Over a year has passed since Apple released the Vision Pro in the US, and while it entered the market with high hopes and much excitement, some owners now say they regret buying it.
Reports of people thrilled to try Apple’s first mixed-reality headset have surfaced, but they are now disappointed. After the initial excitement faded, many found the device too heavy, uncomfortable, and inconvenient to use regularly.
Some owners have stopped using it
In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, several users shared their experiences with the Apple Vision Pro, and the common theme was regret. Realtor Dustin Fox admitted that he had “probably used it four times in the last year.” The main reason, he said, was the device’s weight. Fox experienced neck strain whenever he used it and couldn’t wear it for 20 to 30 minutes.
Tovia Goldstein had a similar story. She initially used the headset to watch films and TV shows but hasn’t touched it in the past four months. Again, the weight was a problem, but she also found the device too slow to start up. The three-minute boot-up process and the lack of useful apps made her lose interest.
Travel and public use create challenges
Wearing the Vision Pro outside the home has proven awkward for some users. Anshel Sag, another owner, said he used the headset to watch films on flights but ended up attracting unwanted attention. “I got dirty looks from people,” he said, adding that the Vision Pro carrying case was so large it took up half of his carry-on bag, which made travelling with it less practical.
Anthony Racaniello found the headset even more troublesome. Flight attendants often mistook him for someone wearing a sleep mask and skipped offering him drinks and snacks during flights. That wasn’t his only problem—he also wore the Vision Pro to the office, where colleagues said he looked “creepy.” Frustrated, Racaniello recently sold the device for nearly half of what he paid for it.
Apple faces challenges but pushes forward
These stories reflect the same issues early users faced. A report by MarketWatch in April 2024 pointed out that first-generation Vision Pro users struggled with the device’s heavy design, poor fit, and the neck pain it often caused.
Apple has not officially shared how many units it has sold, but analysts believe the figures are lower than expected. Experts estimate Apple may sell fewer than 500,000 units in 2024, far below the company’s hopes.
Even with this disappointing feedback, Apple isn’t giving up on the product. Reports suggest that the company is already working on two new versions of the Vision Pro. One is expected to be lighter and more affordable, and the other could be designed to connect to a Mac computer for a faster, smoother experience.
If you’re considering buying the Vision Pro, it’s worth noting that early excitement can fade quickly when comfort and convenience are missing. Apple may improve things in future versions, but some users feel let down for now.
