Apple Vision Pro hands-on: eye and hand tracking are very accurate, but typing is frustrating, the killer app is watching movies, can feel heavy after 15+ min

We got hands-on with the device once more before its official launch, with some new features available to test this time.

Engadget 2024-01-17

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple introduced Vision Pro as a $3,499-plus “spatial computing” headset built around eye, hand and voice input. Early demonstrations had already characterized its interaction system as a meaningful XR advance, including near-perfect eye tracking and gesture control.

This pre-launch session narrows the question from whether the interface works to which use cases tolerate the headset’s physical and input trade-offs. Earlier impressions had likewise found it heavier than expected, making comfort a recurring constraint rather than a one-off observation.

First-order effects

Vision Pro’s strongest immediate use case is premium video viewing: accurate gaze and hand input make navigation feel natural, while the display experience supports movie consumption.
Text-heavy work is less compelling without another input method, and users may limit continuous sessions when the headset becomes uncomfortable after roughly 15 minutes.

Second-order effects

Developers are incentivized to prioritize spatial media, entertainment and lightweight gesture-led interfaces over apps that depend on sustained typing.
Apple’s ecosystem advantage is most relevant where existing devices can complement the headset for text entry; standalone productivity claims face a higher usability bar.

Third-order effects

If these trade-offs persist, high-end XR may initially establish itself as a personal media device rather than a general-purpose computer, with comfort and text input defining the boundary of adoption.
The broader platform contest will hinge less on demonstrating eye-and-hand control than on reducing the friction between immersive interfaces and everyday knowledge work.

The trend: Spatial-computing hardware is moving from impressive interaction demos toward a harder test: whether ergonomics and input can support repeated, practical use beyond media consumption.

