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Fellow Vision Pro Early Adopters – Let’s Ask Apple for a Fair Upgrade Path 👓🍎

Beaverfish

Beaverfish

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 15, 2008
159
16
Hey everyone,

As an early Apple Vision Pro owner, I’ve absolutely loved being part of this first step into spatial computing. I bought mine for nearly £4,000 at launch because I believed in what Apple was building. But with the M5 Vision Pro now announced, it’s hard not to feel that those of us who supported Apple from the very start have been left behind.

We accepted early-generation limitations, shared feedback, and showcased the product — effectively becoming unpaid ambassadors for Apple’s vision. The M2 Vision Pro was, in truth, an early-access device, and a preferential upgrade or trade-in option would be a meaningful way for Apple to recognise that loyalty.

I’ve written to Tim Cook directly at tcook@apple.com, and I’d encourage any other early adopters who feel the same to do so as well. The more constructive feedback Apple receives, the more likely it is to act.


Here’s the email I sent (feel free to adapt it for your own message):

Subject: Early Vision Pro Supporters Deserve an Upgrade Path

Dear Mr Cook,

I have been an Apple customer for most of my life. As a student, I saved for months to buy my first Mac, a G4 Mac mini, and I’ve been a devoted user ever since — from the iPod and iPhone to the iPad and now the Apple Vision Pro.

When I bought the M2 Vision Pro for nearly £4,000, I did so as an early believer in spatial computing. Those of us who supported this first-generation product accepted its limitations because we wanted to be part of the future Apple was creating.

Now that the M5 Vision Pro has been announced, many of us feel left behind. The M2 model feels like an early-access device, yet early adopters are offered no upgrade or trade-in path. This risks discouraging the very community who helped bring the platform to life.

Apple once recognised early iPhone owners with a discounted iPhone 3G upgrade. A similar gesture today would show that Apple still values those who believe first.

Thank you for your time and continued leadership.

Warm regards,


If enough of us contact Apple politely and consistently, we might just remind them that rewarding loyalty has always been part of what made the company special.

Let’s keep it respectful, constructive, and community-minded, exactly the kind of feedback Apple has always listened to.

— Karl 🇬🇧
 
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Upgrade path = Sell it on eBay or take to a CEX shop, will probably get you more money than an Apple trade in anyway.

However I do get you when Apple should allow a trade in. That having being said it looks like Vision Pro is dead in the water, with rumours that Apple are no longing actively developing it in favour of some kind of glasses product instead.

Main problem is most developers have ignored Vision Pro development. without great software it will always struggle. I basically use mine mainly as a huge cinema screen.
 
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Not allowing trade in is a hugh tell all for me. It shows that Apple doesn`t even want the things.
 
Trade in is coming soon if folks on reddit are to be believed.

They claim to have heard that from Apple support chats, so take that for what its worth I guess?
 
turbineseaplane said:
Trade in is coming soon if folks on reddit are to be believed.

They claim to have heard that from Apple support chats, so take that for what its worth I guess?
Click to expand...
Maybe, though I'd be surprised if it'll be enough to make upgrading attractive. I've traded in a few Apple products over the years because it was more convenient than selling, though I could have gotten a higher price. I love my AVP and use it daily, but I won't buy a new one until I see where the platform goes.

It'd be nice if Apple offered a price break on the new head band to early adopters, but I don't expect it.
 
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The Vision Pro is effectively dead. VisionOS is what remains. A stripped down version will power the Apple Glasse Gen 1 and Gen 2 with a display (or two) in the lense(s) that can live within the bounds of its hardware and the hardware and processing power of the iPhone it’s paired with. The more feature complete version will run within the bounds of its hardware and the hardware and processing power of a Mac.

It wouldn’t shock me if they keep refreshing the Vision Pro with spec bumps for the business / enterprise space where it’s found a home among those in certain specific vertical markets with, maybe, a Vision or Vision Air model for consumers who want the fully emerged VR / AR from every angle with no outside light experience only a full headset with goggles can provide but I don’t think we’d see that for years, if ever, as IMO AR Glasses are always where the tech was ultimately going.

