2025 Vision Pro Reviews: How Comfortable is Apple's Dual Knit Band?

[MacRumors]

The first reviews of the Vision Pro with the M5 chip have been shared by selected publications and YouTube channels, ahead of the device launching this Wednesday.

The updated Vision Pro ships with a more comfortable Dual Knit Band in the box. Plus, the headset now supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in reduced motion blur and a smoother experience while using the Mac Virtual Display feature.

9to5Mac's Chance Miller on the M5 chip's performance:

In my five days with the Vision Pro (M5), I've had significantly more consistent performance across various workflows. In situations where the M2 Vision Pro would start to lag and stutter, the M5 Vision Pro keeps up. The fans still kick in, but overall performance is more sustainable and consistent, even as my windows began to pile up.

Six Colors editor-in-chief Jason Snell on the same:

There are a few places where the speed of the M5 processor is readily apparent, most notably when the system is churning to build a new Spatial Persona. It's funny, but generally, I have never found myself feeling that the pure processing speed of the Vision Pro is letting me down. It feels fast, even the M2 model. Clearly, the real power is being expended to maintain the illusion of reality on those OLED displays, and that's why most of the benefits in this chip upgrade are in rendering.

Snell is referring to the Vision Pro's foveated rendering, which means that content directly in front of you appears sharper and more in focus, while peripheral content appears slightly more blurry. With the M5 chip, Apple says the updated Vision Pro can render 10% more pixels compared to the original model with the M2 chip.

Reviewers found the combination of 10% more pixels being rendered, and 120Hz support, results in content appearing more crisp and smooth on visionOS.

However, CNET's Scott Stein said that while the updated Vision Pro does offer an improved viewing experience, it is not dramatically better:

I'd say the changes aren't dramatic, and that most key parts of the experience are unchanged. It still has a narrower field of view compared with other VR headsets, giving more of a goggle-eyed view of things, and the hand tracking and eye tracking are still the same -- great, but not better.

A common complaint with the original Vision Pro, when used with the Solo Knit Band, is that it becomes uncomfortable to wear during prolonged usage. To mitigate this problem, Apple has released the Dual Knit Band, which has both a lower strap that goes across the back of the head, along with an upper strap that goes across the top of the head.

More importantly, the Dual Knit Band's lower strap is embedded with tungsten inserts that provide a counterweight for additional comfort and balance.

TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff said the Dual Knit Band is vastly more comfortable:

There's now an included and fully-redesigned Dual Knit headband that finally spreads out and balances the headset's 600 grams of weight (most of which lives in the goggles) across your whole noggin. I can now wear the Vision Pro for two hours, and, when I remove it, not feel like my face is going to slide off my skull. It's a vast improvement.

Tom's Guide's Mark Spoonauer agreed:

I will say that the Vision Pro is comfier to wear for longer sessions. I felt less pressure by eyes after 30 minutes and no neck strain, which is an improvement.

Stein on the Dual Knit Band:

The weight is more balanced and the headset doesn't feel like it's falling down on my cheeks so much. […]

The Vision Pro's still heavy, and in fact it's heavier than the original by 5 ounces, thanks to the new strap's woven counterweights in the back. The Vision Pro weighs 1.6 pounds without the battery pack, versus the Meta Quest 3's 1.1 pounds with battery onboard.

Apple hasn't made any strides to lessen how big and it feels to wear the Vision Pro.

Apple is selling the Dual Knit Band separately, with U.S. pricing set at $99. It is compatible with both the new and original Vision Pro.

We have not seen any reviews that include in-depth battery life testing, but Spoonauer did share this brief yet promising remark:

After using the Vision Pro for an hour and a half I was down to 55%, which is pretty decent.

Apple says the updated Vision Pro now offers up to 2.5 hours of battery life overall, and up to three hours for video playback, per charge. That is an extra 30 minutes in each category compared to the previous model.

Most reviews concluded that the Vision Pro has received some nice quality-of-life improvements, but they are not game-changing upgrades. Ultimately, the Vision Pro remains a niche, expensive product, and there are no major reasons for owners of the existing model to upgrade. This may be the last Vision Pro model released for quite some time, as Apple has reportedly shifted its focus to augmented reality glasses.

Video Reviews

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Article Link: 2025 Vision Pro Reviews: How Comfortable is Apple's Dual Knit Band?

 

[cnnyy20p]

I would like them to invest a little bit more into first party softwares. Cannot just rely on third party if they are not going to do it themselves first. I invest in their products because some of their first party softwares are so nice to use. It would be interest what they could come up with rather then a meditation app.

 

[bmark]

I would like them to invest a little bit more into first party softwares. Can just rely on third party if they are not going to do it themselves first. I invest in their products because some of their first party softwares are so nice to use. It would be interest what they could come up with rather then a meditation app.

No credible software developers are wanting to develop for a DOA product line!

 

[BabyBoii]

okay which one of you little freakers is actually buying this? I've been told people actually buy/use these but never seen one irl.... who are you!?!?!

 

[Shanesan]

The best use case for the Dual Knit Band is modding it for other VR headsets.

 

[JOLoughlin]

Have M2 gen 1 and will likely upgrade to the M5, definitely getting all the new accessories (Logitech Muse, PSVR2 controllers and the new Dual Knit head strap)

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I’m picking up mine in the morning. Been saving up for one since the initial announcement.

 

[JOLoughlin]

Linking to Adam Savage Tested review as they are (especially Norman Chan) experts in XR products. They’ve been covering the field for over a decade and know what has come before and likely where things are going.

 

[ryanmp]

Have M2 gen 1 and will likely upgrade to the M5, definitely getting all the new accessories (Logitech Muse, PSVR2 controllers and the new Dual Knit head strap)

Definitely picking up a Dual Knit. Might see if I can try in store.

