they're still aggressively pursuing it with a chip upgrade and a new headband? c'mon. that's not much evolution.
but some of you will say the screen-less glasses still count as "spatial computing" when those are introduced, I guess.
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Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop
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they're still aggressively pursuing it with a chip upgrade and a new headband? c'mon. that's not much evolution.
but some of you will say the screen-less glasses still count as "spatial computing" when those are introduced, I guess.
Alexander_im
macrumors regular
100%. I'm one of those AVP users who enjoys it. Every day.
gaximus
macrumors 68020
I chalk it up to the high price. It was amazing, and something I would have bought. but they started with the "Pro" and I think a lot of people were waiting for them to release the "non-Pro" version that was going to be cheaper.
They need to ditch the "spatial computing" nonsense and focus on the entertainment aspects of the device. That's the killer app. The vast majority of positive comments around Vision Pro center on two things: virtual Mac display and entertainment. No one really seems to care about the silly "spatial computing" stuff.
I think a wearable display would sell incredibly well. No one wants to wear a computer and wave their hands around to interact with it. It's silly on so many levels. But the entertainment aspects? The HUGE screen? The immersive experience? That's the killer app. Get rid of the cameras, sensors, the silly front display, and deliver a sleek, immersive wearable display that connects wirelessly to one's Apple devices for content consumption. It would be a huge hit.
Nicky G
macrumors 65816
You can’t get through many movies on a single charge, and most people found it physically uncomfortable to use for the length of a feature film. It was never going to succeed.
They took too long following it up with an affordable option.
Apple has a history of creating (or redefining) an entry to a category with a “pro” (or more feature-rich) version of a product to get people excited, then offer a lower cost to get them in the door — knowing it will cause an upsell the next time around if the experience lands well with those who were worried the investment wouldn’t live up to the experience. The watch (then Sport and SE), the HomePod (then mini), MacBookPro (then MacBook), iPod (then Mini/Nano/shuffle) are all examples of products and experiences they pushed out to “wow" and “amaze” in a new branch of product, and after the early adopters got in, the lower entry point release swept up those initially unsure. Apple allowed Meta, HTC and the Sony PS5 control the entry level of the quality VR experience. Had they rolled out with one that was sub-$1k, left out aspects like the screen on the outside, the hand tracking and slightly lower resolution internally... maybe even a more simple strap — they would have taken over the VR space.
That they kept it so out of reach for so many people — when AR and VR seems like it really is an important category for apple in the long term — was just so short-sighted. The “Pro” is meant to be an example of everything we can do today (like iPhone Pro) and the “non-Pro” (standard iPhone) is the same device experience without the extra bells and whistles, like the fastest chip, their best camera array, less premium feel. This — like Siri — will be seen as the two biggest missteps when we look back 5-10 years from now. It was within their reach and the fumbled the ball for no reason at all.
Apple has a history of creating (or redefining) an entry to a category with a “pro” (or more feature-rich) version of a product to get people excited, then offer a lower cost to get them in the door — knowing it will cause an upsell the next time around if the experience lands well with those who were worried the investment wouldn’t live up to the experience. The watch (then Sport and SE), the HomePod (then mini), MacBookPro (then MacBook), iPod (then Mini/Nano/shuffle) are all examples of products and experiences they pushed out to “wow" and “amaze” in a new branch of product, and after the early adopters got in, the lower entry point release swept up those initially unsure. Apple allowed Meta, HTC and the Sony PS5 control the entry level of the quality VR experience. Had they rolled out with one that was sub-$1k, left out aspects like the screen on the outside, the hand tracking and slightly lower resolution internally... maybe even a more simple strap — they would have taken over the VR space.
That they kept it so out of reach for so many people — when AR and VR seems like it really is an important category for apple in the long term — was just so short-sighted. The “Pro” is meant to be an example of everything we can do today (like iPhone Pro) and the “non-Pro” (standard iPhone) is the same device experience without the extra bells and whistles, like the fastest chip, their best camera array, less premium feel. This — like Siri — will be seen as the two biggest missteps when we look back 5-10 years from now. It was within their reach and the fumbled the ball for no reason at all.
Has anyone attached a rope to it with a drone at the other end to support the weight of it for longer use? 😅
I love my AVP, as a person with low vision, it enabled a whole new world to me. I can read books in giant size, magnify my Mac screen and also enjoy content in a way that is comfortable for me. I’m sad to hear that Apple is giving up on such a great product. It’s not perfect, of course, but it has so much potential. I hope the future software updates give us even more accessibility features and more functionality for this device.
