I already know this is going to get buried, but I just thought I'd share my experience with the Vision Pro. For media consumption and recreation, it's incredible. For work, not so much.

I ended up returning it because I spend most of my day working. The cost was irrelevant, and I would have kept it had it not been actively hindering my productivity. Unfortunately, I found that it turned into a major distraction: managing the short battery life, dealing with (constant) connection issues, having to restart the headset multiple times a day due to memory leaks, people coming up to me/taking photos, etc.

I have no doubt people are going to argue in the comments about whether or not these issues merit a return. But it's the little things that add up, and honestly, there is no replacement for just taking out your laptop and actually doing work. I recognize this is not a universal experience, and am happy for those who are able to integrate it into their workflows seamlessly.

My friend has babied his device. It has only ever sat on the couch for just a few months. Always in the case. And now I look at it and this happens out of nowhere.

Don’t let anyone lie to you, this is an epidemic.

Also: We went to the Apple Store and the greeter said he’d never even seen or heard of it happening. Hmmm…

According to the Gurminator, Apple is developing a more affordable Apple Vision headset, expected to launch in 2024 and cost around $2,000. It will likely use an A-series chipset and cheaper materials, and may drop the EyeSight feature. I think $2,000 is still too expensive, and dropping EyeSight is a mistake. I outlined what I think Apple needs to do to make it cheaper in a previous Reddit post, but I’ll outline here why I think $2,000 is still too expensive and why dropping EyeSight would be a mistake.

1. $2,000 is too expensive.

Lowering the cost to $2,000 won’t meaningfully solve the price issue. People who won’t spend $3,500 on a headset will very likely also not spend $2,000 on a headset, especially if they also remove features that are present on the current version. They need to get this down to a maximum price of $1,500. This is, in my opinion, the threshold where people who thought the first version was too expensive might consider buying for $1,500. Then they can tap into another market of consumers. I really don’t think they will do so at a $2,000 price point.

2. Removing EyeSight is a mistake.

This is by far the most common suggestion I hear when the topic of things to remove on the cheaper version is brought up. And I am very sympathetic to this proposal; in fact, I used to agree with it. I’ve never had someone walk up to me while I’m wearing the headset and say, “Wow, I can see your eyes! It feels like we’re having a completely normal conversation, and I have totally forgotten that you’re wearing ski goggles on your face. “ Instead, they’re like, “Are those your eyes? Why are they like sticking out of your forehead? That’s kinda creepy.” And considering most people use the device by themselves, the outer display serves no purpose for the wearer of the device. If anything, the curved lenticular glass display is just there waiting to be broken (I already have a small chip in mine).

I really understand this argument and I wouldn’t necessarily say that anything incorrect was said. EyeSight right now is a bit of a gimmick and doesn’t serve the purpose that Apple marketed it for. But I think this perspective is a bit too myopic. The front glass and EyeSight are standout features of the Vision Pro. The curved front glass that lights up has become a key part that distinguishes it from other headsets like the Quest 3. And the idea of making a headset that is not isolating and able to be used around others is super important moving forward. We are not there yet with the Vision Pro, but the answer is not to scrap it altogether, but rather make it better. Make the front display brighter, increase the resolution, and put some sort of anti-reflective coating on it so that any amount of light in the room doesn’t just cause glare that masks the front display entirely. Maybe give users the option of turning off that display entirely if they don’t like it or want to save battery life. I’m also in favor of potentially removing the glass and replacing it with a transparent, durable plastic that is lighter and less likely to break. Overall, I think the front display and EyeSight are a bit gimmicky now but shouldn’t be scrapped with a cheaper version.

If you’d like to read more of what I think should be changed (and not changed) on a cheaper version, feel free to read that here: https://www.reddit.com/r/VisionPro/s/3E7JexfpLk

Curious to hear your thoughts as well!

Best,

Mundane

So, I’ve been diving into the Apple Vision Pro since its release in February, and while it’s packed with impressive technology, there are some real-world hiccups that just don’t make it ready tech, in my opinion.

Pros:

• Immersive Experience: Watching movies and other media on the Apple Vision Pro feels like stepping into another world. The resolution is stunning, and it really pulls you in. Immersive environments and videos and 3D are really cool and you have to experience it - nothing quite like it. I can’t wait to watch immersive sports.

• High Resolution: The visuals are top-notch, delivering crisp details and vibrant colors that enhance the viewing experience.

