Should You Buy the Vision Pro?
The $3,700 Vision Pro is prohibitively expensive for many consumers, and reviews have made it clear that it is a device that does not easily fit into an existing workflow for most people. Some users have even regretted purchasing the headset. The Vision Pro is great for watching movies, viewing 3D videos, and using as a display for a Mac. At over 1.3 pounds, the Vision Pro is heavy and fatigue can set in quickly, but Apple improved comfort with the Dual Knit Band that launched alongside the M5 chip. There is also an external battery pack to contend with, and the headset is not easy to travel with, especially with Apple's dedicated Travel Case. The Vision Pro is undoubtedly Apple's most technically advanced product and an incredible feat of engineering that is impressive when first viewed, but those considering a purchase should try it at the Apple Store and do a lot of research on what can be done with it before making a purchase. The Vision Pro is excellent for watching movies and consuming content, plus it can be used as a display for a Mac, but it has a limited number of apps and games. Apple refreshed the Apple Vision Pro with an M5 chip in October 2025, which means now is a good time to buy. Another update is not expected for at least two years, and development on a next-generation headset is currently paused. Apple raised the price of the Vision Pro from $3,499 to $3,699 in June 2026 because of the ongoing global memory crisis.
Apple Vision Pro Overview
Apple Vision Pro is Apple's augmented and virtual reality headset, a major new Apple product category. The first version launched in February 2024, and Apple released an updated model with an M5 chip in October 2025. While the Apple Vision Pro is definitely a headset, Apple does not use that word when referring to the product. Instead, Apple calls it a spatial computer because of its ability to blend digital content with the physical world. Apple refers to the Vision Pro as the first spatial computing device. Apple Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset that displays augmented reality content overlaid on the world around you, and immersive entirely virtual content. It is worth noting that the headset is not see-through; everything you see is digital. For augmented reality content that does not make your surroundings disappear, Apple uses cameras that map out what is in front of you, translating that into a digital image augmented by virtual elements. For a virtual reality experience, Apple shuts off those cameras and can make it seem like you are completely isolated from what is going on around you, allowing you to focus solely on what is being displayed on the headset's screens. This shift between the real and the immersive can be controlled with an on-device Digital Crown.
Design
Design wise, Apple Vision Pro is not unlike a pair of ski goggles, featuring a singular piece of laminated glass for the front that melds into an aluminum alloy frame. A soft, fitted Light Seal attaches magnetically to the frame and conforms to your face to block out light. Two Audio Straps with built-in speakers are positioned at the sides of the headset, delivering Spatial Audio that blends what you are hearing on the headset with what is going on in the real world. The Audio Straps connect to a 3D knitted headband that holds the Vision Pro in place. The original version of the Vision Pro came with a Solo Knit Band with a single strap, but the M5 model has a Dual Knit Band that has a second strap that fits over the top of the head. Apple designed the Dual Knit Band to be breathable, cushiony, and stretchy for comfort, and a Fit Dial ensures the headset fits tight against your head. The Dual Knit Band features counterweights for the back strap to more evenly distribute weight.
Display
Inside the frame, there are two micro-OLED displays that deliver over 4K resolution to each eye for a total of 23 million pixels. There is also an external display called EyeSight that projects an image of your eyes so people can tell whether you are using the headset in an immersive mode or if you can see what is going on around you. For glasses wearers, there are custom prescription Zeiss Optical Inserts that can be attached magnetically to the headset's lenses. The M5 Vision Pro is able to render 10 percent more pixels for more detailed visuals with crisper text. Refresh rate has also been increased to up to 120Hz for reduced motion blur when users look at their physical surroundings, and a smoother experience when connecting the Vision Pro to a Mac. The prior Vision Pro was limited to 90Hz.
