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Why didn't Apple include a bigger battery? To prevent users from wearing the headset too long?

JPack

JPack

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 27, 2017
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Current rumors put the Vision Pro battery pack at 18 Whr. Why didn't Apple include a bigger battery to double the runtime? A 37 Whr power bank (10,000 mAh) weighs 200 grams, or about the same as iPhone 14 Pro/Plus. So it can't be because it's too heavy.

Ross Young's DSCC says "I suspect Apple made a conscious decision not to provide a bigger battery, to prevent users to wear the headset for too long."

Apple Vision Pro: A Game Changer? - Display Supply Chain Consultants

www.displaysupplychain.com www.displaysupplychain.com

Could there be health, behavioral, or psychological risks from wearing the headset too long?
 
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If the Vision Pro plugs to the battery via standard USB-C cable then what would stop anyone from using a power bank or USB-C charger? IIRC the EU prevents devices like smartphones from using non-USB-C connectors.
 
That’s an interesting possibility. If it was intentional, it could be because they don’t want people wearing it too long in general—but I think it’s more likely that they don’t want to encourage people to wear it while moving around in public, for safety reasons (the Apple Glasses will probably be the product designed for that). If it’s a two hour battery, then people have to be pretty intentional about using it for a specific purpose when in public away from wall power. If it was significantly more than 2 hours, I could see people (mostly enthusiasts) trying to wear it and use it all the time, around town.
Also Apple showed people using the VP for work which people spend way more than two hours doing, so I’d think it was intended to be worn for long periods at least sometimes (with regular breaks of course). But none of the demos showed people just wearing it around casually in public. The airplane was the closest to that, but that’s a pretty safe and controlled environment.
 
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Longplays said:
If the Vision Pro plugs to the battery via standard USB-C cable
Click to expand...
It won't and technically this isn't charging anything, so the charging EU rule might not apply in the first place.

Apple might be lithium polymer batteries that take up a bit more space than lithium ion ones but are less of a fire hazard. Some power banks use one, some use the other (and power banks have already had recalls due to risk of fire). With Apple's focus undoubtedly being on safety for a device you keep close on your body in your pocket, they might just use lipo and/or pack it less densely. Perhaps part of the housing is thicker rubber for shock-absorbing or something.
 
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Either way this is a good question that will likely be answered next year where Apple will upgrade the Vision Pro from a M2 to M3 at additional no cost.
 
I suspect it had to do more with Apple testing a sample group of people (made up of men and women) and figuring out what size was the least annoying as a maximum... The battery is not internal so I could see either Apple or Third Party (with the licensed connector) making larger battery options.
 
Longplays said:
If the Vision Pro plugs to the battery via standard USB-C cable then what would stop anyone from using a power bank or USB-C charger? IIRC the EU prevents devices like smartphones from using non-USB-C connectors.
Click to expand...

It’s not USB-C acccoridng to rumors. Makes sense since it appears the cable is locked and recessed into the battery pack. Maybe the Apple will sell a different version for the EU.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1667935108786163712
 
Longplays said:
It'll fit on a hand carry easily.
Click to expand...
I think they meant capacity, not actual physical size. The maximum battery capacity you're allowed on airplanes is 27,000 mAh or 100 Wh. Supposedly the battery for the Vision Pro is only 6,500 mAh, so the FAA regulations aren't why it's a smallish battery.

I doubt the current battery has anything to do with "to prevent users from wearing the headset too long", for a few reasons...
  1. The battery is worn externally, such as in your pocket or belt clip. It's not like you're carrying the battery's weight on your head.
  2. Could have multiple batteries to extend your use time.
  3. The Vision Pro can be plugged in for all-day use.
Personally, I think it's just typical Apple behavior. I mean, how many times have they made components smaller/thinner in iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, but don't put a bigger battery in its place? They just make the whole device thinner when people would have rather had a bigger battery.
 
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iStorm said:
I think they meant capacity, not actual physical size. The maximum battery capacity you're allowed on airplanes is 27,000 mAh or 100 Wh. Supposedly the battery for the Vision Pro is only 6,500 mAh, so the FAA regulations aren't why it's a smallish battery.

I doubt the current battery has anything to do with "to prevent users from wearing the headset too long", for a few reasons...
  1. The battery is worn externally, such as in your pocket or belt clip. It's not like you're carrying the battery's weight on your head.
  2. Could have multiple batteries to extend your use time.
  3. The Vision Pro can be plugged in for all-day use.
Click to expand...
I thought they were talking about the headset's size.
 
JPack said:
Ross Young's DSCC says "I suspect Apple made a conscious decision not to provide a bigger battery, to prevent users to wear the headset for too long."
Click to expand...

Then they completely undercut that by advertising that you can use it all day if you plug it in...

1686672468572.png
 
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Analog Kid said:
Then they completely undercut that by advertising that you can use it all day if you plug it in...
Click to expand...

I think the idea is to prevent users from roaming around the public like with AirPods. If you sit at home wearing your headset, that's fine. But not a mass of people walking the streets with this thing on.
 
JPack said:
I think the idea is to prevent users from roaming around the public like with AirPods. If you sit at home wearing your headset, that's fine. But not a mass of people walking the streets with this thing on.
Click to expand...

Why are you assuming that the reason Apple made a decision was to reduce the utility of their product? The much more likely explanation is they had run time and size/weight constraints and made a tradeoff.
 
NT1440 said:
Doesn’t the battery pack itself have a USB c input? Like not the part the connects to the headset
Click to expand...
That hole in the shape of a USB-C port is a charging port -- and I am pretty sure I heard that it was USB-C but cannot find it now.
 
Analog Kid said:
Why are you assuming that the reason Apple made a decision was to reduce the utility of their product? The much more likely explanation is they had run time and size/weight constraints and made a tradeoff.
Click to expand...

Refer to first post.
 
NT1440 said:
Doesn’t the battery pack itself have a USB c input? Like not the part the connects to the headset
Click to expand...

No, it does not according to the leaked photo. It's a proprietary connector.
 
JPack said:
Refer to first post.
Click to expand...
JPack said:
Current rumors put the Vision Pro battery pack at 18 Whr. Why didn't Apple include a bigger battery to double the runtime? A 37 Whr power bank (10,000 mAh) weighs 200 grams, or about the same as iPhone 14 Pro/Plus. So it can't be because it's too heavy.

Ross Young's DSCC says "I suspect Apple made a conscious decision not to provide a bigger battery, to prevent users to wear the headset for too long."

Apple Vision Pro: A Game Changer? - Display Supply Chain Consultants

www.displaysupplychain.com www.displaysupplychain.com

Could there be health, behavioral, or psychological risks from wearing the headset too long?
Click to expand...

Why are you assuming that the reason Apple made a decision was to reduce the utility of their product? The much more likely explanation is they had run time and size/weight constraints and made a tradeoff.
 
bkkcanuck8 said:
That hole in the shape of a USB-C port is a charging port -- and I am pretty sure I heard that it was USB-C but cannot find it now.
Click to expand...
Dan's video here on MR.

JPack said:
No, it does not according to the leaked photo. It's a proprietary connector.
Click to expand...


1686678479257.png


I think the leak you're referring to, including that 18Whr number, might be bogus. This doesn't even have the shape of the AVP battery pack:

FyKEnj5aIAMfkI0
 
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