Apple Vision Pro review one year later: time to exit the preview

It’s been a wild year for Apple Vision Pro, if slow, and it’s time for Apple to step up and prove it’s the future and drive customers, developers, and creators to the platform.

Apple Vision Pro continues to be one of Apple’s most frustrating yet amazing products it has ever released. It is simultaneously a preview of the future and a stark reminder of Apple’s struggle to juggle multiple platforms in the modern era.

As it stands today, Apple Vision Pro is enough for me to get most of my work done. It sits in a similar space to where iPad Pro was a few years ago — almost there.

The introduction of Apple Intelligence and it not being on Apple Vision Pro has been a bit of a problem. When editing text, I either need to use the Mac Virtual Display or take off the headset to edit on iPad.

The lack of native apps hasn’t proven to be a big problem, as many iPad apps are available. If you’re a user like me, you’ll be happy with the challenge of replicating workflows on the visionOS platform.

So, as I look back on the first year of Apple Vision Pro, I want to look forward too, and discuss what Apple needs to make this a possible future in computing. The iPad Pro is still my primary computer, but there are aspects of Apple Vision Pro that keep pulling me back, and I hope more are on the way.

If you’d like to see how I’ve discussed Apple Vision Pro from pre-launch to today, here’s a handy list.

Apple Vision Pro review — one year

The iPhone is Apple’s bread and butter, so it makes sense to see much of the company’s attention on it and not on other products. If iPad users thought Apple’s development cycle have been long, Apple Vision Pro is on a whole new level.

When visionOS 2 was revealed in June 2024, it felt like Apple was committed to giving the platform regular updates. However, after that initial run of new features and APIs, Apple has neglected to add anything else to Apple Vision Pro.

Developers don’t have much incentive to make native apps. Media makers aren’t paying attention to the platform unless Apple is footing the bill.

All of these things are symptoms of a new product searching for a purpose and market. It doesn’t help that Apple Intelligence had to become such a huge priority in 2024 and take all of Apple’s attention.

That said, every little step forward so far has been in the right direction. The slow global launch means more international developers supporting the platform and more potential customers to address.

Every new immersive video, game, or native app is another reason for people to spend the $3,500. However, the time for early adopters is over. Apple needs to make Apple Vision Pro a product for everyone, not just the nerds with expendable income.

Apple Vision Pro review — design

My initial review of Apple Vision Pro pontificated if third-party accessory makers would introduce new and interesting ways to use the product. The short answer is yes, but not quite in the way I was expecting.

Instead of offering a range of stylish bands and alternate options, accessory makers chose to focus on different fits. There are now several alternative options to Apple’s Dual Loop or Solo Knit headbands, but I always return to the Solo Knit band.

Those that tried Apple Vision Pro early commented heavily on its weight and fit. These are the least impactful parts of the product for me.

The ski-goggle-like headset can be worn for hours at a time without issue, as long as you’ve found the right fit. I’ve never gotten a headache or sore eyes from using Apple Vision Pro.

I had no idea what to expect in terms of durability and longevity when I first picked up the Apple Vision Pro in February 2024. It seemed scary to even hold or wear such an expensive device, let alone place it in a case or bag.

As the novelty wore off and I inevitably got less careful, I still had no major incident. The closest scare I encountered was pulling the device off of my desk and it hitting the floor — unscathed.

One year in, there aren’t any scratches, rips, tears, or other damage. It’s basically brand new.

Even as much as I’ve used Apple Vision Pro, I’ve yet to see any deterioration with the face cushion, light shield, or knit band. These accessories are pricey, so it’s good to know they’ve got some longevity.

I canceled my AppleCare after a few months of use. The design has held up well, though you still want to be careful with storage and transport.

Apple’s Travel Case is hilariously large, so I took to using the Shield Case from Waterfield for more lengthy trips. If I’m just leaving the house for a bit with Apple Vision Pro in tow, the Backpack from Waterfield has been excellent.

I expect as Apple Vision Pro continues to sell that we’ll see more interesting accessories. I purchased a stand for Apple Vision Pro to sit on when not in use, for example, and it’s nice. Though it would be better to see more prominent Apple accessory makers tackle the concept.

