I’m on day three of using the Vision Pro and the reality of using Apple’s $3,500 space computer is now becoming quite clear in my mind.
I now move with precision in the operating system (VisionOS), the hidden navigation buttons are easier to find, my companion no longer jumps with fear as soon as she meets the gaze of my EyeSight (the reproduction function of the user’s gaze) and my neck pain has almost disappeared.
While I’m still not able to say whether or not the Vision Pro is worth you shelling out that much money (and I probably won’t be able to give a definitive answer for another year or two, to be honest), here is what I think after a few hours of use.
1. The Vision Pro “killer app” is not on the App Store
“What is the Vision Pro’s flagship application?” This is the question I have been asking myself and have been asking since Apple announced its headset last June. After using it for the past three days, I have an answer. But you might not like it.
No, it’s not Personas on Zoom, or ChatGPT, or DJing on a virtual turntable. Rather, it is the sum of its parts, the ecosystem that surrounds the Vision Pro.
Of all the apps and services I’ve tested on this headset, nothing has raised my eyebrows more than the AirDropping of spatial videos from my iPhone, the appearance of a “Connect” bubble when I lift my MacBook, and the smooth movement of my mouse cursor from the virtual screen of the Mac to the various floating windows of Vision OS.
Finally, watching immersive videos with AirPods Pro almost made me forget the existence of movie theaters!
Vision Pro feels like an extension of Apple’s already robust hardware and software ecosystem (of which you probably already own one or two products), so the experience is familiar, reassuring and stress-free.
2. Hardware is ahead of its time, and that’s good news
June wan/ZDnet
I’m not the first to say that the Vision Pro feels like it was made by people from the future with materials from today. The seamless curves of the front display, the mix of fabrics and textures, and the various sensors that magically track my vision and hand movements are a testament to the excellence of Apple’s team of industrial designers.
Except for the weight distribution and the ease with which the Light Seal detaches from the front of the screen (which means you’ll inevitably leave your fingerprints on the glass before, as it is the main point of contact), I don’t have much to complain about the Apple Vision Pro from a hardware point of view.
But on the software side, the problems linked to Apple’s “first generation of products” take over. Floating windows disappear randomly. Features in native apps feel half-developed, as if they were rushed to meet a strict release window. The software experience of VisionOS 1.0 is already making me count the days until version 1.1 is released.
Occluding physical accessories (Bluetooth keyboards and mice) is at the top of my wish list. The Vision Pro does an impressive job of hand occlusion, even adjusting my skin tone to the immersive environments I find myself in. But accessories, including Apple’s Magic Keyboard, remain hidden.
My small complaints also concern the absence of dark mode on iPadOS applications (including Slack and Outlook, which I often leave floating to the side), the inability to rearrange applications on the home screen and the absence Mic input for screen recordings. So many elements which, once again, could be provided by future updates. I keep hope.
3. We feel very alone in this world of spatial computing
Using Apple Vision Pro is like putting on headphones. Once it is in place, you are isolated, immersed, alone. But I want to be optimistic and think that this is only a short-term phenomenon. Because :
- Over time, virtual reality headsets will become accepted as a wearable accessory
- In social environments, we will learn to physically communicate with each other, even with a mask on our face.
- There will be more meaningful ways to connect with people in VR. Introducing FaceTime to Vision Pro is just the beginning.
For now, Apple’s vision of headphones being a natural part of our interactions with family and friends hasn’t yet come to fruition, at least not from what I’ve experienced.
For now, I can only describe the emotional joy of watching space videos on Vision Pro.
Or how big the difference is between watching 3D films with headphones and in the cinema. Both are much better than they seem. And you have to see it like me to know it.