Vision Pro Teardown – Why those fake eyes look so weird

Hardware, Lenses, Cooling

• Some wonder what the main lenses are made of; guesses lean toward plastic (e.g., PMMA) despite the premium positioning.
• Two relatively large fans surprised people; multiple commenters note this enables quieter, lower‑RPM cooling.
• There are claims that built‑in audio does active noise cancellation against fan noise; others are skeptical open‑air ANC can work well, though examples like cars and planes are cited.

Weight, Battery Pack, and Latency

• Weight and front‑heaviness are recurring complaints; comparisons are made to other headsets that feel lighter due to rear battery counterbalance or rigid straps.
• Many ask why compute and fans weren’t moved into the external battery pack.
  • One side: off‑head compute is feasible; high‑bandwidth wired/optical links could handle it; Apple over‑prioritized integration and aesthetics.
  • Other side: latency, bandwidth, cabling complexity, heat, and durability make remote processing hard given 10k‑plus display pixels per eye and many cameras/sensors. Multiple comments argue serializing all this over a cable would add milliseconds of latency and nausea.
• Wireless offloading (like PC→Quest streaming) is mentioned as possible but with noticeably worse latency and compression.

Repairability, Cost, and Connectors

• Reported repair prices ($800 glass, $2400 “other damage”) draw criticism. Some argue Apple currently just swaps devices, with pricing approximating hardware cost minus margin.
• Teardown photos suggest many modular internal parts, but process support appears limited to front glass for now.
• The proprietary battery connector is contentious:
  • Defenders say a locking, non‑USB connector is necessary to avoid sudden power loss and deal with non‑standard USB‑C cables.
  • Critics note USB‑C has locking variants and see this as anti‑consumer lock‑in.

EyeSight Display, Fake Eyes, and Social Norms

• The external “fake eyes” are a focal point: many find them uncanny, creepy, or outright dystopian—“fake attention” with real eyes hidden behind an opaque shell.
• Others report that in practice the eyes are dim and barely visible, limiting real‑world usefulness.
• Some see EyeSight primarily as marketing: it makes promo images look like the headset is semi‑transparent; speculation that later versions may drop or radically change it.
• Suggestions include stylized/cartoon eyes or avatars instead of realism, though there’s disagreement whether that would look “cheap” or more acceptable.
• Comparisons to Google Glass, “glassholes,” AirPods etiquette, sunglasses, and earlier Bluetooth headsets frame broader worries about rudeness, inattentiveness, and being recorded without clarity.

Comfort, Use Cases, and Multi‑User Issues

• The single knit headband is considered a marketing choice that harms comfort; the included dual strap is generally preferred.
• Automatic IPD adjustment is praised, especially for shared devices, but lack of robust multi‑user profiles is criticized.
• Some early users see it as excellent for planes and large virtual screens; others question whether that justifies the cost and bulk versus cheaper VR options.

Vision Pro as Luxury Object and Cultural Symbol

• Several comments view the device as a conspicuous, elite toy in a time of economic hardship, part of a broader pattern of consumption as escapism.
• Others counter that we already accept far larger “luxury deltas” in cars and other goods, so singling out this device is inconsistent.
• Opinions range from “overcomplicated, unfixable mess” to admiration that Apple has assembled a uniquely advanced, if heavy and expensive, piece of hardware that may define a new product category.