Even if it is only a chip upgrade, I’ll buy the new version and enjoy it for as long as it or I’m around.
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Vision Pro Future Uncertain as All Headset Development Is Seemingly Paused
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It is a product not really many people wants, a bulky headset is ok for gaming, not for working, it was too expensive and too late as Quest already got the portion of user interested in a headset.
It is good, a great product, but a niche one, especially when glasses can do most of the stuff and be a lot more user friendly, weight less and are less noticeable.
At 1000 - 1500 the might have sold a bunch more, but it was stilla niche market.
It is good, a great product, but a niche one, especially when glasses can do most of the stuff and be a lot more user friendly, weight less and are less noticeable.
At 1000 - 1500 the might have sold a bunch more, but it was stilla niche market.
Actually, it sold even more than what I remembered : not only did they beat Xboxes and Playstation, but also Nintendo switches !
"While Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch are still doing well, they were all beat on Amazon in 2024, with the Meta Quest 3S taking the crown for the best-selling console for the year on the website. It's an impressive achievement for the virtual reality headset, especially since the Meta Quest 3S only launched in October."
Surprising Game System Beat PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on Amazon in 2024
A surprising game system beats the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles on Amazon's bestsellers of 2024.gamerant.com
This says it sold the most on Amazon.com which isn’t really a big deal considering the consoles you cited are old. It did not do what your initial claim was.
If I want to actively record video, I’ll get the latest GoPro Hero for $349, and a $10 backpack clip. Done.
No one is wearing this thing on their heads to record. Ever.
No one is wearing this thing on their heads to record. Ever.
So indeed it is DOA. Juuuuust like I called it when it first launched.
I'd like one to use as a monitor. Just a way to have a massive screen(or many) in the office or everywhere I go, especially a plane. By being a monitor for other devices, it would make the device simpler and less expensive. I think this would be a product I could get behind.
You cannot say that though. With time and reduced cost anything is possible. Current pricing is terrible. Perhaps it should have been delayed and launched ~2030 as "Mac Vision". Not as a satellite to a Mac, but as an independent Mac.
it doesn't matter, what ever the form factor is - The killer feature is to enhance the iPhone with it, not separating it with it's own App Store, updated, apps etc, it's a hassle.
I thought about it. I wouldn’t buy it for $1,000 either. I would rather have a new iPhone.
It’s heavy, it’s bulky, and the uses for it are very limited.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not panning it. IMHO it’s a really cool piece of technology and it would be something cool to play around with for a while. But for me it’s not worth even $1,000.
That being said, I see the VP for what it is. It’s a halo/proof of concept product that says “look at what we can do”. I can’t see where Apple ever expected to make money off of it after R&D, lack of volume of sales, etc. I don’t think the VP was ever going to be that.
I think it’s a way to throw the most advanced stuff out there for a sort of “pay to play” beta test. Someone mentioned the NeXT cube and how it was a preview of what the Mac would become. I remember how expensive they were. There was a lot of technology for the sake of technology there and it was very forward thinking for the time. A lot of the technology that was developed for the Newton (the difference being Apple actually thought the Newton was a viable product) ended up in the iPhone/iOS.
One cold argue the VP was a waste of resources that never made a dime and actually loses money. It’s a valid argument. But every company has hits and misses. The technology from the VP and the knowledge gained from producing it, making software for it, and putting it to contact with all be it small user base will be valuable when producing future (and probably successful) Apple products.
Has anyone checked in on Neil Cybart?
There actually was an argument about VP on the last Macbreak Weekly show. Leo Laporte and Andy Ihnatko essentially saying VP is dead. Jason Snell and Alex Linsey arguing it’s not. I’m surprised how many Apple-centric bloggers/podcasters – who aren’t afraid to criticize the company – are on the VP bandwagon.
It never made sense to me why Apple didn’t release this as a dev only product. Sure give it to people like Snell and John Gruber too but don’t be selling it in Apple stores. Don’t put Tim Cook on the cover of Vanity Fair looking like a dork wearing it. It’s clear if anything in the space is the future it’s what Meta is doing. There were rumor articles suggesting this is where Apple’s design team thought the company should go but they were outvoted because the tech wasn’t ready. But Meta is selling more glasses than Apple is selling VPs so I think they were right.