Discussion

@gergelyorosz_ Gergely Orosz on threads
Apple hasn't allowed people trying out the Vision Pro to take photos until now. (we've also not seen an Apple exec wear it). Now that Apple-made photos are out, it's clear why: it looks really silly. Esp for something at $3,500. You can't pay me to wear it in front of others.
@gruber John Gruber on threads
I was allowed to stand up, and in fact moved around the room to examine the F1 Alfa Romeo race car in the JigSpace app. It's no problem at all in terms of latency or parallax — it's like looking through clear safety goggles.
@gruber John Gruber on threads
Remember the Formula 1 race car demo from the keynote? That's an app called JigSpace, and I got to play with it today. I shrunk the car down from life-size (huge!) to go-cart size to fit in the room, and got close to it to see it in detail. No problem at all. …
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on threads
I think the conceptual mistake in looking at the Vision Pro is to think that this is a luxury device. Apple thinks that the display and sensors are, in fact, the *minimum* possible to make a viable xR product. The catch is that the only way to make that in 2024 is at $3;500, bu…
@heaney_555 David Heaney on threads
This is a Macintosh moment, not any kind of iPhone moment.
@pkafka Peter Kafka on threads
Everyone accepts that some computer use time should be private time.
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on threads
Perhaps the simplest way to think about the Vision Pro: We are clearly nowhere remotely close to hardware that you could wear all day or carry with you all day: we are not close to something that looks like glasses. Therefore this cannot replace your smart phone. Therefore the …
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on threads
Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is complaining about the weight. And that's clearly why we got another head strap added late. Apple may already have more confidence in v2 if they're able to shave some bulk. You have to wonder if EyeSight is worth it, quite literally.
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on threads
To state the obvious, the Vision Pro roll out is very, very strange. No event pre-shipping, multiple staged press demos, timing seems driven by next earnings release as much as anything. Doesn't feel like a full-hearted product launch. More like a “let's just get it out there”…
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on threads
Use cases that Apple's Vision Pro marketing materials don't show: - Two people both using it in the same room - Outdoors - In public - VR. Almost all the material is AR - they sometimes show the user in a 360 degree virtual space, but never show people moving around in it.
@mossbergwalt Walt Mossberg on threads
It's really important to distinguish a genuine tech review from a demo of, or brief first look at, a product. Especially when it's under the watchful eye of company employees. A real review requires a knowledgeable reviewer to use the product independently in real-world conditi…
@imdavidpierce David Pierce on threads
If Apple can make it socially acceptable, even cool, to wear this in public (and if anyone can it's Apple!) it will be the marketing coup of the millennium
@documentingmeta @documentingmeta on threads
Both verge and Engadget report Apple vision pro to be uncomfortable after 20 minutes 😬 well the 2 hr battery life doesn't seem to be so bad now
@gruber John Gruber on threads
Had another, more wide-ranging, Vision Pro demo today. Ask me anything.
@happicamp James Bareham on threads
If anyone is going to pull this off it's going to be Apple. But as someone who gave up using an iPad Pro as a laptop after just 1 week, I don't see myself switching to the Vision Pro for any kind of work. I get that FaceTime will be fun, and watching movies, especially 3D, will…
@daveleebbg Dave Lee on threads
First time I've seen this on someone's face outside of an Apple promo vid
@reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads
Seeing a lot of this in our comments so I will remind everyone: nothing about the coverage of the Vision Pro today is a “review.” No one can review anything based on 30 minutes of tightly-controlled demo time, and anyone claiming that these are reviews is extremely confused. Re…
@joannastern Joanna Stern on threads
Had my 4th demo of the Vision Pro this AM and Apple finally let us take a photo with it on. My first three demos (1 in June, 1 in November, 1 in December) were all with the Solo Knit Band and I really felt the weight of the face computer on my face. Today I tried the Dual Loop …
@jw Josh Williams on threads
I still can't get over the Mac Plus vibe of the Vision Pro, and I generally mean that in a great way. It looks a bit clunky and ironically ships at a similar price point. But fast-forward 10-20 years and imagine what we'll have then... 👀
@jaypetersplus Jay Peters on threads
While reading about the Apple Vision Pro, always keep in mind that it costs three thousand four hundred and ninety nine dollars https://www.theverge.com/...
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on threads
everything about Apple's Vision Pro rollout strategy screams confidence he said sarcastically
@reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads
It feels like the nicest VR headset ever made, which it is. Unapologetically VR headset, you might say
@reckless1280 Nilay Patel on threads
Spent some more time in the Vision Pro today, with @vicmsong. Also Apple took photos of us wearing it, which, well, here we are. https://www.theverge.com/...
@vrhermit Joseph Simpson on threads
I do a fair amount of WebXR work on Quest. The Quest Browser is ahead of anything else in that regard. As for native development of Quest apps, they have little to offer me. It's either 1. Write my own engine 💀 2. Use Unity or Unreal 🙈 As a developer, the thing that excites …
@julipuli@mastodon.social Juli Clover on mastodon
So basically Vision Pro is super heavy, uncomfortable to wear after like 20 minutes, and also can still cause nausea. And it's best for like watching TV. SOUNDS GREAT. https://www.macrumors.com/...
@mhwilliams.bsky.social M.H. Williams on bluesky
So it's like a Quest 2/3 for 10x their price tag? — (Well, those have an existing library of games and apps.) [embedded post]
@hastin.bsky.social Hastin on bluesky
Which is kinda wild given how much I don't like watching movies or videos in say, a Meta Quest. That screen must be phenomenal. (not $3500 phenomenal) [embedded post]
