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

When Apple announced the Vision Pro 2 back in June, I rolled my eyes. The first version was a niche curiosity—impressive tech, terrible price, and a battery that lasted about as long as a sneeze. But the Vision Pro 2 promised fixes: lighter weight, longer battery life, and a lower price ($3,499, down from $3,999). I snagged a review unit from Apple last Tuesday, and I've been wearing it every day since. Here's the real story.

First Impressions: It's Still a Clunky Monster

Let's get this out of the way: the Vision Pro 2 is not comfortable for long sessions. Apple reduced the weight from 650 grams to 580 grams, which helps, but it's still front-heavy. The dual-loop headband distributes weight better than the original's solo knit band, but after 45 minutes, I felt pressure on my forehead. The eye relief mechanism is improved—you can adjust it with a dial—but it's still a process to find the sweet spot. If you wear glasses, you'll need Zeiss inserts ($149 extra). I don't, so I can't comment on that, but I've read forums where people complain about fogging.

Display and Passthrough: Stunning, But Not Perfect

The micro-OLED displays are the best I've ever seen. 4K per eye, 120Hz refresh rate, and a 120-degree field of view. Watching a movie in the Vision Pro 2 is like sitting in a private IMAX theater. The passthrough (seeing the real world through cameras) is improved—it's crisp, with low latency. But there's still a slight graininess in low light. Apple says it's a limitation of the cameras, not the displays. I noticed it most when walking around my apartment at dusk. Objects had a faint digital halo. It's not a dealbreaker, but it reminds you that you're wearing a computer on your face.

Battery Life: Better, But Still Annoying

The external battery pack now lasts 3.5 hours of mixed use (up from 2 hours). That's enough for a movie, but not a workday. The battery pack is smaller and lighter, but it still dangles from a cable. I tripped over it twice. Apple includes a 2-meter cable, which is generous, but I wish they'd just build the battery into the headband like Meta's Quest 3. It's a design compromise I don't love.

Eye Tracking and Gestures: Magic, Sometimes

When it works, the eye tracking feels like telepathy. Look at an app icon, pinch your fingers, and it opens. It's fast, accurate, and intuitive. But it fails in two scenarios: when you're lying down (your eyes track differently) and when you're sweaty (the sensors get confused). I tried using it while lying on the couch, and it kept misinterpreting my gaze. Gestures are limited to pinching, swiping, and tapping. You can't use hand tracking for fine tasks like typing—you have to use the virtual keyboard, which is slow. Apple should have included a physical controller for precision tasks.

App Ecosystem: The Biggest Letdown

There are about 1,500 native apps for the Vision Pro 2. That sounds like a lot, but most are iPad apps run in compatibility mode, which look blurry and don't use spatial features. The standout apps are Disney+, Max, and Apple TV+ (3D movies are incredible). Productivity apps like Microsoft Office are functional but not compelling. I tried using it for work—multiple virtual screens floating around me—but I found it isolating. No one wants to talk to someone wearing a face computer. The lack of a native YouTube app is baffling (Google and Apple are fighting over revenue sharing). Safari works, but it's clunky compared to a Mac.

Who Should Buy This?

Honestly? Developers, early adopters with deep pockets, and people who want the best media consumption device money can buy. For everyone else, wait. The technology is impressive, but it's not ready for mainstream use. The price is still too high, the comfort issues persist, and the app library is thin. Meta's Quest 3S ($299) is less immersive but more practical. Apple will get there eventually—the Vision Pro 3 (rumored for 2028) might be the one to buy. But the Vision Pro 2 is a luxury toy, not a necessity.

I'm sending the review unit back tomorrow. I'll miss the IMAX movies. I won't miss the forehead pressure.