Meta just made Apple up its game and change that timeline. They proved there was a market for AI and thus AR glasses where Apple didn’t think one existed yet, so they are readjusting on the fly.

The Vision Pro for consumers is destined to become the next Lisa. Ahead of its time in so many ways but just too expensive for most consumers who drive Apple’s businesses with the tech being kept alive through these hardware refreshes for high end consumers who can afford it and business customers so they can keep making advances in VisionOS and keep the developers that are already there at least semi-interested for when the glasses ship.

I still love mine and will use it until it dies to experience AR or VR apps plus 3D and Immersive Video which I think Apple will continue to develop for when the glasses finally have displays in both lenses and consumers want to watch or interact with that kind of content and apps in that form factor.

It has a pre-existing app and content ecosystem that’ll be there’s on launch day when they ship actual AI / AR glasses with a display in one or both lenses. That’ll give them the leg up on their rivals even if they are late to the hardware party, which at this point they already are.

I don’t know why there wasn’t more of a push into the glasses space earlier as it was obvious to me when I got my hands on this that the form factor to be a hit would be AR glasses. AI is just gravy, and Apple is behind the eight ball at both at the moment but with their cash on hand and with Meta proving the glasses can be done, even if it’s a loss leader for them to create and maintain the market, I’m supremely confident Apple can get the hardware right, already has the OS and the only remaining question is will they actually be able to fix Siri since voice and perhaps hand gestures or hand gestures plus an Apple Watch are the obvious ways you’d need to interact with the device. Throw in some AirPods plus an Apple Watch for hand gestures and this thing is off to the races if it had good intelligent voice controls from a Chatbot like version of Siri. Enough people wear glasses already. You can wear them and potentially not look like a tool when your out in public if /when they get the thickness right which Meta is already pretty close to doing..
 
Last edited:
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Allowing trade-ins is purely a business decision. The main goal of Apple trade-in is to manage and curtail the secondary market. In other words, the goal is to the reduce the number of devices on the secondary (used) market. This keeps prices and demand high on new devices. This is why Apple sued a recycling company for keeping and reselling over 100,000 usable iPhones, iPads, and Watches instead of destroying them as contracted to do so.

Not saying emails to Tim Cook won't work. But the likely reason a trade-in program isn't available is simply because there were very few Vision Pro buyers in the first place. This makes the M2 secondary market very small and unlikely to negatively affect the demand for M5 Vision Pro. Hence, it wasn't worth buying back M2 units to prop up M5 sales. In addition, Vision Pro buyers are very likely extreme enthusiasts and are unlikely to buy last gen devices in the first place.

www.businessinsider.com

Apple is suing a recycling firm for $23 million, claiming it resold iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches instead of breaking them down

Apple claims in the suit that it sent more than 530,000 iPhones, 25,000 iPads, and 19,200 Apple Watches to the Ontario-based GEEP from 2015 to 2017.
www.businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com
 
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I talked to an Apple support person and she told me that they have been clamoring for a Trade In program for AVP. I hope Apple wakes up and implements one. It would give early adopters a way to upgrade and it would give those who want an AVP, but don't want the price, a way to get it.

In other, random news, my Persona still looks like I'm a Mafia hitman from New Jersey. My eldest daughter thought I was deathly ill when I FaceTimed her today. I told her it was my Persona to ease the girl's mind.
 
Seems like the secondary market benefits apple in getting more of these out there for an affordable price. If you wanted to upgrade anyway, I don’t see why you wouldn’t just sell your current one and use that money to get a new one 🤷‍♂️
 
CodeSpyder said:
In other, random news, my Persona still looks like I'm a Mafia hitman from New Jersey. My eldest daughter thought I was deathly ill when I FaceTimed her today. I told her it was my Persona to ease the girl's mind.
Click to expand...
My Persona is so much better now that it fooled a few colleagues who know me well during a Zoom meeting. I found that the lighting and background during capture have a lot to do with realism, though I realize it varies.
 