Cameras and Sensors
Apple Vision Pro includes 12 cameras and five sensors for monitoring hand gestures and mapping the external environment. Two of the cameras transmit more than a billion pixels per second to the display to depict the real world around the wearer when using augmented reality mode, while the others are used for head tracking, hand tracking, and real-time 3D mapping. Infrared flood illuminators enhance hand tracking in low-light conditions, and LiDAR depth sensors determine the size and location of objects in the room around you. Four infrared cameras and LED lights are inside the headset for eye tracking purposes. With this technology, the Vision Pro is able to tell exactly where the wearer is looking for navigation purposes.
Navigation
There are no physical controls for the Vision Pro. Navigation is done through eye movements, hand gestures, and voice-based commands. In visionOS, for example, you can highlight an element like an app icon by looking at it, using a quick hand gesture to launch the app. Bluetooth keyboards, mice, trackpads, and game controllers can be connected to Vision Pro as an alternative navigation method, though these are mainly designed to be used with a connection to the Mac and for Apple Arcade games.
Optic ID
The infrared cameras and LED lights inside the Vision Pro are used for a security feature called Optic ID. Optic ID is similar to Touch ID or Face ID, but it uses iris scanning instead of a facial scan or a fingerprint scan. Each person has a unique iris pattern, which the headset is able to detect to keep sensitive data on the headset secure. Optic ID can be used like Face ID for unlocking the device, authenticating purchases, and as a password alternative.
3D Camera
Apple included an exterior camera that is able to capture 3D video and 3D photos that are viewable in 3D on the Vision Pro. Apple says that these are like reliving a memory in person because of the incredible depth that is available. The camera gives a clear indicator when recording is turned on so that the headset cannot be used to secretly record video.
Audio
There are speakers on either side of the headset, with the speakers built into the straps that are connected to the frame. The speakers feature dual-driver audio pods that are positioned next to each ear, and they are able to analyze a room's acoustic properties to adapt the sound to match the space. The speakers support spatial audio for an immersive surround sound experience, plus there are also six microphones for phone calls, video calls, and voice commands. The Apple Vision Pro pairs with AirPods for a superior audio experience. The USB-C AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 support 20-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with ultra-low latency when connected to the Vision Pro.
Connectivity
The Vision Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, which operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. It does not include support for the faster Wi-Fi 6E specification that is compatible with the 6GHz band.
Processors and RAM
The Vision Pro is equipped with the M5 chip, which is built using third-generation 3-nanometer technology. It has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. The 10-core CPU includes six efficiency cores and four performance cores, providing faster experiences throughout the system. Apps and widgets load faster, and web browsing is more responsive. According to Apple, the M5 has the world's fastest CPU core. Each M5 GPU core features a Neural Accelerator, improving the speeds of GPU-based AI workloads. Third-generation ray-tracing, second-generation dynamic caching, enhanced shader cores, and improved graphic capabilities are included for detailed lighting, shadows, and reflections in apps and games. There is an improved 16-core Neural engine that boosts speeds for built-in AI-powered features up to 50 percent, and provides up to 2x faster performance for third-party apps compared to the M2 chip. Apple boosted unified memory bandwidth to 153GB/s. Unified memory architecture allows the entire chip to use a single pool of memory for running AI models on-device, improving multithreaded performance in apps, boosting GPU performance in creative apps and games, and more. With the M5 chip, the Vision Pro is able to render 10 percent more pixels with the micro-OLED displays, and it can handle refresh rates up to 120Hz for crisper details, more fluid display performance, and reduced motion blur. AI-powered features on the Vision Pro like creating spatial scenes in photos or generating a Persona are faster and more efficient. The M5 works alongside the R1 chip. The R1 is responsible for all of the information coming from the cameras, sensors, and microphones. Apple says that it can stream images to the displays within 12 milliseconds, providing a virtually lag-free view of the world. There is a thermal system inside the Vision Pro that is designed to quietly move air through the headset to control heat and optimize performance. The Vision Pro has 16GB RAM. The entry-level Vision Pro is equipped with 256GB of storage space, but Apple also offers upgraded options with 512GB and 1TB of storage.