Apple Vision Pro review — slow and steady software

Apple Vision Pro is a unique Apple platform in that the user doesn’t see the product while it is being used. They certainly feel it, so design is an important part, but the software is almost everything.

There is a famous Steve Jobs quote about design: “Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.”

That is more true for Apple Vision Pro than any other Apple product on the market. The minute you’re strapped into the headset, you’re greeted with UI paradigms you’ve never seen before, yet, they just work.

The first iteration of visionOS had some obvious problems, like how Control Center was accessed. A lot of my complaints about Apple Vision Pro were addressed with visionOS 2.0. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to find parts of the system I outright don’t like.

There are two small annoyances in how the windowing UI works. First, choosing between a UI element in the bottom corner of an app versus the window size adjustment tool can test anyone’s patience. Second, windows don’t like to line up and sometimes go transparent too aggressively.

These minor complaints will likely be addressed in visionOS 3. That said, things are moving a little too slowly.

Apple’s other platforms can afford to roll out updates across a year after revealing the expected changes at WWDC. Apple Vision Pro needs much more, much faster.

I understand development takes time and there are other priorities, however, there is no excuse as to why Apple Vision Pro can’t access basic Apple Intelligence features in 2025. It also calls back to my previous requests for more evangelism from Apple to developers and other creators.

Apple’s own lack of support for native applications is becoming a serious problem. If visionOS 3.0 doesn’t come with way more, if not all, native Apple apps, developers are not going to take the platform seriously.

As I’ve said multiple times before — Apple needs to be paying developers and creators to bring apps and content to Apple Vision Pro. Apple could inspire others to utilize the platform with plenty of examples of what can be made.

Everything surrounding the software and media portions of Apple Vision Pro needs to be accelerated. We did get a few interesting new features like the ultra-wide Virtual Display view, but updates have been limited otherwise.

Apple doesn’t care much for anniversaries, so don’t expect anything to move on this front just yet. WWDC is in June, and visionOS 3.0 will be Apple’s chance to reassure owners and potential buyers that they care about the platform.

Apple Vision Pro review — lacking Apple Intelligence

I wanted to carve out this section specifically because it feels like a significant miss. Apple Vision Pro arrived early enough in the year that Apple’s AI initiatives were still very early rumors.

When Apple revealed Apple Intelligence in June 2024, it seemed like an oversight not to mention it during the Apple Vision Pro portion of the keynote. Apple even clarified that Apple Intelligence could run on the M2 chip used in the headset, but building AI for it wasn’t a top priority at launch.

We’re on iOS 18.3 and visionOS 2.3 as of this publication, and there still isn’t any sign of Apple Intelligence on Apple Vision Pro. Granted, it is still technically beta software, but my workflows would benefit from its inclusion.

One Apple Intelligence feature has had a real impact on my workflows, and that’s the Writing Tools Proofread function. It catches the mistakes I need it to without all the cruft of using something like Grammarly.

I can’t use Writing Tools when working from Apple Vision Pro without involving my Mac mini. I assume Apple will introduce its AI features to the platform later in 2025.

The slow rollout of immersive video and lack of interest from Apple’s other services’ content are also deterrents. By now, Apple should have regular releases on some kind of knowable schedule for new immersive video content, not to mention some kind of 3D or spatial video adaptations of Apple TV+ media.

I’m willing to give Apple some grace here. Apple Vision Pro didn’t make its public debut until February 2024, so directing Apple TV+, Apple Music, or other portions of its services to make content isn’t an overnight endeavor. That said, Apple should be recording live shows, sports events, and more using immersive cameras every chance they get.

The fact that the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show didn’t have some kind of immersive video component is maddening. There is no point to having all of these products if they’re not bothering with synergy.

I’m not really trying to watch Ted Lasso in 3D, but films like Greyhound would be amazing with some level of 3D or spatial conversion within key moments. Immersive video still hasn’t crossed into full-length TV show territory, but I hope we see something close in 2025.

In the meantime, I hope we see more incredible short films like Submerged. Every time Apple can deliver something like that, it’ll sell more Apple Vision Pros.

