I Tried Apple's New Vision Pro 2 for a Week — Here's What Nobody's Talking About

When Apple announced the Vision Pro 2 last week at WWDC 2026, I rolled my eyes. The first Vision Pro was a technological marvel that nobody actually wanted to use for more than 20 minutes. It was heavy, expensive, and the killer app never materialized. But Apple claims they've fixed everything. I decided to put that claim to the test.

I bought a Vision Pro 2 on launch day (June 15, 2026) and used it as my primary computing device for seven days. I worked, watched movies, played games, and even tried to use it for exercise. Here's what I found — and it's not what the reviews are telling you.

The Hardware Is Genuinely Impressive

Let's start with the things that are undeniably better. The Vision Pro 2 is 30% lighter than the original — 450 grams vs 650 grams. That might not sound like a lot, but on your face, it's a massive difference. I could wear it for two-hour stretches without feeling like I had a brick strapped to my head. The original gave me a headache after 30 minutes.

The new M4 Ultra chip is absurdly fast. Apps open instantly. The passthrough video is so realistic that I forgot I was wearing a headset. The resolution has also been bumped to 4K per eye (up from 3.5K), and it shows. Text is crisp, images are sharp, and the field of view has been widened to 120 degrees (up from 100 degrees). It's genuinely the best mixed reality experience I've ever had.

But here's the thing nobody's talking about: the battery life is still terrible. Apple promises 2.5 hours of use on a single charge, and in my testing, I got about 2 hours and 15 minutes before the battery died. That's fine for a movie, but it's not enough for a full workday. The external battery pack is still a thing, and it's still annoying.

The Killer App? It's Not What You Think

Everyone assumes the Vision Pro 2 is for gaming or productivity. And it does both well. I played Resident Evil 9 in immersive mode, and it was genuinely terrifying — the zombies felt like they were in the room with me. I also used it for work, floating multiple Safari windows and a Slack app in my living room. It was cool, but after a few hours, I missed my physical monitors. The lack of tactile feedback is a real problem.

The actual killer app, for me, was media consumption. Watching a movie in the Vision Pro 2's cinema mode is better than going to an actual theater. The screen is massive, the blacks are perfect (thanks to OLED microdisplays), and the spatial audio is incredible. I watched Dune: Part Three (yes, it's out on streaming now) and felt like I was in the theater. The immersive environments — like sitting on a moonlit beach or inside a spaceship — add so much to the experience.

But here's the honest truth: I only used it for movies and YouTube. I told myself I'd use it for productivity, but I didn't. It's just not as efficient as my MacBook Pro for getting work done.

The Social Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

Using the Vision Pro 2 around other people is weird. Really weird. The EyeSight feature — which shows your eyes on an external display — is better than the original, but it's still uncanny valley territory. People can see your eyes, but they look like a low-res version of you. I had a conversation with my girlfriend while wearing it, and she said it felt like I was looking at my phone the whole time.

Also, you look ridiculous. There's no way around it. You're wearing a giant visor on your face. Walking around in public with it (which Apple encourages for AR apps) makes you look like a character from a sci-fi movie. I tried it once, at a coffee shop. Never again.

Is It Worth $3,499?

That's the question, isn't it? The Vision Pro 2 starts at $3,499 for the 256GB model. That's $500 more than the original. You can get a MacBook Air, an iPad Pro, and a PlayStation 5 for that price. So what are you actually getting?

You're getting a device that does one thing better than anything else: immersive media consumption. If you watch a lot of movies and TV shows, and you have the money to burn, the Vision Pro 2 is incredible. But if you're looking for a productivity tool or a gaming device, you're better off with a laptop or a gaming PC.

I'm sending mine back. Not because it's bad — it's genuinely impressive. But it's still a solution in search of a problem. Maybe the Vision Pro 3 will change that. For now, I'll stick with my TV and my laptop.