According to a recent report by well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, members of Apple’s Vision Products Group believe that it could take up to four successive generations of the Apple Vision Pro headset to achieve its “ideal form.” Gurman shared this insight in his latest Power On newsletter, suggesting that the current iteration of the device still requires significant refinement before it can be considered suitable for everyday use.
While the exact definition of the device’s “ideal form” remains unclear, early adopters have provided valuable feedback, highlighting various issues with both the hardware and software of the first-generation headset. Among the most common complaints are its weight and unwieldiness, poor battery life, lack of dedicated apps, and numerous bugs in the visionOS.
Gurman draws parallels between the potential evolution of the Vision Pro and Apple’s previous products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, which have undergone significant improvements over multiple generations. He speculates that if Apple can address these issues over several iterations, the Vision Pro could eventually replace the iPad.
However, Gurman acknowledges that Apple has faced challenges in positioning the iPad as a true Mac replacement. Despite efforts to enhance its productivity capabilities with features like Stage Manager, the iPad has struggled to establish itself as a primary productivity device and remains somewhat ambiguous within Apple’s product lineup.
Regarding the Vision Pro, which carries a starting price of $3,500, Gurman emphasizes that substantial hardware upgrades, software updates, and better support from developers and content creators are necessary to unlock its full potential as an iPad replacement. Until then, he views the current version of the Vision Pro as essentially a prototype, albeit one for which consumers must pay a premium to test.