The music-related content has been excellent too. The Concert For One series put out its first episode with RAYE, and it was simply excellent.

Apple should be pumping these out almost weekly and advertise them in Apple Music. I understand that editing these kinds of videos together is a lot, but that shouldn’t stop Apple.

I also rather enjoyed The Weeknd’s Open Hearts music video. It had some surreal elements not present in other immersive video content that show how amazing fiction might be for Apple Vision Pro.

Apple really needs to step up the game here. There isn’t much downside to making as much content as is feasible since it means more for users to interact with after their initial purchase.

Using Apple Vision Pro one year later

Apple Vision Pro has become a part of my workflow, my office, and my travel gear. It would be my preferred working tool if it had all the features offered by my iPad Pro, but it’s not quite there yet.

The hardware isn’t where it needs to be to become my everything computer. I look forward to the day I can put an Apple Vision headset on and wear it all day for work and personal use, but we’re years away from that.

For now, Apple Vision Pro is best used when I expect to buckle down on a single project that’ll take many hours to complete — like this review. I can write the text, create images, and conduct research all without needing to address another computer, other than the Mac mini for Apple Intelligence Proofread of course.

If I’m working somewhere else in the house, I’m likely doing it from the iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard. It’s the same setup for when I’m working at a coffee shop.

I’m not sure I could bring myself to using Apple Vision Pro in public, except maybe on a flight. There’s something about the headset that feels too ostentatious and I don’t want undue attention while I work.

I also don’t want to make my family feel awkward by wearing the headset for work in the living room. There’s something to working out in the real world that is still very important, and Apple Vision Pro can’t recreate that, EyeSight or no.

When I am using Apple Vision Pro, it is connected to a mechanical keyboard and a Magic Trackpad. The Virtual Display for Mac, iPad apps, and native apps all look crisp and clear.

Every time I have to conduct a review of a monitor or some other accessory that exists outside of Apple Vision Pro, I’m reminded of what it replaces. There is a future where someone buying the Apple Vision Pro will never need to buy another monitor.

I’ve never had any issue with the interface paradigms like pinching. Everything feels super natural in a way that is still somewhat surprising to this day.

It doesn’t matter how short or long a time I use Apple Vision Pro, I always try to scroll by looking and pinching when I’m not wearing it. The gesture is so natural it feels like everything should work that way.

That said, Apple desperately needs to adopt third-party VR controller support. While Meta may never bring Beat Saber to the platform, other games would benefit from the haptics and physicality offered by controllers.

Gestures are great, but they are empty in games. Playing Job Simulator and Synth Riders works fine, but without any haptics you feel foolish and detached from what you’re doing versus what’s happening in the game.

Controller support could also aid in basic navigation in certain apps. More options are always better, especially when it comes to accessibility.

Something I’ve been experimenting with recently is using the Mac mini to run console emulation not available on Apple Vision Pro while presenting it full screen. The result has been great so far, and I like how many options I have for window size and shape for viewing in Apple Vision Pro.

Whether I’m gaming using the Virtual Mac display or streaming from my PlayStation 5 locally, I’ve not run into any major lag issues. My network is highly optimized with mesh Wi-Fi 7 routers and hard-wired nodes, so there’s not much opportunity for things to go wrong.

I’m still quite bullish on Apple Vision Pro. As it exists today, it’s enough and I don’t regret my purchase. It’s been excellent for work and personal use.

However, I’m a tech enthusiast willing to shell out the cash for novel technology that has minimal support. If Apple wants to win anyone else over, something has got to give.

Step up or don’t bother

I’ve mentioned it throughout this text and my previous reviews, but I’ll say it again here. Apple needs to be an evangelist for its platform because it is the only one that can make a difference.

There should have never been any question about YouTube, Netflix, or other major apps coming to Apple Vision Pro. Apple should have been working with developers and companies, big and small, to ensure everything was coming to Apple Vision Pro at or near launch.

The public is about to become a lot more interested in spatial apps and content, but not because of anything Apple did directly. Sure, Samsung’s new headset is a near clone of Apple’s and the Android XR platform borrows a lot from visionOS, but it will have AI and YouTube at launch.

