Apple Vision Pro, the company’s first spatial computing device, was launched in the United States on February 2, 2024, with much fanfare and hype. However, not everyone is happy with their purchase, and some early adopters are returning the device within the 14-day window offered by Apple. What are the reasons behind this trend, and what does it mean for the future of Apple’s vision of mixed reality?
The High Expectations and the Harsh Reality
Apple Vision Pro is a head-mounted device that combines virtual and augmented reality to create immersive experiences for users. It features a sleek design, high-resolution displays, advanced sensors, spatial audio, and a custom operating system called visionOS. It also comes with a hefty price tag of $3,499, making it one of the most expensive consumer electronics products ever.
Many Apple fans and tech enthusiasts were eager to get their hands on the device, hoping to witness the dawn of a new era of computing. However, some of them soon realized that the device did not live up to their expectations, and decided to return it before the deadline.
Some of the common complaints from the dissatisfied customers include:
- The device is too heavy and uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, causing headaches, neck pain, and eye strain.
- The device causes motion sickness, nausea, and dizziness, especially for users who have vision problems or are sensitive to VR.
- The device has limited software and content available, and most of the apps are still in beta or experimental stages.
- The device has poor battery life, lasting only about 2 hours on a single charge.
- The device has privacy and security issues, as it requires constant internet connection and collects a lot of personal data from the users.
The Challenges and Opportunities for Apple
The high rate of returns for the Apple Vision Pro is a setback for the company, as it indicates that the device is not ready for mass adoption, and that it may have overestimated the market demand and the user satisfaction. However, it is not all doom and gloom for Apple, as the device also has some positive aspects and potential for improvement.
Some of the praises from the satisfied customers include:
- The device is a technological marvel, with impressive hardware and software capabilities, and a smooth and intuitive user interface.
- The device offers a glimpse into the future of computing, with innovative features such as spatial audio, hand tracking, face recognition, and voice control.
- The device enables new forms of creativity, entertainment, education, and communication, with immersive and interactive apps and content.
- The device is a platform for developers, who can create and distribute their own apps and content for the device, and benefit from Apple’s ecosystem and support.
Apple has also stated that it plans to launch the device in more countries later in the year, and that it will continue to update and improve the device with new software and features. Apple has also said that it views the device as a niche product for early adopters and developers, and that it is working on a more mainstream and affordable version of the device for the future.
The Future of Spatial Computing
Apple Vision Pro is not the first or the only spatial computing device in the market, as there are other competitors such as Microsoft HoloLens, Facebook Horizon, and Magic Leap. However, it is arguably the most ambitious and influential one, as it represents Apple’s vision of the future of computing, and its impact on the industry and the society.
Spatial computing is still a nascent and evolving field, with many challenges and opportunities ahead. It is not clear whether it will become the next dominant paradigm of computing, or whether it will remain a niche and complementary one. It is also not clear how it will affect the human behavior, culture, and ethics, and what implications it will have for the individual and the collective.
What is clear, however, is that spatial computing is here to stay, and that it will continue to shape and be shaped by the users, the developers, the companies, and the regulators. Apple Vision Pro is one of the catalysts and the indicators of this process, and it will be interesting to see how it will evolve and adapt to the changing needs and preferences of the users.