 

[JOLoughlin]

Definitely picking up a Dual Knit. Might see if I can try in store.

Yea, definitely try in store. In the past the app would recommend a size and when I tried a different size in store I found them to be better fit and they swapped it. The Apple Store app might have improved though.

 

[Corpuscle]

No credible software developers are wanting to develop for a DOA product line!

And you know this how?

 

[spunkystrawberries]

Agreed on the first party software point. I tried the first version but returned it early on because of that issue. (And also because I was disappointed they shipped it with an M2 even though M3s were shipping in other products.)

I'm excited about this version though. I know it's not significantly better, but it doesn't feel as instantly outdated as an M2 version. Plus, I've been brushing up on my Swift skills in the mean time. I may not be a "credible developer" myself (yet!), but I'm excited to play around in a space that isn't as crowded at the moment (which I see as a bit of an opportunity). Even if I don't deliver something that's "the must have" app, that's okay. I'm also one of those developers who enjoys building things for myself, so I'm excited about the platform and see opportunities to develop things that I'll benefit from (and excited to eventually share with others too).

 

[bmark]

And you know this how?

Because we are on the 2nd gen AVP now and it's going to be discontinued to make smart glasses anyhow.

 

[vantelimus]

Have M2 gen 1 and will likely upgrade to the M5, definitely getting all the new accessories (Logitech Muse, PSVR2 controllers and the new Dual Knit head strap)

Same here. It is the ultimate large display for a Mac and MacBook. I can see how people who don't appreciate screen real estate or who have invested in a multi-monitor set up might not find the Mac Virtual Display on the Vision Pro a compelling enough use. But, for me, it is the killer app for this.

Pull up a wide or ultrawide display. Set up a nice dark environment so that all you see is the huge screen real estate in front of you (with maybe the moon shining off to the side). And put in some Air Pod Pros with noise canceling. You are in a nice isolate environment free of all the other sensory distractions that keep you from being able to concentrate on your work.

 

[JOLoughlin]

Because we are on the 2nd gen AVP now and it's going to be discontinued to make smart glasses anyhow.

Is this a fact or spotting reporting from “sources”? Because people said Vision Pro was discontinued in late-summer 2024 too.

Also when was the last time Apple ever abandoned a platform? Let alone one in less than 2 years? They’re aren’t Google.

 

[bmark]

Is this a fact or spotting reporting from “sources”? Because people said Vision Pro was discontinued in late-summer 2024 too.

Also when was the last time Apple ever abandoned a platform? Let alone one in less than 2 years? They’re aren’t Google.

https://www.techspot.com/news/106170-apple-may-have-ended-production-vision-pro-headset.html

Apple abandoned Siri! Don't act like won't do the same with AVP which is a very niche product.

 

[Crow_Servo]

Scheduled an Apple Store appointment for tomorrow to try this out for the first time. Looking forward to the experience. My PSVR2 experience was mind blowing, so I’m hoping this compares favorably to it. The passthrough alone will be night and day. The immersive experiences should also impress.

 

[citysnaps]

Is this a fact or spotting reporting from “sources”? Because people said Vision Pro was discontinued in late-summer 2024 too.

Also when was the last time Apple ever abandoned a platform? Let alone one in less than 2 years? They’re aren’t Google.

Probably back when the previous CEO was running Apple.

 

[Hajj.david]

Scheduled an Apple Store appointment for tomorrow to try this out for the first time. Looking forward to the experience. My PSVR2 experience was mind blowing, so I’m hoping this compares favorably to it. The passthrough alone will be night and day. The immersive experiences should also impress.

While it is the best entertainment device on the market, people sleep on the productivity aspect, the mac virtual displays, and running your apps floating around you while in a virtual environment is game changing. Ask the demo person if you can try those features

 

[Hajj.david]

Because we are on the 2nd gen AVP now and it's going to be discontinued to make smart glasses anyhow.

Uhhh you do realize the smart glasses will be running vision os, soooooooooo why wouldn't you develop for the AVP knowing full well it is heading to a mass market product? I feel like you kind of defeated your own point or fail to look more then 3 feet in front of you.

 

[techfirth]

AVP is an incredible bit of kit, but the market for it just isn’t there (IMHO).

I tried it in the store and loved it, but my first and last thoughts were “If I still lived alone this would be amazing” - nobody wants to sit around the house in this thing with lots of other people around, let alone on a train, plane, bus etc.

 

[bmark]

Uhhh you do realize the smart glasses will be running vision os, soooooooooo why wouldn't you develop for the AVP knowing full well it is heading to a mass market product? I feel like you kind of defeated your own point or fail to look more then 3 feet in front of you.

AVP is on life support at this point and the Vision Air was shoved to the back burner for the smart glasses!

 

[Hajj.david]

AVP is on life support at this point and the Vision Air was shoved to the back burner for the smart glasses!

Thank you for demonstrating so eloquently you aren’t even reading my post and just responding to respond.

 

[Rychiar]

okay which one of you little freakers is actually buying this? I've been told people actually buy/use these but never seen one irl.... who are you!?!?!

it's the only apple product I find exciting anymore 🤷‍♂️

 

[Rychiar]

AVP is an incredible bit of kit, but the market for it just isn’t there (IMHO).

I tried it in the store and loved it, but my first and last thoughts were “If I still lived alone this would be amazing” - nobody wants to sit around the house in this thing with lots of other people around, let alone on a train, plane, bus etc.

I live alone and love it. but even if I lived with others it would be a great way to escape them when I needed to. Also if other people were sleeping and ya wanted to watch a movie at full size with surround sound this is the only way unless ya have a soundproof home theater in your home.