We haven't completed a year since then Apple Vision Pro went on sale, but it sure feels that way. Apple's Moonshot mixed reality PC was first announced in mid-2023, and since last January I've been living with it off and on (literally) ever since.
The Vision Pro's screen and sound quality are phenomenal, but the sometimes awkward fit and initial placement of the headset, plus its relatively basic Mac mirroring features, made it a device I just didn't use all the time. For movies, that is pretty great. But at $3,500, with no price drop in sight, it remains the very definition of a luxury gadget.
But Vision Pro is getting better. If you can afford one, several recent improvements make the Vision Pro more useful. New wide and ultra wide monitor mode for connected Macs, which debuted MacOS Sequoia 15.2 and Vision OS 2.2 last week, is a welcome upgrade. After using the feature in beta form for a few weeks, I can confirm that the difference is big. It makes the Vision Pro now feel like the missing mega-monitor that completes my home Mac workflow. Today in the office, typing on a regular 13 inch Macbook screen, I miss it more than I expected.
The curved virtual screen is so good that I'm now a believer in curved monitors even though I've never used one before. Apple offers two widescreen options, but 32:9 is definitely my style. A wraparound monitor can be warped or stretched straight when placed at a distance. I pull it a little closer to my head and feel like I'm in my own little Mac bubble.
The Virtual Monitor update also handles audio better, finally playing Mac audio through the Vision Pro's superior speakers. Before, the sound would only play from my Macbook, which was weird. I'm more likely to play games or watch movies connected to my Mac now, using the Vision Pro as my extra-fancy head and headset, so to speak.
Vision Pro is now better at “seeing” keyboards as well. Tuning into my crowded office and bringing in a moonlight or beach environment, the headphones create a hazy window to view the keyboard as you type. Sometimes it still takes a while for the window to appear, but it makes me feel even more like I'm in a cozy distraction-free computer cave.
Apple's VisionOS Mac virtual screen really feels like this.
I use the Curved Screen Virtual Monitor with my own MacBook Air, but I've also tried it with a Mac Mini recently, and it got me thinking about the Vision Pro being a real monitor alternative for smaller PCs. I absolutely love the idea, but future Vision headsets need to make the connection even easier and more effortless to make that happen. I still find the relationship a bit slow to start and sometimes it ends unexpectedly. I'm still surprised that the Vision Pro doesn't connect to an iPhone or iPad in the same way.
There are also optional improved head straps that make wearing the Vision Pro for extended periods of time feel much more feasible. Apple packs two straps in the box with the Vision Pro, and I gravitated to the CPAP-like “dual loop” strap, which offered better head support and balanced the weight of the headset more.
Now, a literal CPAP supplier has its own head harness as well. On ResMed Office Strap $120 it has soft straps around the back and top of my head, plus six included counter weights that can redistribute how the Vision Pro feels on the head. The weights can be velcroed on or off in any number in almost any position, but I tried using a recommended four and liked it.
It can sit snugly on my head like…well, a CPAP strap. It is also strangely heavy with weights. But it does make longer sessions feel much more natural, even though it's not easy to get on and off quickly.
Another cheaper and easier solution is Belkin's $50 strapa basic head harness that works in conjunction with the adjustable, comfortable Solo Knit harness included with the Vision Pro. I avoided the Solo Knit because, while it was beautifully made and easy to put on and take off, it lacked head support and made the Pro feel the heaviest. With the Belkin belt, the problem is almost completely solved. It's been my go-to solution ever since, even for hours of use.
There's also a visor-like system that floats the Vision Pro, an add-on, more made by AnnaPro. The group of about $40 also adds to the included Solo Knit. I didn't like the feeling so much, but some said it takes the pressure off your face — and you can even experiment with taking off the Vision Pro's facial interface and hovering the displays directly in front of your eyes (which, amazingly, expands the perceived field of view).
Why does all this matter if you might never buy a Vision Pro? That's because Apple seems to be improving its tech offering, and these new bands prove that, with better fit and sizing next time around, the lower-priced Vision could start to get very interesting.
Vision Pro is still expensive and still unnecessary for almost everyone. But when it works, it's pretty damn impressive. Better apps and a better fit make me wonder when Apple will continue to improve VisionOS and how it connects with the rest of Apple's ecosystem: when Vision—this or the next reported version that might be cheaper—will work with our phones and iPads to broadcast additional displays, etc Xreal's smaller, cheaper glasses can And when will Vision headphones become smaller, more comfortable and less dependent on specialized strap solutions to feel more ergonomic?
It's a lot that feels unresolved, and that's exactly why it's far cheaper Quest 3 it feels like a much better alternative right now. But there are signs of progress, even if they are small.