Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested. The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight.
I always assumed the Vision Pro was just a stepping stone on the way to transition to smart glasses or something like that. Figure out what kind of UI and UX and controls work and don’t, and get the ecosystem ready for it. Everyone saw the Magic Leap and said “well, that’s going to replace smartphones, how do we get there iteratively”.
That said, the demo, once they dialed it in, is beautiful. It’s like staring into the future. It all works as seamlessly as you’d hope. Go to the Apple Store, if you have any interest in XR/AR/VR, and do the demo. It’s not perfect, but as someone with an interest, it was jaw-dropping.
Also: they were idiots for not leaning in heavily on the sports. During the demo they show you a Brief scene of a baseball game, and you are there at the dugout or second base or something and it’s like being there. I can’t imagine that they looked at that and said “NAH, we won’t take sports fans money”. What the hell. That was easy money. Set up that camera ringside at every major venue, and rake in the cash.
Yeah, I was initially pretty interested because a player like Apple can really push the envelope and drive innovation. I am still wistfully hoping for a portable office AR setup one day.
Live events (like sports) would be cool, but I’m not sure Apple wants to play licensing/marketing matchmaker at the scale required for that to be profitable. From what I’ve heard, it’s the worst part of being in the streaming industry.
They already show games on Apple TV, so the infrastructure is there.
It also took them years to release an android app for it.
Honestly I don’t think Apple has the chops to build something outside their ecosystem. They just do not want to put in the work to cater to people not in their ecosystem.
That makes the idea of a VR headset with sports harder. I mean, to redeem a FREE (included with MLS season tickets) pass you had to either have an Apple device or a windows or Mac computer with iTunes. Because they had no way to set you up otherwise even though you would be streaming on a roku or fire stick or whatever.
They definitely have the air of not wanting anything to do with you unless you’re all in and that kind of attitude is hard to square with a broadly available device.
Ok, that’s a point. Apple wants you on their devices. That’s true.
exactly, hardware is their business model. this is like complaining that Google or Meta monetize your data. That’s the deal.
Yeah, I’d love a truly portable multi-mon setup. And I’m hoping somebody will do it, seems like they’re getting close between nreal and meta the others. But still curious what Apple or someone like that could’ve pulled off. The hand gestures sold me on that control scheme.
And something high end on TV that requires a 4k headset screams apple. ;)