There actually was an argument about VP on the last Macbreak Weekly show. Leo Laporte and Andy Ihnatko essentially saying VP is dead. Jason Snell and Alex Linsey arguing it’s not. I’m surprised how many Apple-centric bloggers/podcasters – who aren’t afraid to criticize the company – are on the VP bandwagon.
It never made sense to me why Apple didn’t release this as a dev only product. Sure give it to people like Snell and John Gruber too but don’t be selling it in Apple stores. Don’t put Tim Cook on the cover of Vanity Fair looking like a dork wearing it. It’s clear if anything in the space is the future it’s what Meta is doing. There were rumor articles suggesting this is where Apple’s design team thought the company should go but they were outvoted because the tech wasn’t ready. But Meta is selling more glasses than Apple is selling VPs so I think they were right.
The OLEDoS display panels alone reportedly cost $300 each, so $600 for the pair.
Yes, even at $1000 it would be niche. You can just sell so many of a fancy novelty item without a clear purpose. If you in addition do not embrace gaming, the only place were headsets at least have got some traction, then do not get surprised.
Before the Apple Watch came out Tim Cook said nobody wants to wear glasses unless they have to. Then he went on to say the wrist is “interesting”. If Apple had glasses ready to go at the time Cook would have said nobody wants to wear a watch unless they have to.
Once again, I don’t believe a second this is true … I am still buying the M5 VP and look forward to see what they have next
The FCC one isn’t the planned second-generation version, it’s just a chip bump and maybe a new frame color and strap.
The Vision Air was planned for 2026, so if they only pause development for a year, it could conceivably still be released in 2027. (Personally I think it’s unlikely to happen, and the 2026 timeline already seemed optimistic.)
If all of this confuses you, watch the MacRumors Show where Hartley and Dan have been discussing that stuff repeatedly.
Honestly, anyone paying attention knew this was coming. Vision Pro was a $3,500 tech demo pretending to be the future of computing. It solved zero real problems, had a battery life shorter than a coffee break, and made FaceTime calls look like hologram horror movies. Apple tried to sell isolation as innovation and consumers weren’t buying it. Spatial computing? Get out of here.
I think it was clear from the start that this wasn’t going to be a good use of time or money.
Meta’s never released verified sales figures and no reputable source has shown the Quest 3 outselling both PlayStation and Xbox combined. Noting, the PS5 alone has passed 50 million units, while all Quests together barely hit half that.We can probably file your comment in the “usual uninformed flock” section under enthusiastic fiction rather than market reality
I own one. I've had it since shortly after its release. Beyond a few "that's cool" apps (glorified demos) that are good for once or twice viewing, there's really not much to do with it. The virtual Mac display is definitely the best application for it, but it's less than super convenient. And I already have 3 displays on my desktop anyway. It's great for movies, I'll grant that, but obviously the experience can't be shared with others — so it's not like I can watch a movie with my wife and son while wearing it.
I think if Apple spent some time developing some killer apps, if there even is such a thing, or really got some game developers to do some 3D COD-like shooters or something, then maybe it would have gained a little traction. Even then, it was always priced too high to get developers to spend money on creating apps that will never generate enough return on investment since there aren't enough people who own them to begin with. Chicken & egg situation...
I am glad, however, that I didn't actually spend my own money on it. I get some funding from work for computers & equipment, travel, and other expenses that I hadn't used up (and it's a use-it-or-lose-it kind of situation), so I was able to purchase the Vision Pro with those funds. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought. I go a month or more without using mine, and then it's only for an hour or two at most.
I think if Apple spent some time developing some killer apps, if there even is such a thing, or really got some game developers to do some 3D COD-like shooters or something, then maybe it would have gained a little traction. Even then, it was always priced too high to get developers to spend money on creating apps that will never generate enough return on investment since there aren't enough people who own them to begin with. Chicken & egg situation...
I am glad, however, that I didn't actually spend my own money on it. I get some funding from work for computers & equipment, travel, and other expenses that I hadn't used up (and it's a use-it-or-lose-it kind of situation), so I was able to purchase the Vision Pro with those funds. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought. I go a month or more without using mine, and then it's only for an hour or two at most.