Why so Many People Are Returning Apple Vision Pro
It’s too early to tell whether Vision Pro will be the revolutionary mixed reality product Apple wants it to be. However, the latest headlines aren’t encouraging: It looks like many customers are returning their headsets , which is potentially a bad sign for the company’s big bet on XR.
I’m not sure the revenue from the Vision Pro is critical, but there are also some clear reasons why Apple’s latest gadget is causing some buyer’s remorse.
It’s just not convenient out of the box
If the goal here is to spend as much time as possible in mixed reality, you want the headset itself to be comfortable to wear for hours on end. Unfortunately, this seems to be one of the Vision Pro’s biggest problems: the thing is heavy , weighing 600 to 650 grams (21.2 to 22.9 ounces) on your face . And while the default jersey tape looks cool, it’s not great for distributing weight evenly. As Marques Brownlee notes in his review , the dual-circuit bracelet is much more convenient to use due to the “cool” factor of the Vision Pro. Luckily, this band comes with Vision Pro, so you can (and probably should) switch to that for longer sessions. If you’re struggling to get through an hour with the Vision Pro, I’d suggest you try the dual band before rushing to the Apple Store.
It’s a shame, however, that the advertised range is virtually unsuitable for extended use of the Vision Pro.
“Vision” is the problem
Apple touts Vision Pro as virtually indistinguishable from reality, especially when using video pass-through mode. Whether you’re watching a movie “in the mountains” or working on your Mac with your living room all around you, the experience should be completely immersive. The problem is that while Vision Pro seems great in some situations, it performs poorly in others, to the point where it becomes distracting to use.
Firstly, the field of view is not that wide. You’ll notice a black border around the edge of the frame, which you can ignore if you’re really into what you’re doing, but it’s always there. It’s actually hard to see this in action because Vision Pro only activates the internal screens when it detects that the user is wearing the device, but The Verge has drawn up a rendering of what it looks like. In short, it’s not great. As Nilay Patel says in his review, it feels like looking through binoculars. Marques Brownlee actually says that this is the only thing about Vision Pro that he would change to make it more exciting.
And while some have praised Vision Pro’s video delivery as high-quality and compelling, reflecting real life, it’s not always excellent. As Joanna Stern notes in her review for the Wall Street Journal , in low light it’s difficult to read actual text through the Vision Pro. Other reviewers made similar observations: As lighting conditions become less ideal, the Vision Pro begins to struggle. Just search for “blur” on the Vision Pro subreddit and you’ll find plenty of people complaining about poor video quality .
It’s still too new
Vision Pro is a first-generation product, which means it won’t be as fully realized as, say, a Mac or iPad. This early adoption means you may not have enough budget to justify the purchase unless you’re very serious about mixed reality. Apple released Vision Pro with over 600 dedicated apps , but that’s really not that many. By comparison, the iPhone (which, mind you, has been around for over 15 years) has over two million apps available for download . While there are certainly some interesting apps worth exploring, the Vision Pro is missing some key apps like Netflix and Spotify. Don’t worry, though: TikTok has an app called Vision Pro .
Apple also has to work out some initial problems with its new technology. The vision component can of course be improved, as can things like touch typing. Right now, you’ll almost certainly need a Bluetooth keyboard to make typing on the Vision Pro a worthwhile experience. Developer Christian Selig appears to be a better typist than most on the virtual keyboard and can still only speak 31 words per minute.
There are plenty of small features that Apple could fix in future updates, like Personas , but I don’t think it’s these small issues that cause Vision Pro customers to return their purchases.
It’s so expensive
I think the fatal flaw for many customers returning their Vision Pro is simply the price. If the Vision Pro cost $500 like the Meta Quest 3, I’m willing to bet you’d see a lot more flexibility on the part of users with device limitations. However, its price starts at $3,500 and only increases when you add storage, accessories or lens inserts. That high price also means that most people don’t buy the Vision Pro at all, so if you do want to buy one, you likely won’t have many friends or family members to use it with.
It’s kind of a no-brainer: If someone has a lot to do with a headset that looks fuzzy and is actually awkward to use, they’re probably not going to just brush off that $3,500 and call it a day. .
Day 1 return window is fast approaching
Another obvious answer? The back window is almost open. If someone purchased their Vision Pro on day one, February 2nd, the two-week return period ends on Friday, February 16th. It makes sense, especially given all of the above, that customers who are thinking about getting their money back do so immediately before purchasing. This is a cut off. I imagine many of them liked it too, so they stuck with the headset for as long as possible before deciding to give up.
All of this isn’t to say that Vision Pro isn’t an impressive piece of technology or a huge step forward in mixed reality. Of course, all first-generation devices have their problems, and you’ll find plenty of happy Vision Pro users chatting online about their passion for the headset. I just don’t think it’s necessarily a mystery why we’re seeing a lot of returns out of the gate.