@joannastern Joanna Stern on x
Had my 4th demo of the Vision Pro this AM and Apple finally let us take a photo with it on. My first three demos (1 in June, 1 in November, 1 in December) were all with the Solo Knit Band and I really felt the weight of the face computer on my face. Today I tried the Dual Loop …
@andruedwards Andru Edwards on x
Using Apple Vision Pro continues to be an incredible experience - I got to try some super cool things today (& my strong neck was fine after an hour and I didn't wanna take it off.) 😅 I can't wait for this to come out for everyone - almost there! 🙌🏽 #AppleVisionPro [image]
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x
Reviewers at The Verge & Engadget who tried the Apple Vision Pro have complained about it feeling heavy after about 30 minutes and causing headaches. It's easy to see why there's internal resistance to shipping this from Apple employees given the reviews. https://www.notebookchec…
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
First time I tried Vision Pro: Damn this display is amazing and the eye tracking is like magic and this feels very future and also it's a little heavy. Second time: immersion factor is still so high. Special videos are hit or miss, you gotta get the distance right. And wow thi…
@benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x
The weight part is probably going to be the most critiqued feature.
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
For people buying the Vision Pro, seeing some consternation about the ~80,000 units launch day stock not being enough. I think it'll be an about average new Apple product ordering experience. Be there when preorders go up and you'll get one.
@alexguichet Alex Guichet on x
@MaxWinebach Strong +1, I can do several hours of VR gaming without trouble, and that's with an arguably less comfortable device than Vision Pro (HTC Vive & Valve Index) Not easy for all day one, but power users will quickly feel more limited by the battery than their necks and s…
@evleaks Evan Blass on x
In light of @mkbhd's observations on the seemingly unyielding heaviness of the Vision Pro even after multiple demos, the fact that second-generation hardware has been tipped to add battery weight to the equation as well, is starting to seem less encouraging.
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
So far I've been 16 different folks that got a hands-on experience today with Vision Pro, seems like more and more are coming...
@ericpresidentvr @ericpresidentvr on x
@cixliv Honestly. They are all sounding pretty bad. One talked about how they realized after 15 minutes how heavy it started feeling and 15 minutes later a headache. Means nothing overall, but I would have approached launch a lot differently imo
@jetscott Scott Stein on x
Literally the first and biggest thing that struck me about Vision Pro the first time I tried it last year was the cinema quality. Basically thought of it in terms of Avatar 3D. Hand tracking and iOS apps, yes, too https://www.cnet.com/...
@steven_aquino Steven Aquino on x
Weight is something I've written about previously regarding accessibility. I've still not yet tried Vision Pro, but can say heaviness will be an issue for those with sensory conditions. The short battery life could be a *benefit* for those who literally can't wear it for very l…
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
Which is more akin to Apple Watch. And perhaps they learned a lesson there in terms of just getting it out there more low-key and letting the users dictate the use case. But it's riskier here given the price and as such, scale we're talking about.
@samfbiddle Sam Biddle on x
Seems like it could be a problem! [image]
@greengart Avi Greengart on x
I don't think that immersive video will be the primary use case for spatial computing long term, but @apple Vision Pro does it extraordinarily well (improved further since my WWDC demo) and it's easy to explain. https://www.apple.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The fact that Apple includes a cover in the box with the Vision Pro for the exterior display tells us a lot. It is prone to cracking if you drop it or walk into a wall, so try not to do that.
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Here's the amazing thing to committing to Vision Pro: your body will adapt to the weight of it. Stabilizer muscles around the neck will get stronger. You won't feel the weight after a while, it'll be more comfortable. I'd say 3-4 weeks Non-issue for most healthy individuals.
@ividev Ivaylo Videv on x
@DylanMcD8 Ouch my ears... probably the Dual Loop Band would be better but it all depends mostly on the shape of the head. [image]
@ijustine @ijustine on x
APPLE VISION PRO! Feel free to ask any questions! Can't believe it's almost here — preorders are happening this Friday at 5am. So far I got to test out scrolling through photos, watching spatial video/photos/panoramas, and watching content in their immersive environments. One…
@alexweprin Alex Weprin on x
Ok I tried out Apple Vision Pro today. It does a pretty amazing job at immersing you in whatever you are doing. Watching a Star Wars movie on Tatooine is very much a vibe. Spatial photos and videos could make this a must have for parents (it really is incredible). [image]
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
I'm going to buy one, and I'm generally excited about it. But this almost feels between Apple Watch and Apple TV in terms of launch confidence for them. It's perhaps not a sort of trial balloon “hobby” as Apple TV was, but also feels like they're unsure how it will be used.
@lunayian Luna on x
I have been holding very smug grin since last June over this. Many Apple fans were absolutely confident it would be smaller than other SOTA pancake optic implementations while maintaining the FOV of something like Quest Pro. It's thin, but Apple isn't breaking physics here.
@bzamayo Benjamin Mayo on x
The last time Apple launched a brand new product exclusively in the US and reported numbers was the original iPad. Apple sold 300,000 iPads on launch day, and _that_ was the most successful consumer product launch in history ... so a quarter of that for a product that is seven t…
@sadlyitsbradley Brad Lynch on x
Top strap Top strap Top strap
