambling and reflecting on the first anniversary of the Apple Vision Pro: Has Apple redefined reality?*

Today marks the first anniversary of the Apple Vision Pro launch in the United States. Originally announced at WWDC23 and hotly anticipated before launch, the first year of the Apple Vision Pro being on the market has been a mixed bag, to say the least. You can look online and find as many confident posts lauding the Vision Pro as a success as you can find people denouncing it as a failed product. So what are we to make of this product? Success? Failure? Somewhere in-between? Here are my ramblings on a year with the Apple Vision Pro.

Weird Launch

The launch of the Apple Vision Pro had to be one of the more peculiar product launches I've seen from Apple. On January 08, 2024, with no fanfare, Apple released a press release announcing that preorders of the Vision Pro would go live on January 19 ahead of a February 02 launch. I wonder why Apple opted for such a quiet announcement, but if I had to guess, I'd wager that they knew all along that this wasn't a mass-market product and, as such, didn't need a mass-market launch. Getting precise numbers is tough, but a safe estimate is that Apple sold no more than ~500,000 units of the Vision Pro worldwide. Compared to the roughly 220+ million iPhones Apple was estimated to have shipped in 2023, Apple Vision Pro numbers look like a rounding error. From a cost, manufacturing, and appeal perspective, I think Apple knew the Vision Pro would not be an overnight hit.

It was, to put it mildly, a bizarre launch. The collage features an early wave of content creators doing everything from swimming and running to driving (!!), skating, dining, weightlifting, and even mowing the lawn—all while wearing the Apple Vision Pro.

From the stories I've read, there appears to have been an internal debate about whether the Vision Pro should be released in its current state. The product Apple aspires to make - AR Glasses - was still far off. Still, Apple couldn't keep developing the hardware privately, especially when companies like Meta were establishing themselves in this headset space. And so, perhaps feeling pressure to plant a flag in this new computing landscape, Apple released its most over-engineered interim product, the Vision Pro.

Dilemma

I've continued to see the Vision Pro at an odd crossroads concerning its features, price, utility, and social acceptability. It might have the best display many of us will ever use, but that comes at the cost of it being a very isolating experience. When I listen to people discussing Vision Pro, a sentiment regularly shared is that the partners hate it and that many people don't care to watch movies alone. Similarly, though it's socially acceptable to publicly stare into a laptop or phone, donning a headset in public gives weird vibes - and I've yet to see anyone wear one. Factor in the prohibitive price for a device many people don't have a clear sense of how to maximize its value, and a paltry developer pool making apps for the headset, and you have a product that people have a hard time knowing how to integrate into their daily lives.

That last point might be the biggest hurdle facing Vision Pro: how do you integrate the product into your life? A familiar thread emerges from the many tech podcasts and forums I follow: following the initial fervour of getting the device, use of the product plummets. Identifying what part of your workflow the Vision Pro is best at isn't as straightforward as it seems, even for people heavily entrenched in tech.

*Mac Virtual Display inside the Apple Vision Pro.*

Apple has made some quality-of-life improvements with VisionOS 2.0 through 2.2, including a Widescreen Mac Virtual Display with significantly improved latency to help improve integration with the Mac. However, I have yet to hear many Vision Pro owners state that this has created a sustained shift towards using Vision Pro more frequently, but it has slightly spiked more regular use.

This is all before mentioning that ergonomically, the Vision Pro is a physically taxing experience. A 30-minute session may work fine, but extended wear can become extremely fatiguing and uncomfortable. Accessories released throughout the year have attempted to address this issue. Still, the fact remains that for most folks, the Vision Pro might be the most uncomfortable product they'll use, a non-negligible deterrent when it comes to consistently turning to it for computing work.

Glows

*The hardware & software of the Vision Pro is truly exceptional. The fit and finish are beyond reproach.*

Discussing a year with the Vision Pro can't dismiss the genuinely breathtaking abilities of the product.

visionOS: For starters, the user interface is second to none. Apple has integrated hardware and software in such a way that the content in the Vision Pro convinces my brain to believe the windows in visionOS are real-world objects—the careful use of shadow, transparency, and the unparalleled stability of these objects in a 3D space trick my brain of their permanence in the room. This is a product you get thoroughly immersed into, which complements both the calibre of hardware and the refinement of software that went into this product; it's unparalleled by anything else I've seen before.

Photos: The photo experience was another feature of the Vision Pro that caught me off guard. Several years back, I was on a rooftop in the center of Amsterdam and took a panorama of the historic city. I have looked at that photo dozens of times over the years, but nothing prepared me for the amount of emotion I would experience seeing the photo wrap around me inside the Vision Pro. I remember standing there, flooded with memories and feelings from that trip in a way the image had previously not evoked. Since then, I've taken thousands of photos and am continuously surprised by how much more emotion is evoked seeing these dimensional images. The Vision Pro changed how I take photos and videos and allows me to rekindle memories in a way I never would have anticipated.