I was one who was ok paying the money if it was useful. But that weight...ugh. The tech is there underlying, but the isolation, weight, battery, lack of portability in any real way, was just too much. I rarely return apple products and didn't even wait a week to return it, it was just so useless. I did enjoy the 15-20 mins of immersion for my movies when I had it on before it got real cumbersome.
Time to start pulling the ram out of the unused millions of these sitting around.
Debating whether to offload my M2 AVP and upgrade to the M5 since it seems Apple may discontinue the offering once Ternus takes the reins. The experience with the M2 is amazing - the M5 would be for the higher refresh and larger virtual displays. Really wish they upgraded it to WiFi 7, but I doubt the AVP will ever see the N1 (or r2) chip.
iDento
macrumors 65816
Since the Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight, why would they think M2 to M5 update would make any difference?
Honestly, the only thing that I can imagine doing with it is watching things in bed. I already do that with my laptop too much and need to do less of it as it is, so last thing I should do is spend thousands to make me feel like I need to do the thing I need to stop doing more just to justify having spent the money.
Yr Blues
macrumors 68040
Why won't people buy our $5,000 dystopic nightmare gadget? To be fair, VR is great for gaming and Apple sucks at gaming. They literally hate video-games no matter how much they say otherwise.
JohannesO
macrumors 6502
Greed.
Imagine having a virtual Macbook Pro inside without connecting to a real one.
It would have been possible easily.
It would have been the most portable Mac with the biggest built in screen and everyone using planes would have loved it.
I can’t imagine they hadn’t thought about that. So they ditched it out of greed.
Imagine having a virtual Macbook Pro inside without connecting to a real one.
It would have been possible easily.
It would have been the most portable Mac with the biggest built in screen and everyone using planes would have loved it.
I can’t imagine they hadn’t thought about that. So they ditched it out of greed.
The AVP pairs really well with SteamVR and the Sony PSVR 2 controllers. Apple doesn’t have to reinvent the game wheel when Steam and Sony have that covered.
edit: it would be nice if Meta opened up their game ecosystem tho…
Of course it's true. John Ternus literally just said "we're at super excited about it" and "we're at the beginning of the journey". Do you trust the words of Apple's incoming CEO or an unsourced clickbait article?
I came here to say that. The AVP reminds me a lot of the Newton. Who knows? Perhaps it will be the basis for a distributed computing platform for creatives or truly mobile developers. Imagine using it as the ultimate multiple display setup for a development/video editing platform. Using a MacMini, AVP and keyboard designed to work with the AVP, a person could get a lot done in a small coworking space. Throw in the ability to network several AVPs across high speed wireless with shared screens and the possibilities for a fully distributed studio could revolutionize things.
Always look on the bright side of life...
indychris
macrumors 6502a
So THAT was the problem. It should have been the Apple BOAT and instead they went with the whole car thing!
I know it seems to be an unpopular opinion with some, but I anticipate the same thing with the Ultra Flop...errrr...Folding iPhone if the cost is also ultra-priced.
This may be difficult for you to understand, but Apple has new products in development that haven't been released to the public. Between major new versions of a product, they typically release smaller refreshes. Those smaller refreshes are not intended to be game changers and are clear signals of their continued interest in the product.
MacRumors had a similar article about the Vision Pro being dead at the same time that Apple released the new M5 version. It was nonsensical then, and it's nonsensical now, flying in the face of Apple's public statements and actions.
MasterControlProgram
macrumors 6502
The Vision Pro, like many of Apple’s products now, is just too expensive. People simply can’t afford these things, especially if Apple also want you to own an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, MacBook, etc.
It’s the same problem with the AirPods Max, too expensive and instead of learning from that they’ve doubled down and released the same thing again with a new chip. Apple actually got it right by making the much more affordable HomePod Mini, but even that came after the HomePod failed due to its high price. I know Apple like to make premium products, but they need to live in the modern era where people just don’t have as much disposable income.
It’s the same problem with the AirPods Max, too expensive and instead of learning from that they’ve doubled down and released the same thing again with a new chip. Apple actually got it right by making the much more affordable HomePod Mini, but even that came after the HomePod failed due to its high price. I know Apple like to make premium products, but they need to live in the modern era where people just don’t have as much disposable income.
DavidLeblond
macrumors 68020