Battery Life
The M5 Vision Pro offers improved battery life, running for up to three hours when watching video. It lasts for up to 2.5 hours during general use, which is a half hour longer than the M2 Vision Pro. Battery packs can be swapped out for additional power on the go, but the device ships with a single battery pack. When plugged in to a power adapter, the Vision Pro can run all day.
visionOS
visionOS is the operating system that runs on the Vision Pro headset. It features a full three-dimensional interface with a Home View, apps, and interface elements that are able to react dynamically to natural light and shadow in the user's surroundings. visionOS is navigated using eye movements, hand gestures, and voice control. visionOS apps can be placed anywhere in virtual space visible to the user, and they can be resized to be ultra large or small. App windows can be stacked on one another, arranged around a room, and resized. There is a virtual keyboard that can be used with air typing, but accessories like game controllers, keyboards, trackpads, and mice can also be connected. The level of immersion in visionOS is adjustable. Users can either see their content in their actual surroundings through the Apple Vision Pro's cameras, or a virtual Environment can make the real world fade away. Immersion can be adjusted with the Digital Crown. For the headset wearer, visionOS creates a Persona or digital representation that reflects face and hand movements in real time, with the Persona used in FaceTime and other video apps. With content apps like Apple TV+, visionOS can display TV shows and movies on a personal movie screen that feels 100 feet wide, plus visionOS offers Apple Immersive Videos that are 180-degree high-resolution recordings. visionOS supports Spatial Audio through the Apple Vision Pro's speakers. visionOS integrates with the Mac to allow the Apple Vision Pro to serve as a display for a Mac. The Mac's screen shows up in the virtual space provided by visionOS for a private, portable 4K display. There is a Travel Mode for using Vision Pro on a plane, car, or train, as well as a dedicated Guest Mode for letting other people try the Vision Pro.
visionOS 26
visionOS 26 is the newest version of visionOS, and it was released in September 2025. The current version of the software is visionOS 26.5, an update that came out in May. visionOS 26 adds persistent widgets that can be integrated into the space around you, just like apps. You can put a widget anywhere, and it stays put when you move around or restart your Vision Pro. Apps stay put in visionOS 26 too. Personas feature more lifelike hair, eyelashes, complexion, and movement, plus when creating a persona, there are more glasses styles and materials to choose from. You can share Vision Pro experiences with other people who are using Vision Pro in the same room with you, there is an option to view your iPhone while wearing Vision Pro, and there is a Jupiter Environment to experience. Spatial Scenes add depth to 2D images to make them more fun to look at in 3D, and there is a spatial browsing feature that hides distractions in Safari. You can use a look to scroll feature in Safari and other apps to move through content without having to use a hand gesture.
visionOS 27
visionOS 27 is the latest version of visionOS, coming to the Vision Pro in September. visionOS 27 includes Siri AI, an overhauled version of Siri that is much smarter and more capable than before. Siri AI uses generative AI models and it performs more like ChatGPT or Claude than the prior version of Siri. Siri can hold full back-and-forth conversations, and it has access to your personal data so it knows more about you and can complete complex tasks. It can search across Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar and other apps to find things for you. Siri has broad world knowledge and can search the web to answer questions for you on any topic, plus it is able to see what you are looking at. Siri can also take action in apps, doing things like drafting emails, adding events to Calendar, and adding Photos to an album. In visionOS 27, Siri appears as a floating, 3D bubble that you can put anywhere in your space. It stays pinned in place ready to answer questions, and to interact, you just look at Siri and speak. visionOS 27 includes Visual Intelligence, and you can ask Siri about anything that you are looking at, whether it is something physical in the room or something digital. There is a Siri app where you can revisit past conversations or start a new conversation. On the M5 Vision Pro, you can set a custom voice for Siri, with personalized pace and expressivity. Siri is integrated into apps, and there is a Write with Siri feature for generating text from scratch using your own writing style. Siri can also correct your grammar and give feedback on your writing. Image Playground on Vision Pro can generate images in any style, including photorealistic. Safari can automatically