Media: Despite my limited time to watch movies and my preference for watching them with people, the viewing experience of Vision Pro is second to none. It's the most beautiful display I've ever used, and you do get drawn much deeper into the content you are viewing when the characteristics of the world around you disappear. And the added visual elements, like watching movies with the light rippling off a Trillium Lake in front of Mt. Hood or casting a gentle shimmer on the clouds at the summit of Haleakalā, never get old.

Immersion: Because this product is so adept at immersive experiences, working inside the headset can become a more relaxing, focused experience. It's easy to make the world disappear, and for all to exist is you and the content you are working on. Putting on the Vision Pro and getting into a flow state with my writing is extremely easy and pleasurable. Unlike working on any other computing device, time inside the Vision Pro can become very meditative. The integrated Audio Pods are incredible, but the immersion goes up a notch when using Apple's AirPods Pro 2.

Growing Pains

Anytime I need to use the Vision Pro, I need to remind myself of what it was like first using the iPhone or iPad: that Vision Pro is a platform still very much in its infancy. It's tough coming from a mature platform like macOS or iOS and not instantly noticing the limitations of visionOS. I find myself repeating the mantra: It's a new platform; be patient; it'll get better. That said, there are a few areas that I struggle to overlook after a year of use.

*Work inside the Vision Pro can be a very calming and unhurried experience, a strength but also an occasional constraint of the product.*

Unhurried: First, using VisionOS is a much more paced way of computing than I am familiar with. With so much dependence on eye-tracking and gesture-based controls, it takes considerably longer to do the same things in visionOS than in other Apple platforms. A keyboard and trackpad certainly help, but this is not a platform you quickly boot up to get things done; rather, it's a more unhurried way of working that seems jarring at first.

Lack of Native Apps: Second, compared to native visionOS apps, iPad apps running on the platform are not good. I appreciate that there is compatibility for apps not optimized for visionOS to work on Vision Pro since so many developers haven't created native apps. Still, I've found working with iPad apps inside the platform janky at best. My most glaring criticism is that touch targets on iPad apps can be nearly impossible to hit with eye tracking, a bit of a dealbreaker when the product is heavily dependent on eye-tracking as the method of interactivity.

Dead Again: Unless you keep the Vision Pro (with battery) perpetually plugged in, it will be dead when you return to use it. Even removed from your head and sitting attached to the battery, the Vision Pro leaks battery life so that by the time you return to using it, most of the juice from its external battery will be gone. I don't prefer keeping this device on and plugged in 24/7, so the complete shutdowns, reboots, and extended times to sync data from the time I booted up last can be a pain.

My Use Case

Regrettably, I'm in the pool of people who were head over heels for the Vision Pro but have since struggled to establish a regular and consistent habit of using the device. It's a product I use 5-7 times per month in a limited capacity. With a hectic life, finding a meaningful period to escape privately into Vision Pro is rare. When I catch a pocket of time, many of the things I prefer to do (i.e., design work, reading) are not things the Vision Pro is best suited for, and the apps I want to use are often not natively available on the platform. If I had a more solitary lifestyle, I believe I would become a far more regular user of the Vision Pro because its use would increase for things like watching Sports, TV shows, etc. However, a year later, I'm still reticent about immersing myself in a headset rather than feel present with family in the evenings.

For all the reasons I've mentioned, the Vision Pro is regularly outcompeted by other devices. And despite its areas of immense strength, the things it does best are all things that I infrequently seek out.

What (I Hope) Comes Next

*Apple Vision Store on display at an Apple Store.*

Writing this entry has reignited my curiosity about the platform, motivating me to push through its growing pains and reassess how (or if) it fits into my daily life. I’ve fallen out of the habit of using it consistently, and when it’s tucked away, it’s easy to default to my phone or Mac instead. I’m going to see if making it more visible and setting a clear intention to use it helps draw me back in.

But to truly make it a more regularly used product, here are a few of my recommendations:

Developer Incentives: There aren't enough native apps on the Apple Vision Pro. This includes games, productivity apps, and utilities. I'm a basic app user, but less than 1/8 of the apps I regularly use are available natively to work with Vision Pro, including many of Apple's apps (more on that in a minute). However, a cheaper Vision Pro would not be my solution. Even if Apple released a model priced at ~$2000, it would still be prohibitively expensive for many people, given its very niche status. It might attract slightly more developers, but the customer base would still remain minuscule in encouraging development en masse.

My approach would be for Apple to create a developer incentive program. This program could include developers targeted by Apple or applying for bursaries to port and support their apps on Vision Pro. That way, Apple could build enough of an app catalogue that by the time Vision Pro becomes cheaper, there will be more compelling reasons for users to jump into the platform.

