Those working behind Apple’s latest and most advanced gadget, the Apple Vision Pro, claim that it could take at least four generations for the mixed-reality headset to find perfect form.
That’s according to a report by Bloomberg’s tech correspondent Mark Gruman. In his latest ‘Power On’ newsletter, Gruman wrote that the feeling among some of the core team working on Apple’s headset was that there is a lot to do before it can be deemed refined enough for customers to use on a daily basis.
The Vision Pro, which was released in January, lets users interact with digital content overlaid in the real world. The device runs on a bespoke operating system called the visionOS that is specifically designed for immersive experiences.
“The Vision Pro is Limited By Existing Technology”, Says Apple Insiders!
Usually, Apple’s first-generation products showcase impressive performances, and the Vision Pro was no different. However, some insiders at the company believe that the device is marred by the limitations of existing technology.
Gruman, who has a solid track record of reporting on Apple’s upcoming products, cited several issues that are plaguing the Vision Pro. In Sunday’s newsletter, he called the headset “more of a preview of the future than the future itself”.
He wrote that the premium AR and VR headset is “too heavy and cumbersome”, its battery life is “far too short”, and the app ecosystem does not have enough dedicated apps, before adding that there are more bugs in the visionOS compared to any other Apple product, “even a first-generation one”.
The same problems were also echoed by early users and reviewers of the Vision Pro. The reactions to the device were mixed, with some praising the headset’s innovative immersive experience, while others complained about its lackings.
Gruman Calls the Vision Pro a Prototype Device that Users Pay Apple for Testing Out
As for improving the device’s performance, Gruman said Apple has to speed up the software update process by releasing bug fixes. He didn’t spare criticism for the operating system, saying that it felt more like a beta version that was about a year away from being refined for everyday use.
Speaking of the overall package, Gruman said it is essentially a prototype device where the user has to pay Apple for the “privilege of testing out”. Gruman’s sources, some of whom are Apple staff working directly on the device’s development team, say it could be four generations before the Vision Pro reaches its “ideal form”.
Apple has taken a similar progressional approach with its most popular products – the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Apple Envisions the Vision Pro as an iPad Replacement
Gruman believes that Apple envisions the Vision Pro as a replacement for the iPad, which he said has lost its original purpose and become rather a confusing aspect of the company’s product lineup.
He noted that Apple had “mixed results” trying to position the iPad as a Mac replacement, but the Vision Pro could offer a more compelling case of presenting consumers with a futuristic way of computing.
Gruman says Apple needs to significantly improve the Vision Pro’s hardware and software while offering far better support to app developers and content creators to make it the iPad replacement that “it’s capable of being”.
The Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499.
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