Is there any reason to believe that Vision Pro will not work with Intel Macs and only with M1 and M2 Macs?
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Will AVP not be compatible with Intel Macs?
- Thread starter coolbreeze2
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In macOS Sonoma there is a new high-performance mode in the Screen Sharing app that relies on Apple Silicon... I believe these changes to the Screen Sharing app is to make it more zippy and responsive... This is likely the basis for sharing macOS screens on the Vision Pro... Without this, the screen shown in Vision Pro from old Macs (if available using older protocols) are not going to be that good when it comes to speed of screen draw (there of course will be limitations to this even on M1/M2 because of bandwidth). That is about the only functionality that Vision Pro I think would rely on with macOS... as it is an independent device.
I have not heard definitely not, but it is likely using an old mac (Intel) would not provide the optimum performance... my guess is it will revert to the existing screen sharing protocol... Screen sharing from an Intel Mac will have the same performance it always has had. I doubt a person that has bought an Intel Mac and has not migrated to M1/M2 yet... is not the type of person that has $3,500+ on a new toy like a headset to use with their old Mac to use it as a monitor... and if there are they can be counted on one hand. Most existing 3rd party software usually supports not just the latest OS but the last few (for new releases). If there is 'fragmentation' with new functionality that depends on the neural engine - it is a transitory state which the platform will age out of anyway. The rest is just the same process as it has always been with Mac hardware.
Here's your clue from the macOS Sonoma preview website. This is for remote connections but as I've previously stated I think this particular remote screen sharing enhancement is actually a carryover from the development of whatever tech is necessary to stream your Mac to Vision Pro in 4k.
I'm confident it will require Sonoma and Apple Silicon, there's basically zero question about it... My main concern is it might require M2 generation chips.
I'm confident it will require Sonoma and Apple Silicon, there's basically zero question about it... My main concern is it might require M2 generation chips.
It is a 'mode' and by that, it infers there are other 'modes' (i.e. a new protocol that can be used between compatible devices). It does not mean that they will take the effort to strip the existing modes from the port to the Vision Pro device... (it will be a port).
Ok, I figured my Intel iMac would not be compatible. That means I will need to buy an M2. I will buy a Mac mini M2 but not buy a monitor. Instead, use the Vision Pro as a monitor. Shouldn't that be possible?
Well, setup might be a problem, and if there are any issues on booting up... that might also be problematic diagnosing... but we won't know everything until it is released. Then if you get tired, you will have nothing to look at... Monitors (fairly good ones for the price) are not that expensive... if you are in the US - you could probably pick up a fairly good 4K 27" monitor from Amazon for around $300USD.
Thought I'd bump this in case anyone has seen required specs for mirroring your Mac screen to the AVP. I'm surprised that the Apple site doesn't seem to have this info, nor have I come across it in any of the reviews.
I don't assume that Intel Macs will work, though that'd be nice. But I'm hoping that at minimum it would support working with an M1 Mac. I have a 2-year-old M1 Max MB Pro that I have no intentions of replacing anytime soon, so hopefully one of the premiere features of the AVP won't be walled off from me.
Has anyone seen confirmation of what constitutes a "compatible Mac" for this use?
I don't assume that Intel Macs will work, though that'd be nice. But I'm hoping that at minimum it would support working with an M1 Mac. I have a 2-year-old M1 Max MB Pro that I have no intentions of replacing anytime soon, so hopefully one of the premiere features of the AVP won't be walled off from me.
Has anyone seen confirmation of what constitutes a "compatible Mac" for this use?
I'm awaiting this info as well. I'm what someone above said is the rare person with a 2020 Intel Macbook Air and have purchased an AVP. But so far, nobody has said anything definitively.
I'm pretty sure it was stated officially that it will only work with M-series Macs. I can't seem to find anything more specific or definitive though.
You are correct, Vision OS requires Apple Silicon.
Developer forums does not say anything about Sonoma required but Mac OS apps are not supported and neither is Terminal.
https://developer.apple.com/download/applications/
In the other direction (screen mirroring TO a Mac) it appears to require just AirPlay, meaning an Intel Mac would work.
Use Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro
With Mac Virtual Display, you can use your Apple Vision Pro as a display that mirrors your Mac display.
MacRumors has addressed the issue: https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/03/apple-vision-pro-can-display-intel-macs/
Can confirm that after updating my 2019 Intel 16" MBP from Ventura -> Sonoma it is now available as a Mac Virtual Display (it did not show up at all with Ventura).
It does work, but seems really laggy - even the mouse movement. But I only spent 2 mins on it just to verify it works.
But in that brief time, it seemed like day and night difference between that and my M2 15" MBA.
Edit: at the time I bought the 2019 MBP I maxed out the hardware since it was going to be a development machine.
It does work, but seems really laggy - even the mouse movement. But I only spent 2 mins on it just to verify it works.
But in that brief time, it seemed like day and night difference between that and my M2 15" MBA.
Edit: at the time I bought the 2019 MBP I maxed out the hardware since it was going to be a development machine.