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Another thing on the Vision Pro: I can't imagine any scenario in which the face scan to pick the fit/sizing is 100% accurate. I wonder what the process will be like for online orders, if one can go into a store to get refitted, or if pick up orders will be able to verify fit.
@snazzylabs @snazzylabs on x
If you ever feel like you're under insurmountable debt, just turn the Digital Crown on Apple Vision Pro to fully-immersive delusion mode and open Encounter Dinosaurs—an Apple-made spatial experience—to explore a time before creditors.
@cultofmac @cultofmac on x
Apple Vision Pro's killer feature might be neck pain https://www.cultofmac.com/... by Lewis Wallace
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
I hope Goldman Sachs is excited. If only 300,000 people use Apple Card installments for the Vision Pro that's a $1 billion loan.
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
To state the obvious, the Vision Pro roll out is very, very strange. No event pre-shipping, multiple staged press demos, timing seems driven by next earnings release as much as anything. Doesn't feel like a full-hearted product launch. More like a “let's just get it out there”.
@kylebrussell Kyle Russell on x
if killer app is just personal big screen for movies and games I'm less and less skeptical of the Xreal glasses [image]
@gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x
“I know what I saw, but I'm still trying to figure out where this headset fits in real life.” It's cool but why actually buy one at that price because it serves no practical real world purpose. Although the dinosaur thing must make for a great demo. https://www.theverge.com/...
@snazzylabs @snazzylabs on x
Waddya know—just as I predicted, both The Verge and Engadget report the Vision Pro to be uncomfortable. What I didn't predict? That after just TWENTY MINUTES, wearers would be “in pain.” 😬 https://www.engadget.com/...
@tombielecki Tom Bielecki on x
@M1Astra A lot of red flags in this review regarding the LACK OF INTERACTIVITY. The amount of experiences that are FLAT and ISOLATING. Maybe an intimate setting with an artist wasn't a good choice. And maybe the backgrounds shouldn't have things near the user that people will nat…
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
This will be the device's biggest issue, as I've been saying for months: “But by the end of my demo, I started to feel the weight of the headset bringing me back to the real world. I'd been furrowing my brow, concentrating so hard, I felt the beginnings of a mild headache.”
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
Some of the FCC documents for the Vision Pro are dated February 2023. Nearly a year ago! I am guessing that Apple is launching this headset later than it originally hoped to.
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
It helps explain the M2 chip. I was going to say it also explains the lack of Wi-Fi 6E, but that was only approved by the FCC for use in headsets like the Vision Pro in October 2023, which is presumably well beyond the point when Apple had finalized specs.
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on threads
It continues to baffle me that almost every image and video in this press release is from seven month old marketing materials and that even the ones that are new just look like big iPad apps floating in a room that looks nothing like anyone's actual space https://www.apple.com/..…
@danphilibin Dan Philibin on threads
Something does feel strange about the Vision Pro marketing - very reserved, not attempting any consumer appeal. My guess: the hardware and OS are excellent foundations but the really exciting stuff is still 1-2 years away, and they don't want to over-promise and end up selling a…
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on threads
Like this Disney+ image for example, it's basically just showing the same experience you can already have on iPad or Apple TV. Where are the things they teased back at WWDC? I see an environments button in the bottom left corner too! At least show a cool Disney-themed environm…
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
Looks like Apple has just released the visionOS App Store! [image]
@parkerortolani Parker Ortolani on x
“Encounter Dinosaurs, a new app by Apple that ships with Apple Vision Pro, makes it possible for users to interact with giant, three-dimensional reptiles as if they are bursting through their own physical space.” Wild that they are shipping an app like that on-device. Incredible.…
@gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x
Apple Bingo. Can you count all the Apple buzzwords in this announcement? I'll give you the first one. “Stunning” https://www.apple.com/...
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
For those who didn't realize yet, Encounter Dinosaurs will be a standalone Apple app on the Vision Pro, not just a show/content. Apple: “Encounter Dinosaurs,” a free app created by Apple with executive producer Jon Favreau, allows users to look back into a prehistoric time and i…
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
Oh man. Avengers Endgame in true 3D, at IMAX size, on top of Avengers tower. Does it get better than this?!
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
Literally everyone but Netflix, of course
@dylanmcd8 @dylanmcd8 on x
It's most likely that the majority of these apps are just iPad apps running on visionOS, which is good enough for now. Just like with Mac, this means that Netflix has specifically chosen to DISABLE the app on Apple Vision Pro, since you know, they hate their customers.
@gartenberg Michael Gartenberg on x
Other than Disney will there be Hulu, Netflix, Amazon or Google TV? If not the catalog is thin, most sound like fancy demos. I keep trying to convince myself this thing could somehow fit into my life but can't get there at $3,499. https://sixcolors.com/...
@maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x
Disney+ is going to have 3D movies! Low-key excited to rewatch Endgame or GoG3 in 3D [image]
@stephenrobles Stephen Robles on x
Apple hyping up Apple Vision Pro today with “Apple Immersive Video” and over 150 3D movies available at launch: https://www.apple.com/... [image]
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
NEW: Apple today listed streaming services and sports apps that will be available on the Vision Pro at launch, including Disney+, ESPN, MLB, PGA Tour, Max, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, Fubo, Crunchyroll, Red Bull TV, IMAX, and MUBI.

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