organize bookmarks and Reading List by topic. The Passwords app uses AI to change weak and compromised passwords for you, upgrading them to strong passwords. The Freeform app lets you pull items off your board and arrange them in front of you in your space, plus it supports collaborative folders for sharing multiple boards. You can preview and edit 3D models from the Mac on the Vision Pro, using Mac Virtual Display. With Dwell Control, visionOS 27 supports making selections with your eyes with a selection marker. Screen Recordings can be captured in an unfoveated format with full edge-to-edge sharpness for sharing spatial experiences. The Vision Pro can be used to transform panoramas into 3D panoramas that can be set as a personal environment. Apple also added a new Thórsmörk Environment featuring an Icelandic aurora. visionOS 27 has an updated look with curved windows that display more content, an extra-small widget size, a redesigned Control Center that makes controls easier to access, and an option to preview notifications by looking at them. Vision Pro also starts and connects to Wi-Fi up to three times faster, plus messages sync faster across devices. Safari now supports fully immersive web experiences, and developers can render 360-degree backgrounds that completely surround your physical space. visionOS 27 is compatible with the M2 and M5 Vision Pro models. It is available as a beta for developers, and it is set to launch in the fall.
What's Next for Vision Pro
Apple is designing smart glasses that are similar to the Meta Ray-Bans. The glasses will not have a display, but will be equipped with speakers for audio playback, microphones for recording video and for calls, and a camera for images and feeding data to AI. Apple is said to be pausing work on the next Vision Pro in order to focus on the glasses. Apple plans to have multiple frame and temple material options for a customized look, and there will be a built-in AI assistant. Analysts predict the glasses will launch in 2026 or 2027. Apple is allegedly continuing to develop new technologies and materials with the eventual goal of releasing a cheaper, lighter enclosed headset. No new version of the Vision Pro is in active development, and it will be at least two years before there is a new model, if not longer. A new Vision Pro is unlikely to come out until late 2028 or 2029.
Apple's Long Term AR/VR Plans
Apple was working on augmented reality smart glasses that connected to the Mac for power, but work on the project was halted in January 2025. Apple initially wanted the glasses to run off of the iPhone, but it was not powerful enough and the glasses drained too much battery. Apple transitioned to using the Mac instead, but ultimately executives did not think the Mac-connected glasses would work out. Apple glasses continue to be one of Tim Cook's top priorities, and he is said to be hell bent on bringing the technology to market. Apple plans to start with a set of AI smart glasses that do not have a display, similar to the Meta Glasses. The glasses will rely on Siri and offer AI capabilities, with a future version to feature a small screen. A second-generation version of the smart glasses with an in-lens display may have separate modes depending on what device it is connected to. The glasses could run visionOS when paired with a Mac, and then use a more lightweight, mobile-friendly interface when paired with an iPhone. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks that Apple will release a pair of XR glasses in 2028. The glasses will have a color Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) display with waveguide optics, but little else is known at this time. A second variant could be introduced as soon as 2029. In the future, the Vision Pro could be used to diagnose and treat mental health issues. Apple has tested using the Vision Pro to track a user's facial expressions to detect depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other issues. Apple believes that eye-tracking, pupil dilation, and external cameras can measure a person's affect, a psychological term that refers to how an individual expresses emotions. When a problem is detected, the Vision Pro could play relevant images and sounds to improve the wearer's mental state. Apple has also discussed using the eye-tracking cameras to detect swelling in the blood vessels of the eyes, an early sign of heart failure. A future version of the AR/VR headset could have accessibility settings that are designed to help people who suffer from eye diseases and visual issues. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple could be planning augmented reality contact lenses that could launch sometime in the 2030s. According to Kuo, the lenses will bring electronics from the era of visible computing to invisible computing. There is no visibility for the contact lenses at the current time, and it is not a guaranteed product that Apple will develop.
Source: MacRumors News