Vision Pro: Whats Next?

The Apple Vision Pro, which was launched in early 2024, is one of the most recently spectacular devices ever produced by any company. However, as one would notice, they are not exactly everywhere nor flying off the Apple Store shelves. Despite agreed by tech reviewers and enthuasists alike as one of the most incredible devices ever made, none of them is recommending to buy it. So what gives? And what next steps that Apple will take for the Vision Pro?

The Problems

To get things out of the door, let us dive in to what went wrong for the Vision Pro

• Price: With prices starting from $3,500, is is a very expensive computer, let alone for a VR headset. However, if you think about it, the Vision Pro is cheaper and better than a Pro Display XDR. And despite what people think, Apple is estimated have sold 500,000 units worldwide in 2024.
• Weight: Most VR headset are made from plastic to reduce weight. Apple uses aluminum for the construction because it give a very premium feel.
• Availability: You can buy the iPhone anywhere from Manhanttan to Timbuku, but despite being launched for almost 2 years, the Vision Pro is only available in a handful, mostly rich countries. What’s worse, you have to create a specific Apple ID to use the app store if your country does not officially carry the Vision Pro.
• The ecosystem: Apple is the king of ecosystem, but in the case of Vision Pro, Apple fumbles the ball. One way to describe the Vision Pro is the ultimate home theatre display ever made, but other major content providers like YouTube and Netflix do not have a native visionOS app. I have to admit this is more a politicial issue than a technical one, but since Vision Pro has been on the market for 2 years now, there’s no excuse for Apple not charming them to the platform.

Improvements Since Launch

The conclusion for the Vision Pro for now is that it is not a complete flop, but it is not a runaway success like other Apple products. The future of Vision Pro is uncertain at the moment, but Apple is not standing still. Here are some of the improvements that Apple has made since launch

• M5 chip: The singular most significant update is adding the M5 chip to the Vision Pro. The R1 is still being retained. It makes the hardware slightly snappier.
  

  

  
  

  

• Dual Knit Band: The Solo Knit Band makes that Vision Pro recognizable and cool, but it does not help with support on your face and neck. The Dual Knit Band is supposed to resolve this issue
  

  

• Ultrawide Screen for the Mac: One of the game changer for the Vision Pro is providing the best screen for the Mac. Now you can immerse yourself better with an ultra wide screen option.
  

  

• Enterprise Use: Most VR/AR headset usually end up in enterprise environment where they are useful in helping manufacturing complex products. Apple is angling to play this route, but how this venture goes is not known.
• Immersive Content: Apple is growing their immersive content library. Starting in 2025, the LA Lakers will be broadcasting their home game in an immersive format.

What’s Next

So the Vision Pro is not exactly a failure nor a runaway success. This leaves the question: where is Apple going after this? Here are some of the suggestions

• As a display: There were rumoured attempts to make thether it to a Mac
  

  

• Smart Glasses: Meta took the oppsite end of the VR headset spectrum: making Smart Glasses in collabration with RayBan. They were a hit - more than 2 million units sold since 2023, but value-wise, it is on par with Vision Pro.
  
  There are numerous discussions surrounding this route, but the consensus is that companies are developing Smart Glasses with more features or AR headsets that feel less like AR. The final product would be something that is as light or invisible as your glasses but can flick into an immersive environment at the turn of a wheel. So Vision Pro, which looks like normal glasses and doesn’t require the GDP of a large nation to own one.

• Getting partners involved: It has been 2 years and we still don’t have native Netflix or Youtube app. They are available in Safari, but this signals the unwillingness of those companies to work with Apple. Apple should work on this.

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Other Ecosystem Items

• Apple TV (Amazon) / Apple TV 4K (Amazon)
• AirTags (Amazon)
• HomePod Mini (Amazon)