Live Sports & Entertainment: If Apple ever finds a way of incorporating live spatial cameras/streaming to sporting events and live entertainment, it could considerably increase the attractiveness of this platform. Begin with Major League Soccer and invest in a few spatial cameras around the pitch for people to watch the game. Or partner with artists and have spatial cameras available at concerts (either recorded or live). Work with a Broadway production to create a spatial version of the performance show for people to watch. The Apple Vision Pros' current strength is its phenomenal media experience, so lean into it!

Gaming: Face it, nobody is buying the Vision Pro for Keynote. One of the most compelling uses for headsets is gaming, and while it might not be able to compete with Meta due to its exorbitant price, making it more gamer-friendly could help draw a larger audience to the platform. This could include adding VR joysticks to expand the precision of gaming (Apple is rumoured to be working with Sony on that), striking deals with developers, or improving the streaming gaming experience. It's not going to cause the Vision Pro to fly off the shelves, but it gradually expands the capabilities and attractiveness of the product to a wider audience.

Update: There are some early options to stream games through the Safari app or by using apps like Portal, but the ease and options need to be improved.

More Immersive Content: This painfully slow trickle of Vision Pro content needs to accelerate. Right now, the videos are interesting, but there isn't enough of a library or cohesion in content for this to be a basis for getting an Apple Vision Pro. A year in, you could buy a Vision Pro in the morning, binge ALL of Apple’s immersive content, and still have time to return it before lunch.

More Native Apps: One of my regular criticisms of Vision Pro is its lack of Apple's own native apps. Regular apps like Calendar, Reminders, Maps, Podcasts, and Pages are iPad ports, while other Apple Apps are simply missing. You won't reinvent the Vision Pro by adding Weather to the product, but it's hard to convince developers to bring their apps to the platform if you aren't going to do the same.

Final Thoughts

Even if you have no desire to buy a Vision Pro, I’d still highly recommend booking an in-store demo. It’s quite an exceptional experience to watch the immersive demo reel and experience the interface first hand.

The Vision Pro is the most expensive Apple product I own, yet it's the one I use the least. A year later, it remains a product I deeply enjoy using but one that I quickly run up against the barriers of what I want or need to do, which has resulted in waning use of the product over time. While the media experience is par excellence, and the unhurried use is almost meditative, these haven't been enough to make the product compelling enough for it to be a daily device.

The Vision Pro is a truly exciting peek at the future, so I have no regrets about owning the product. It showcases incredible strengths - from its eye and hand tracking to its beautiful UI to its ability to rekindle the emotions taken of our most precious moments. Yet, these innovations are contrasted by the Vision Pros limitations, including a limited software ecosystem and discomfort during extended use.

There's something undeniably special about the Vision Pro. With a little more time to iron out its rough edges, I believe the roadmap of the Vision Lineup will be remarkably bright.

Recommended Accessories

Over the year, I have used up a couple of accessories to recommend:

Apple Vision Pro Travel Case ($199): This is a pricey yet sturdy, premium-feeling case designed to store the Vision Pro. With its wavy, wrinkled plastic fabric exterior and a discreet handle that seamlessly extends from the shell, it looks like a collab between Apple and NASA.

Alternate Cases:

Belkin Travel Bag for Apple Vision Pro ($99): A more compact and conventional case design compared with Apple's offering that also costs half the price.
WaterField Designs Shield Case for Apple Vision Pro ($159-199): A premium case offering a more compact method of storing the vision Pro but requiring some disassembly (i.e., removing the head strap when packing away the device).

Spigen Head Strap ($39): A strap that works alongside the Solo Knit strap, providing an extra that goes over the head. This strap dramatically improved the comfort and weight distribution of the Vision Pro, significantly improving the experience of using the device.

KIWI design Lens Protector Cover ($15): A simple foam and stretch fabric pad that fits inside the Vision Pro to protect the lenses from dust and abrasion.

Hazevaiy Acrylic Magic Keyboard and Trackpad Support Stand ($39): An acrylic stand that holds the Apple Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard when using the Vision Pro. It’s a great addition for those looking to create a more traditional laptop-style setup, whether working at a desk or lounging on the couch.

Apple Magic Keyboard & Magic Trackpad ($228-278): I'd be remiss if I didn't include that adding Apple's keyboard and trackpad to your Vision Pro significantly improves the ease and speed of interacting with the Vision Pro.

iofeiwak Aluminum Alloy Stand for Apple Vision Pro ($39): Although I haven’t purchased this stand yet, I’m considering it as a way to make the Vision Pro more visible—and, in turn, more frequently used. The reviews seem solid, and the price is reasonable enough to justify trying it out.

Apple Vision Pro: 1 Year Later