Apple’s new Vision Pro VR/AR headset only came on sale at the beginning of this month. However, from posts on social media, it seems that some early adopters are already returning their devices.
What’s the Apple Vision Pro?
Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s new augmented reality headset featuring an ultra-high resolution display system with 23 million pixels across two micro-OLED displays. This means you have got more resolution than a 4K television for each eye. As an AR device, you can also transform any space into your own personal movie theater with a screen that feels 100 feet wide. In addition, the Vision Pro is powered by an Apple silicon M2 chip supported by a brand-new R1 chip. All of this computing power is used to process input from two cameras, five sensors and six microphones.
Why are people returning their devices?
Across social media websites such as X (formerly Twitter) Apple Vision Pro users have been reporting side effects such as headaches and motion sickness. X user @RjeyTech posted “Can’t wait to return the Vision Pro, probably the most mind blowing piece of tech I’ve ever tried. Can’t deal with these headaches after 10 minutes of use though.” In addition, some people raised concerns over the weight of the headset. Again on X, @ParkerOrtolani said, “What a bummer of a day. Can’t believe it, but I’ve returned the Vision Pro. Just too uncomfortable to wear and it’s a strain on my eyes.”
Lack of applications
Other users have complained about the lack of applications for the Vision Pro. @torrenegra on X posted, “Two hours after unboxing my Apple Vision Pro and using it, I decided to box it back up again and return it. It’s quite cool, but there’s nothing in it for me that I’ll use frequently enough to warrant my keeping it.” In addition, on Reddit, GlobalPerception593 posted, “Perhaps if there were a larger app ecosystem at launch, I’d have been happier to keep it (e.g. for shorter experiences, like gaming, that I’d use it in shorter bursts for). But for work and entertainment, it just isn’t there yet.”
Not all bad news
It’s not all bad news for Apple though. Several of those returning their Vision Pros still found things to praise about the headsets. GlobalPerception593 said, “Vision Pro is a technological marvel. I really do think the eye tracking is second to none, and the interface is so deeply satisfying to use.” In addition, users were keen to try the next generation of Vision Pro headsets. GlobalPerception593 added, “Send all your feedback to Apple so I can excitedly purchase the fine-tuned version 2 when it comes out.” Also, @ParkerOrtolani posted on X “I’ll be back for the next one, assuming they fix these comfort issues.”
What we think
The development of new technology is rarely a smooth process. This is especially true for virtual reality and augmented reality. Issues such as headaches and motion sickness have always been issues for some users. Unfortunately, these side effects are difficult to remove as they arise from the way in which VR devices trick your senses. In addition, it’s expensive to develop the hardware for headsets such as Vision Pro. Some customers clearly feel the range of apps and overall experience doesn’t justify the initial outlay for Apple’s new headset. However, it’s important to remember that it’s still early days for Vision Pro so users haven’t had much time to post about their positive experiences yet. Apple hasn’t released sales figures either, so the levels of returns may be no higher than expected for new products. It will be interesting to see how this story develops over the coming months.
