Ask HN: Are you still using a Vision Pro?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Adoption

  • Usage is highly polarized.
    • Some use Vision Pro (AVP) daily or many hours per week, mainly as a screen.
    • Many others stopped after days or weeks; several devices now sit unused or were returned / given away.
  • A common pattern: initial “wow” followed by no enduring “killer use case” beyond media viewing.

Primary Use Cases

  • Most-cited: giant private virtual monitor for Mac (coding, video editing, Logic, Citrix, PS5 remote play).
  • Media: movies, YouTube, immersive/3D/VR180 videos, sports (courtside-style NBA, “immersive” Lakers game), and personal photospheres for emotional impact.
  • Travel: some bring it on trips and flights; others see it as too bulky for carry-on-only setups.

Ergonomics & Comfort

  • Weight (≈1.5 lbs) and front-heavy balance are frequent deal-breakers; many report neck strain or headaches within 10–15 minutes.
  • Others, especially with the newer dual-knit band or counterweight-like straps, report hours-long comfort.
  • Some find it better than laptop-down-in-lap ergonomics, particularly when reclining or lying down.
  • General view: until headsets get closer to glasses weight, mass adoption is unlikely.

Display Quality & Text Clarity

  • Image quality is praised for movies and immersive content but criticized for 2D text.
  • Several compare text clarity to a 27" 1080p monitor or “half-Retina”; acceptable for some developers, intolerable for others.
  • Internal reflections and glare are a problem for a subset of users, especially with prescription inserts.

Travel & Monitor Alternatives

  • Multiple commenters strongly prefer lightweight USB‑C display glasses (Xreal, RayNeo, etc.) for flights and mobile work: cheaper, simpler, no battery, just a virtual screen.
  • These lack AVP’s spatial features but win on practicality.

Gaming & Content Ecosystem

  • Native gaming is limited; PC/PS5 streaming via third-party apps is possible but introduces latency.
  • Some feel Apple’s long-standing weak engagement with game devs hampers the platform.
  • Adult content comes up: some argue it’s critical for early adoption; others note web access makes dedicated apps unnecessary and question demand at this price.

Apple Strategy & Future Uncertainty

  • Thread cites reports/rumors of AVP 2 and “Vision Air” being canceled, staff moving elsewhere, and focus shifting to AR glasses and AI.
  • Others counter with ongoing visionOS updates and WWDC sessions as evidence the platform isn’t being abandoned.
  • Consensus: future direction is unclear; current device feels like an expensive, impressive but niche “preview of the future.”