It doesn’t help that Apple seems too busy to care about getting its most basic apps ready for the new platform. I understand not having Contacts ready, but there is no excuse for Calendar.

It’s past time for Apple to get serious, because while users like me are committed to using Apple Vision Pro, it isn’t enough. Sure, the market isn’t going to respond well to a $3,500 headset, but when the lite version launches for $2,000 in early 2026, customers will need a lot of convincing even then.

Despite my criticism, I’m quite happy with how the Apple Vision Pro rollout has gone so far. Apple could have done better, but with everything else going on, at least they got the thing out there.

Some suggest Apple could have waited a year and released it in its current form with today’s media and app selection. However, I don’t think it would have made sense to wait because Apple needed input from outside of Apple Park.

Year one did its job as an early adopter timeframe. Year two needs to establish a solid foundation for the future of the platform, which includes possible financial success for developers and a large library of immersive video and 3D content.

As much as I love Apple Vision Pro, I worry about what will happen if Apple doesn’t get more serious about the platform. While I doubt Apple will give up on Apple Vision Pro, as it has sold well enough, I’m worried it’ll stagnate until Apple can release a lower-priced, lightweight model.

Apple Vision Pro review — looking to the future

Apple Vision Pro is a preview of the next decade or more of Apple computers. The first iteration may have its flaws and a slow start, but it is quite the first attempt with excellent hardware and interface that would take other companies two or three iterations to achieve.

Rumors are all over the place when it comes to Apple Vision Pro. I expect it’ll go something like what initial timeframes arrived at — 2026 for a lower-priced model and 2027 for the Apple Vision Pro 2.

People like to discuss Apple Vision Pro and Apple’s future glasses project in the same breath, but they’re not quite the same product. These two units, one a VR headset and one AR glasses, will be sold as separate products that both happen to run visionOS.

A set of Apple glasses feels inevitable, if far away given how big and bulky Apple Vision Pro is today. However, Apple could release a set of glasses at any point, but don’t expect any pair released in the next couple of years to be as sophisticated as Apple Vision Pro.

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are just a voice assistant, speaker, and camera without a HUD. While I believe AirPods are a better device for such things, I am interested in the idea of a wearable camera that is attached to my Apple ecosystem.

Whatever Apple’s plans are in the space, what we have today is quite compelling on its own. However, if Apple ever wants Apple Vision Pro to be for more than tech nerds with expendable income, it needs to step up and show it cares about the longevity of the platform.

If someone were to ask me about buying Apple Vision Pro, if I recommended it, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. It is an excellent headset where certain kinds of work can be done, with several great options for games and entertainment, and everything about it feels futuristic.

If you’re watching a movie alone, there is nothing else out there that can beat the experience of doing it on Apple Vision Pro with AirPods Pro 2. While $3,500 is expensive, it isn’t far from the price of a good entertainment system or desk setup.

If you’ve got the money and are intrigued by Apple Vision Pro, go get one. There’s nothing else like it on the market and it’ll only get better from here.

Apple Vision Pro review — Pros

• Still the best possible hardware for the price
• More apps and games arriving, if slowly
• There’s nothing else on the market that comes close to offering immersive video and 3D movies like this
• Good enough to get work done, but…

Apple Vision Pro review — Cons

• … lacks native apps from Apple and third-parties
• Slow rollout of features, apps, and native content becoming a problem
• Lack of Apple Intelligence in the first year is a big miss
• Apple needs to prove it cares about the platform

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Our rating fell from a 4.0 to a 3.5 in the previous six-month review, and the score holds here. Once Apple starts releasing more content regularly, makes more first-party apps native, and helps push for wider developer adoption, the score can go up.

Hardware-wise, Apple Vision Pro is a 5 out of 5. I doubt Apple could build a better headset today at this price.

How to buy Apple Vision Pro

Ordering Apple Vision Pro isn’t too dissimilar from buying any other Apple product, except it’s only available from Apple online and physical Apple Stores. Customers will need to have a few things ready to order, like their prescription, to ensure the ordering process goes smoothly.

Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 with 256GB of storage. Upgrade the storage to 512GB or 1TB for $200 more at each tier. Optical inserts are $99 for readers and $149 for prescriptions.