Apple Vision Pro upgraded with M5 chip

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Perception of the M5 Upgrade & Product Future

  • Some see the quiet chip refresh as a bad sign, suggesting Apple is “winding it down” or just liquidating parts; others note Apple did similarly low-key M5 bumps for iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.
  • Rumors of a shelved lighter/cheaper successor and a pivot to smart glasses fuel claims that Apple is partially giving up on the headset.
  • Counterpoint: people cite ongoing R&D (better screens, refresh rate, headbands), spatial content workflows, and new immersive sports deals as evidence Apple hasn’t abandoned it.

Price, Storage, and Availability

  • $3,499 with only 256 GB is widely criticized as stingy for a media- and capture-focused device; many think the base should include more storage.
  • Upsell pricing (+$200 per storage tier) is seen as typical Apple, but some argue the whole base config is underprovisioned.
  • Several EU users note limited country availability and concerns about repair support if importing from Germany.

Comfort, Weight, and Battery

  • Weight and front-heaviness are recurring complaints; many can’t use it comfortably beyond 30–90 minutes without breaks.
  • Some users report dramatic comfort improvements with third‑party straps or careful light seal fitting; others never get it to “all‑day” comfort.
  • New Dual Knit Band’s tungsten counterweight is viewed skeptically: may help balance but actually makes the device heavier.
  • External battery plus short untethered life make it effectively a mostly-plugged-in device for many.

What People Actually Use It For

  • Strong positive thread: Mac Virtual Display as a “giant ultrawide monitor anywhere” (home, plane, outdoors). Several say it’s their main or frequent daily display.
  • Second clear “killer app”: personal theater. Users praise 4K 3D movies, Apple Immersive content, and travel/home‑theater replacement, but emphasize it’s inherently non‑social.
  • Other uses: spatial photos/videos (especially of loved ones), immersive educational apps, dev experimentation, and occasional AR/XR glasses as lighter travel/monitor alternatives.
  • Some owners say they loved it but returned it due to weight and eye strain.

Mac Integration & “Let the Face Computer Be a Computer”

  • Major frustration: despite an M‑class chip, it can’t run Mac apps natively; you must stream a single Mac desktop.
  • Many call for:
    • Multiple Mac windows as separate spatial panes (achievable via hacks like Ensemble, but not official).
    • A “virtual Mac” or VM mode so the headset is a full computer, not just a monitor.
  • Several argue Apple avoids this to protect Mac sales and the iOS‑style locked-down, App‑Store‑centric model.

VR vs AR Glasses & Form Factor Debate

  • Big subthread: will bulky headsets vanish in ~5 years, replaced by normal-size glasses?
    • Optimists say it’s “just miniaturization”; skeptics point to hard limits (field of view, battery, display type) and think headsets and glasses are distinct categories.
  • Meta’s and others’ glasses are seen as impressive but far less capable than full VR/AR headsets; some liken them to “Game Boy vs PlayStation.”

Gaming, Controllers, and Ecosystem

  • Support for PS VR2 Sense controllers, Steam Link, and ALVR is read as Apple warming to traditional VR gaming after initially pushing hand/eye input only.
  • Some insist gaming (and porn) are VR’s main mass‑market use; Apple’s hesitation here is seen as a strategic misstep.
  • Others argue the device’s value is tightly coupled to Apple’s ecosystem—great if you’re all‑in on Mac/iOS, much weaker otherwise.

Overall Sentiment

  • Non‑owners and casual observers skew skeptical: too expensive, too heavy, unclear mainstream use, feels like an iPhone‑era “1.0” that may never cross the chasm.
  • A minority of daily users are enthusiastic, especially for virtual Mac display and spatial media, and say the criticism underrates how good it already is—while still wishing for lower cost, less weight, and deeper Mac integration.