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Roller said:
My Persona is so much better now that it fooled a few colleagues who know me well during a Zoom meeting. I found that the lighting and background during capture have a lot to do with realism, though I realize it varies.
Click to expand...
I liked my persona best on the first beta version lol. it always looked like me and fooled people but I have a shaved head so im sure that plays into it. the newest persona is just a little unforgiving
 
Rychiar said:
I liked my persona best on the first beta version lol. it always looked like me and fooled people but I have a shaved head so im sure that plays into it. the newest persona is just a little unforgiving
Click to expand...
I feel like it gave me resting beyotch face and sharpened all my wrinkles lol.
 
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CodeSpyder said:
I talked to an Apple support person and she told me that they have been clamoring for a Trade In program for AVP. I hope Apple wakes up and implements one. It would give early adopters a way to upgrade and it would give those who want an AVP, but don't want the price, a way to get it.

In other, random news, my Persona still looks like I'm a Mafia hitman from New Jersey. My eldest daughter thought I was deathly ill when I FaceTimed her today. I told her it was my Persona to ease the girl's mind.
Click to expand...

This! Even if it’s a loss leader. Keep the product going until the glasses form factor is ready, which includes a display in both lenses. VisionOS is the real deal. I’d hate to see it stagnate while Apple plays hardware and AI catch up with the glasses form factor.
 
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You’re not wrong. At least the M5 AVP is a spec bump that doesn’t change too much about the user experience for most people, so there’s really not much to have fomo over. Trade in programs typically fleece owners, so offering slightly below secondary market values would be a nice gesture.
 
Beaverfish said:
Hey everyone,

As an early Apple Vision Pro owner, I’ve absolutely loved being part of this first step into spatial computing. I bought mine for nearly £4,000 at launch because I believed in what Apple was building. But with the M5 Vision Pro now announced, it’s hard not to feel that those of us who supported Apple from the very start have been left behind.

We accepted early-generation limitations, shared feedback, and showcased the product — effectively becoming unpaid ambassadors for Apple’s vision. The M2 Vision Pro was, in truth, an early-access device, and a preferential upgrade or trade-in option would be a meaningful way for Apple to recognise that loyalty.

I’ve written to Tim Cook directly at tcook@apple.com, and I’d encourage any other early adopters who feel the same to do so as well. The more constructive feedback Apple receives, the more likely it is to act.


Here’s the email I sent (feel free to adapt it for your own message):

Subject: Early Vision Pro Supporters Deserve an Upgrade Path

Dear Mr Cook,

I have been an Apple customer for most of my life. As a student, I saved for months to buy my first Mac, a G4 Mac mini, and I’ve been a devoted user ever since — from the iPod and iPhone to the iPad and now the Apple Vision Pro.

When I bought the M2 Vision Pro for nearly £4,000, I did so as an early believer in spatial computing. Those of us who supported this first-generation product accepted its limitations because we wanted to be part of the future Apple was creating.

Now that the M5 Vision Pro has been announced, many of us feel left behind. The M2 model feels like an early-access device, yet early adopters are offered no upgrade or trade-in path. This risks discouraging the very community who helped bring the platform to life.

Apple once recognised early iPhone owners with a discounted iPhone 3G upgrade. A similar gesture today would show that Apple still values those who believe first.

Thank you for your time and continued leadership.

Warm regards,


If enough of us contact Apple politely and consistently, we might just remind them that rewarding loyalty has always been part of what made the company special.

Let’s keep it respectful, constructive, and community-minded, exactly the kind of feedback Apple has always listened to.

— Karl 🇬🇧
Click to expand...
I don't really care about trade ins. I could easily just sell it. Why can't you? How do you feel left behind? The M2 avp does everything it was supposed to do. Not seeing a huge difference with M5. Go buy the dual strap and you can't tell any difference.
 
