It has not been a year since then Apple Vision Pro it went on sale, but it sure feels like it. Apple’s Moonshot mixed-reality headset was first announced in mid-2023, and since last January I’ve been living with it on and off (literally) ever since.
The Vision Pro’s display and audio quality are phenomenal, but the sometimes awkward fit and initial setup of the headset, plus its relatively basic Mac mirroring features, made it a device I just didn’t use all the time. For movies, it has been quite large. But at $3,500, with no price drop in sight, it remains the very definition of a luxury device.
But Vision Pro is getting better. If you can afford one, some recent improvements make the Vision Pro even more useful. A new wide and ultrawide monitor mode for connected Macs, which debuted with MacOS Sequoia 15.2 and Vision OS 2.2 last week, is a welcome improvement. After using the feature in beta form for a few weeks, I can confirm that the difference is huge. It’s made the Vision Pro now feel like the missing mega-monitor that complements my Mac workflow at home. In the office today, typing on a regular 13-inch Macbook screen, I miss it more than I expected.
The curved screen virtual display is so good that I have now become a believer of curved monitors even though I have never used one before. Apple offers two widescreen options, but 32:9 is definitely my style. The wraparound monitor can be curved or stretched straight when placed at a distance. I pull it a little closer to my head and it feels like I’m inside my little Mac bubble.
The Virtual Monitor update also handles audio better, finally playing Mac audio inside the Vision Pro’s superior speakers. Before, audio 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 super cool head and glasses, so to speak.
Vision Pro is also better at “seeing” keyboards now. Tuning out my cluttered office and bringing in a moon or beach setting, the headphones create a blurry 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 computer cave with no distractions.
Apple’s VisionOS Mac curved virtual display really feels that way.
I use the curved screen virtual monitor with my MacBook Air, but I also tried it with one Mac Mini recently, and it got me thinking that the Vision Pro is a real monitor alternative for smaller computers. I totally love the idea, but the upcoming Vision headset should make the connection even smoother and easier to do so. I still find that the connection is a little slow to start, and sometimes it drops unexpectedly. I’m also surprised that the Vision Pro doesn’t connect to the iPhone or iPad in the same way.
There are also optional upgraded headbands that make wearing the Vision Pro for longer periods of time feel much more feasible. Apple has two straps in the box with the Vision Pro, and I gravitated to the CPAP-like dual loop strap that offered better head support and balanced the weight of the headset more.
Now, a genuine CPAP supplier also has its own headband. The $120 ResMed Kontor strap has soft straps around the back and top of my head, plus six included weights that can redistribute how the Vision Pro feels on the head. The weights can be Velcroed on or off at any number in almost any position, but I tried using a recommended four and loved it.
It can sit tight on my head like … well, a CPAP strap. It is also extremely heavy on weights. But it does make longer sessions feel much more natural, though it’s not easy to get on and off quickly.
Another cheaper and lighter solution is Belkin’s $50 strap, a basic over-the-head strap that works in conjunction with the adjustable and comfortable Solo Knit strap included with the Vision Pro. I avoided the Solo knit because, while it was nicely made and easy to put on and take off, it lacked head support and made the Pro feel too heavy. With the Belkin belt, the problem is almost completely solved. It has been my go-to solution ever since, even for hours of use.
There’s also a visor-like system that brings the Vision Pro out more, an accessory made by AnnaPro. The roughly $40 band is also added to the included Solo Knit. I didn’t like the feel as much, but some have commented that it takes the pressure off your face — you can even experiment with removing the Vision Pro’s face interface and placing the screens directly in front of your eyes (which, surprisingly, expands your field of view perceived).
Why does all this matter if you’ll probably never buy a Vision Pro? That’s because Apple seems to be improving its technology proposition, and these new straps prove that, with a few tweaks to fit and sizing next time, a lower-cost Vision could start to get pretty interesting. .
Vision Pro is still expensive and still unnecessary for almost everyone. But when it works, it’s pretty impressive. Better apps and better customization make me wonder when Apple will continue to improve VisionOS and how it relates to the rest of Apple’s ecosystem: when Vision will work — this or the next reported version that might be less expensive — phones and iPads to display additional screens, just like Xreal’s smallest and cheapest glasses can And when will the Vision headset become smaller, more comfortable and less reliant on specialized strap solutions to feel more ergonomic?
There’s a lot that feels unsettled, and that’s exactly why it’s so much less expensive Research 3 it feels like a much better alternative now. But there are signs of progress, even if small.