The new frontier of Apple's augmented reality viewers seems to be off to a decidedly uphill start. Why? Early Apple Vision Pro buyers are starting to have some second thoughts about the expensive device. Someone has already started the return process. The demanding price, the absence of essential functions and the difficulties of wearing the headset for prolonged periods weigh on the enthusiasm.
The critical issues that emerged
Overweight: the visor is heavy and uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods. It is a factor that limits its use for immersive work or entertainment activities.
Non-essential features: Although AR technology is innovative, the practical usefulness of the viewer in everyday life is questioned by some users. The functions offered do not justify, for many, the high price of the device.
Lack of a robust AR ecosystem: the Vision Pro experience is linked to the availability of applications and content compatible with Apple's AR platform. At the moment, the ecosystem still appears to be in the development phase and limited in terms of variety and usability, despite the good number of applications (600) already available.
Difficulty integrating with other devices: the interaction of the viewer with other Apple products, such as iPhone or MacBook, is not always fluid and intuitive, creating obstacles to integrated use in one's digital routine.
High price: The cost of Vision Pro, equal to 3.500 dollars (around 3.300 euros), represents a significant obstacle to the widespread adoption of the device. Maybe the biggest. Limit the user base to early adopters and technology enthusiasts.
“Virtual” viewer and real problems
- Number of returns: According to Business Insider, a significant number of users who purchased Apple Vision Pro have already started the return process. It is not possible at the moment to quantify the exact extent of the phenomenon, but the general perception that at the moment the launch was not exactly a triumph weighs more heavily.
- Price: The price of Vision Pro is 3.500 dollars (around 3.300 euros), significantly higher than that of other AR/VR viewers on the market.
- Weight: The weight of the headset has not been officially communicated by Apple, but several online reviews estimate it at around 500 grams.
- Functionality: Vision Pro offers a number of advanced features, including the display of 3D holograms, the overlay of digital information on the real world and the ability to interact with virtual objects.
- AR Ecosystem: Apple's AR ecosystem is still in development, with a limited number of applications and content available.
Final considerations
The first critical issues that emerged do not necessarily decree the failure of Vision Pro. AR technology represents fertile ground for innovation and Apple has the potential to redefine the paradigm of human-machine interaction. However, Apple's bet requires refinement of the viewer in terms of comfort, functionality and price to win over the general public.
According to a report by Mark Gurman by Bloomberg, reported by several industry publications, it could take up to four generations for Apple's Vision Pro headset to reach its "ideal shape". The team within Apple's Vision Products Group believes there is still a lot of work to be done before the device can be considered refined enough for everyday use. Future versions are expected to be cheaper, less bulky and easier to use, potentially following a similar trajectory of improvement to that seen with other Apple products like the iPhone and Apple Watch.
I would have no difficulty in believing that this first release is a calculated risk operation, incompatible with a profit but useful for perfecting (and in some way training) the system for the next versions