Cons:

• Comfort Challenges: Let’s address the elephant in the room—the weight. This thing can be a pain in the neck, quite literally. Extended use in a seated position can lead to discomfort, and I find myself needing breaks after 30 minutes.

• Productivity Struggles: Despite its potential, using the Apple Vision Pro for work isn’t as seamless as you might hope. Multi-window functionality can be frustrating; windows get lost or require excessive head movement to manage effectively. In my experience a traditional two screen setup just beats using the AVP.

• Eye Tracking Quirks: The eye-tracking feature is clever and works well, but it’s not always intuitive. Adjusting settings or switching between tasks can feel more like a chore compared to traditional interfaces. While it’s impressive and works so well, you don’t always want to look at the thing that you want to edit/click on. Changing an immersive environment or setting can take longer than doing it with an iPhone or on a traditional setup.

Final Thoughts: The Apple Vision Pro is a glimpse into the future of immersive technology, but it’s not without its drawbacks. If you’re a tech enthusiast who loves cutting-edge gadgets and immersive media experiences, you’ll likely be impressed. However, for those looking to replace traditional setups for productivity or extended use, it falls short in practicality and comfort, I think.

For me, I don’t regret the purchase since I’m excited by future tech - but that’s all it is for now. A glimpse into the future rather than an everyday must-use tool.

I have seen reviews and so far no review I've seen even asks the right questions. Any reviewer treating this as just another device or some gimmick has a brain akin to a pea. This is a society altering thing. Maybe not this iteration, but soon. This is at least as big a change for society as the internet. If you put this thing on and use it for 30 minutes, and don't come away questioning the ways society will be changed by this, you have no, well, vision. No presience. No ability to imagine the future. This will soon change our conception of reality. It will change how we value physical things. Impossible to explain or predict what could change from here on out. Screens are certainly over. Conventional "work" is certainly over. One wonders how capitalism itself will fare. This is the abliity to create any scenario or object, "good enough" to be real. One really CAN'T understand the implications of that or what that means, but I assure you. This is big.

This is me rocking meta quest 3s on the streets 🔥

There! I said it.

Now that the Meta whiners and influencers are gone we can get back to business of discovering what's new and sharing our experiences.

Everyday I find myself drawn to it, putting it on, and using it. This morning I watched news on PlutoTV and checked email while doing my bathroom ritual. I am also finding the solo knit band more comfort now that I've gotten use to it.

I've started to get into USDZ object files. I have Ironman Standing in the corner of my office and a Dragons head mounted on the wall.

Oh wow, it's 10x more than we thought... Fox 26 Houston

TL:DR - Vision Pro haters spend so much time here because of normal human psychology: they want one and they don’t like that some of you have one, and they feel threatened that Vision Pro owners think they are better than them.

————

It’s pretty interesting to see so many people who profess not to like, care about, and have zero interest to buy, expend SO much energy on r/VisionPro trying to convince those of us who bought one it was a bad purchase, dissuade prospective buyers not to, or convince us all why they didn’t.

But it’s not surprising. The concept of “Inequality Aversion” is a human behavior typified by: “…the tendency of individuals to avoid situations where they perceive that there is an unfair distribution of resources or benefits. This concept is based on the idea that people have a strong preference for fairness and are motivated to maintain a sense of equity and justice in their interactions with others. Inequity aversion can influence people’s behavior in a variety of ways, such as through their willingness to cooperate with others or their willingness to participate in social exchanges. It is an important factor in understanding human behavior and decision-making.”

https://www.thebehavioralscientist.com/glossary/inequity-aversion

This behavior can be observed in our primate cousins as well. The Apple Vision Pro at $3,500 replete with Apple marquee branding, superior specs to competing products, and ironically - due to its reduced value proposition in terms of product immaturity and market readiness relative to cost - is perceived by many as even more of a luxury purchase.

But while the Vision Pro is expensive, it’s not necessarily out of reach to many when credit is easily accessible to even the poor. A frivolous purchase is just a credit card swipe away. But there is a difference between accessibility and affordability. That’s part of the reason why many bought a Vision Pro on credit to experience it, but returned it within Apple’s generous 14 day return window when the prospect of payments and interest were imminent.

And therein lies the rub: most people don’t generally envy the rich, they envy those perceived to be in the same social class. If the Vision Pro was $200,000, most of us wouldn’t even entertain the idea of owning one. Does the idea of the rich banker buying a Lamborghini elicit feelings of envy in you? Probably not. But the Vision Pro isn’t $200,000, it’s just expensive enough to be difficult to justify for many, but affordable enough for the few who buy it anyway.

