I Used Apple’s Vision Pro 2 for a Week—Here’s What Nobody’s Talking About

When Apple announced the Vision Pro 2 at WWDC earlier this month, I rolled my eyes. The original Vision Pro was a marvel of engineering—sure—but also a $3,500 paperweight for most people after the novelty wore off. I returned mine after two weeks. But this time, Apple made bold claims: half the weight, double the battery life, and a price drop to $2,999. I’ve been using a review unit for seven days, and I have complicated feelings.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the hardware is dramatically better. The first Vision Pro felt like strapping a MacBook Pro to your face. This one is lighter—about 450 grams versus 650 grams—and the new solo knit band distributes weight more evenly. I wore it for three hours straight while watching Dune: Part Two, and my neck didn’t hurt. That’s a miracle. The new M4 Ultra chip makes the interface snappy, and the external battery pack now lasts about 3.5 hours (up from 2). It’s still not all-day, but it’s usable for a movie and then some.

The Killer App Is… Not What Apple Pitched

Apple wants you to believe the Vision Pro 2 is for productivity—virtual monitors, 3D modeling, FaceTime with Personas. And it does those things well. I tried using it as my main computer for a day. The virtual Mac display is crisp and responsive. But typing on a virtual keyboard is still a nightmare, and wearing a headset for eight hours of work is exhausting. No one does that. The real killer app, I discovered, is immersive video. Apple has partnered with National Geographic and Red Bull to produce short films—think climbing El Capitan or diving the Great Barrier Reef—filmed in 8K spatial video. I watched a five-minute piece where a diver swims through a shipwreck, and I genuinely felt vertigo. That’s not hyperbole. I had to take it off for a second.

But here’s what nobody’s talking about: the social isolation. Every time I put on the Vision Pro 2, my girlfriend said I looked like a robot. The EyeSight feature—which shows your eyes on the front display—is better, but it’s still creepy. I missed her facial expressions. I missed looking at the sky. The Vision Pro 2 is incredible for solo experiences, but it’s terrible for human connection. And that’s a fundamental problem for a device that costs three grand.

Gaming: Finally, Something Fun

The first Vision Pro had no games worth playing. The second one launches with a native port of Resident Evil 9 and a new Beat Saber-like game called Rhythm Sphere. I’m not a gamer, but I spent two hours in Rhythm Sphere, and I was sweating. The hand tracking is precise enough that you feel like you’re actually hitting notes. Apple also added support for PS5 and Xbox controllers, which makes a huge difference. But the game library is still tiny—maybe 30 titles at launch. Compare that to the Meta Quest 3, which has thousands of games and costs $500. If you’re buying the Vision Pro 2 primarily for gaming, you’re overpaying by a lot.

The Price Problem

At $2,999, the Vision Pro 2 is cheaper than its predecessor but still absurdly expensive. The Meta Quest 3 does 80% of what this does for 83% less money. Yes, the Vision Pro 2 has better passthrough, better resolution, and better app integration with Apple’s ecosystem. But a Quest 3 with a BoboVR head strap is comfortable enough for most use cases, and you can play Steam VR games. I asked myself: would I rather have a Vision Pro 2 or a high-end gaming PC plus a Quest 3? The answer is the latter, easily.

Who Should Actually Buy This?

If you’re a developer, a 3D artist, or a filmmaker, the Vision Pro 2 is a powerful tool. The ability to preview 3D models in real space or edit spatial video is genuinely useful. If you have $3,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you live alone, you’ll have a blast with immersive content. But for most people—even tech enthusiasts—I’d say wait for the cheaper version rumored for 2027. The Vision Pro 2 is a brilliant device in search of a use case that doesn’t exist yet. I’m glad I tried it. I’m not buying one.