The Most Impressive Product Nobody Uses
The Apple Vision Pro is simultaneously the most technologically impressive consumer device ever made and a commercial disappointment. One year after launch, sales have plateaued well below Apple's expectations. Return rates are high. And yet — everyone who's used one agrees the technology is extraordinary.
The Problem
Three words: price, weight, content. At $3,499, it's aspirational-luxury pricing for a product with limited practical use cases. At 600+ grams, it's uncomfortable for sessions longer than 45 minutes. And the content ecosystem — while growing — doesn't yet justify the investment.
Why It Still Matters
The Vision Pro is Apple doing what Apple does: planting the flag for a future that isn't here yet. The original iPhone was mocked too — no App Store, no 3G, couldn't copy-paste. The Vision Pro's spatial computing platform, eye-tracking interface, and passthrough quality are genuinely generation-defining technology. Version 2 or 3, at $1,500-$2,000 with half the weight, changes everything.
The AI Connection
Apple Intelligence integration with Vision Pro is where it gets interesting. Imagine spatial computing with a personal AI that can see what you see, overlay contextual information on real-world objects, translate signs in real-time, and provide hands-free workflow assistance.
My take: Don't buy the Vision Pro today unless you're a developer. But don't bet against Apple's spatial computing vision. The iPhone moment for AR/VR hasn't happened yet. When it does, Apple will be there.