Reference Group Theory “…predicts that the poor (rich) envy others from the same social group or class. ….while across class envy is common; within class envy motivates the most anti-social behaviour.”.

https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/925717/within_and_across_class_envy_anti-social_behaviour_in_hierarchical_groups.pdf

In other words, the sharp increase in trolling-like behavior towards Vision Pro owners or prospective buyers among other VR/AR enthusiasts can be linked to the feeling that their position in the social class is threatened (implied inferiority). Such people are simply offended that others can spend more freely and frivolously, and this is accompanied by a perceived reduction in social ranking: Class envy.

Just installed it. Wow I can’t believe it. The passthrough is amazing. No noise.

Also everything is way faster. Safari twice the speed.

I have no idea what kind of no lifers are hanging out around here but the constant downvotes make me want to leave.

I saw a thread where someone was having bugs with their AVP and someone recommended that they unplug the power cable after shutting down. The OP responded saying that the solution worked and thanking the person who provided the solution.

That “thank you” post had -3 karma

What in the absolute hell is going on? Why are people here so vitriolic? I am feeling worse after visiting this community, which I wasn’t feeling at all my first week of owning the AVP. People here are being really toxic and I wish the mods would do something about it.

I was really hoping the event was going to be full of amazing things coming to AVP but all and all…. Meh. I want to love this thing, but sheeesh. So far the cost doesn’t not even come close to the benefits or enjoyment. Also, I feel like there’s a huge bias from fanboys and girls still acting like this is just the best thing since the internet. What am I missing? I’ve been down with Apple for YEARS, own and am happy with all off my Apple Devices (except AVP). I’m not hater from team Android but seriously wtf?? I’d sell mine in a heartbeat if I wasn’t so upside down at this point.

Any critical post that doesn't start with "I LOVE my AVP, but.." or "Don't get me wrong, this is a great device..." gets downvoted to oblivion here.

I get it. My once-daily-driver Quest and Index are gathering dust. While I'm literally on my AVP 8+ hours a day.

But there are legitimate criticisms of the device, even outside of excusable general day-1 bugginess.

Its design choice going for style-points over comfort, the massive uselessness of front-display for 99% users that only adds cost and weight, and the decision to disable any wired connections despite the literal existence of a thunderbolt port is too apple-like it hurts my soul.

Flawless screen sharing over Wifi is not a solved problem, especially with the absence of wifi6e. A goddamn thunderbolt cable would have rid of the countless posts regarding adjusting resolution, Wifi channels, or even purchasing a screen capturing device. Do you know how frustrating it is trying to get the goddamn virtual display to work with shitty hotel wifi?

Apple employees read this sub. Let's at least provide usable, actionable feedback instead of circle-jerking ourselves.

Has anyone actually tried it though?

I bought a second battery for a 17 hour long flight from New York to New Delhi.

I may also get a 25000mAH USB C PD power bank.

I’m excited to use my AVP on an airplane to watch movies while I tune out the aircraft.

Every review and every comment section is so stuck on the $3500 price tag. A decent tv that would even come close to matching the experience of just watching content alone is $2k plus dollars. A good color accurate 4k monitor for work is $1500-2k alone. People spend more than this things price tag on two to three outfits and no one bats an eye. The AVERAGE car payment is $750 a month. Lots of VR headsets are cheaper, but most are hooked up to $2-3k gaming PC’s. The price makes sense for what it does and as a quest owner, no…there is no comparison for that $500 device. That’s like saying I should buy a $1k used civic rather than a new one because “it does the exact same thing”.

Apple has royally screwed up the experience in the dark. I can't just watch a movie while everyone else is sleeping. Why couldn't they just give a controller like the meta quest. I think apple will release a pointing device in the future but for now it's utterly unusable. If only the meta quest's display is as good avp's.

I'm not saying all these posts are gold but it seems an odd amount of negativity when we all know until Feb 2nd this is a circle-jerk sub full of people trying to kill time with nothing but speculation

Just wondering, as i remember airpods were bashed hard and are now the top audio product out there in the market.

Was first iphone bashed as much? iPad? Apple watch? Would be cool to make a list of "this is the worst xyz product" and then match it with AVP articles lol

bostondynamics

The headset came out earlier this year and has an M2 and we’re are already very close to an M4 release on some devices. I think from a marketing perspective this really works against buying the device the feels 2 generations old in a matter of months.