It's been a little over a year since Apple released the Vision Pro, and I've been using mine almost daily. But not the way you'd expect. Before I get into the nitty-gritty, let's rewind to June 2023, when Apple first announced the thing. The internet lost its collective mind. People were calling it the next iPhone, the future of computing, a portal to a new dimension. I was skeptical but hopeful. I pre-ordered one the minute pre-orders opened, and I paid a frankly obscene amount of money for it. Now, twelve months later, I want to give you the real, unvarnished story. Not the influencer hype. Not the tech journalist hot takes. Just what it's like to live with a $3,500 headset strapped to your face for a year.
Let's start with the obvious: the hardware is stunning. The micro-OLED displays are the best I've ever seen. Watching a movie in the Vision Pro is like having a private IMAX theater that you can take anywhere. The passthrough video is so good that I often forget I'm wearing a headset. The hand and eye tracking, once you get used to it, feels almost telepathic. But here's the thing nobody tells you: it's heavy. After about 45 minutes, it starts to feel like a brick on your face. Apple shipped a second strap in the box, the dual-loop band, which helps distribute the weight, but it's still not comfortable for extended sessions. I've tried third-party straps, modified the fit, and even considered strapping a counterweight to the back of my head. Nothing fully solves it.
The Weight Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About
I'm not a small person, and I have a pretty high tolerance for discomfort. But the Vision Pro's weight—around 600 to 650 grams depending on the configuration—is a real issue. For comparison, the Meta Quest 3 is about 515 grams. That 100-gram difference might not sound like much, but when it's strapped to your face, it's the difference between "I could watch a whole movie" and "I need a break after 20 minutes." Apple has acknowledged this in developer briefings, but they haven't publicly addressed it. My theory is that the weight comes from the sheer amount of hardware packed in: the M2 chip, the R1 chip, the array of cameras and sensors, and the two high-resolution displays. It's a lot of tech. But the result is a device that's more impressive as a demo than as a daily driver.
I've taken mine on three flights. The first time, I was so excited. I put it on, launched the AirPods Pro, and started watching Dune: Part Two. It was incredible. The virtual environment made me feel like I was in a private suite. But after about an hour, I had to take it off. The pressure on my face was too much. The second time, I used the dual-loop band and lasted two hours. The third time, I didn't even bother bringing it. I just watched movies on my iPad like a normal person. That's the thing about the Vision Pro: it solves a problem you didn't know you had, but it creates a new one (physical discomfort) that's harder to ignore.
What the Vision Pro Is Actually Good At
Okay, I don't want to sound like a total hater, because the Vision Pro is genuinely good at a few things. First, media consumption. If you have a dark room and a good movie, it's unmatched. The black levels are perfect, the colors are lively, and the virtual environment options are surprisingly immersive. I've watched about 30 movies on it this year, and I'd say it's my preferred way to watch anything that's visually stunning (think Blade Runner 2049, Dune, or The Batman). Second, productivity. I know this sounds like corporate-speak, but having a massive virtual display that follows you around is genuinely useful. I've written articles, edited photos, and even done some light video editing in the Vision Pro. The ability to have a giant screen floating in midair while I'm sitting on my couch is liberating. The problem is that the text clarity, while good, isn't perfect. There's a slight fuzziness at the edges of the virtual display that my eyes notice after a while.
Third, the "spatial computing" thing. Apple's term for it is a bit pretentious, but there's something to it. The ability to place multiple app windows around your room, resize them, and interact with them using your eyes and hands is genuinely futuristic. I've had meetings in FaceTime where it felt like I was in the same room as the other person (they appear as a Persona, a digital avatar of themselves). The Persona thing is still a little uncanny valley—like a very realistic video game character—but it's improving. The latest update made the eye contact more natural. I still wouldn't say it's better than a real video call, but it's getting there.