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Macaholic868 said:
The Vision Pro is effectively dead. VisionOS is what remains. A stripped down version will power the Apple Glasse Gen 1 and Gen 2 with a display (or two) in the lense(s) that can live within the bounds of its hardware and the hardware and processing power of the iPhone it’s paired with. The more feature complete version will run within the bounds of its hardware and the hardware and processing power of a Mac.

It wouldn’t shock me if they keep refreshing the Vision Pro with spec bumps for the business / enterprise space where it’s found a home among those in certain specific vertical markets with, maybe, a Vision or Vision Air model for consumers who want the fully emerged VR / AR from every angle with no outside light experience only a full headset with goggles can provide but I don’t think we’d see that for years, if ever, as IMO AR Glasses are always where the tech was ultimately going.

Meta just made Apple up its game and change that timeline. They proved there was a market for AI and thus AR glasses where Apple didn’t think one existed yet, so they are readjusting on the fly.

The Vision Pro for consumers is destined to become the next Lisa. Ahead of its time in so many ways but just too expensive for most consumers who drive Apple’s businesses with the tech being kept alive through these hardware refreshes for high end consumers who can afford it and business customers so they can keep making advances in VisionOS and keep the developers that are already there at least semi-interested for when the glasses ship.

I still love mine and will use it until it dies to experience AR or VR apps plus 3D and Immersive Video which I think Apple will continue to develop for when the glasses finally have displays in both lenses and consumers want to watch or interact with that kind of content and apps in that form factor.

It has a pre-existing app and content ecosystem that’ll be there’s on launch day when they ship actual AI / AR glasses with a display in one or both lenses. That’ll give them the leg up on their rivals even if they are late to the hardware party, which at this point they already are.

I don’t know why there wasn’t more of a push into the glasses space earlier as it was obvious to me when I got my hands on this that the form factor to be a hit would be AR glasses. AI is just gravy, and Apple is behind the eight ball at both at the moment but with their cash on hand and with Meta proving the glasses can be done, even if it’s a loss leader for them to create and maintain the market, I’m supremely confident Apple can get the hardware right, already has the OS and the only remaining question is will they actually be able to fix Siri since voice and perhaps hand gestures or hand gestures plus an Apple Watch are the obvious ways you’d need to interact with the device. Throw in some AirPods plus an Apple Watch for hand gestures and this thing is off to the races if it had good intelligent voice controls from a Chatbot like version of Siri. Enough people wear glasses already. You can wear them and potentially not look like a tool when your out in public if /when they get the thickness right which Meta is already pretty close to doing..
Click to expand...
i do agree this is the long term plan to have the tech in glasses but i don't think we will get to this point for quite a few more years at least. 5 years time i could see it
 
cardfan said:
I don't really care about trade ins. I could easily just sell it. Why can't you? How do you feel left behind? The M2 avp does everything it was supposed to do. Not seeing a huge difference with M5. Go buy the dual strap and you can't tell any difference.
Click to expand...
To be fair the M5 is barely out, so it's a bit soon to say there's no huge difference.
Probably given the large leap in CPU and GPU performance, once the devs are able to push it to it's max, it will show abilities not possible in any quality way on the older M2 version
 
Piggie said:
To be fair the M5 is barely out, so it's a bit soon to say there's no huge difference.
Probably given the large leap in CPU and GPU performance, once the devs are able to push it to it's max, it will show abilities not possible in any quality way on the older M2 version
Click to expand...

lol. Ok. By that time you may as well upgrade to the avp 3. . It’s a wait and see. No immediate huge change. Software is slow to appear here. I’m more hopeful apps made for googles vr become available. You don’t need m5 for immersive content.

Personally I’m waiting to see where it goes. But it’d be hard to continue with Apple avp when Google is half the price and has the content. But I’m good with avp one for now.
 
Honestly I don't care specifically.
I just hope and pray that multiple brands continue to develop newer and better hardware.
I don't want to see these devices die, so as long as someone is pushing the envelope others have to match, then it's just a matter of time :)
 
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