Editor’s Note: This review is part of a new way to look at products. Not at the numbers, but the emotions. Enjoy.

Unfortunately, official pictures will be limited due to the new Vision being such a new launch. For visuals, check Apple’s official website: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

I just couldn’t keep dreaming about this marvelous product. The premium aluminum finish, the movies I’d watch, and the timeless productivity I could achieve. What a thing!

It finally arrived in my mailbox, and I opened the classic, awe-inspiring Apple packaging and felt the new Apple Vision Pro in my hands.

And to say the least, it didn’t turn out the way I expected it to.

In my left hand, I held the 2-year-old model; in my right, I had the new one. I kept staring and finally said, “What’s the difference?”

The shape was the same, the weight felt even heavier, and the only difference I saw was the dual-strap band. So why did I just pay the same price for nothing? Let’s dive into it.

My first impression of the Vision 2 is relatively no different from what the numbers tell us. Let’s go through this step by step.

When I first put on the Vision 2, I noticed an immediate change in comfort. If you’ve worn the original one, it sags so much on your face that, even with the coolest tech, you won’t want to wear it. For this new model, Apple has focused on comfort with the dual-strap band. They’ve made an intricate design for adjustment; with a knob on the side, you can adjust both straps individually—smart design. Surprisingly, the new strap can be attached to the original model, so you won’t need to pay another $3499 just for a simple strap improvement (thanks, Apple).

Here’s where the numbers can get confusing. Interestingly, the new Vision weighs even more than the original (150 grams more), so how does it feel lighter? Apple has added tungsten weights on the back strap to counterbalance the headset's weight. This way, the whole system feels balanced on your head rather than resting on your cheeks.

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You can already feel the “lightness” of the new model, but you see the major upgrade when you first power it on. It powers on quite literally faster than before. To put matters into perspective, the Vision headset has jumped from using an M2 chip to an M5 chip. That may sound like a significant jump, and it is, but the numbers don’t make as much of a show.

Here’s what the new M5 chip brings to the experience.

As I opened the headset for the first time, I could feel the new 120Hz refresh rate at work. Every swipe on the home page felt smoother, and games didn’t lag as much. Along with a 10% improvement in rendering via the new chip, when I tried to turn 2D pictures into 3D visualizations, the latest model could (slightly) generate the images faster. I saw a similar effect when I placed 3D objects into my real-world space; everything seemed to operate somewhat quicker.

When I put on the headset, though, it wasn’t the new chip or the lighter feel that appeared to be the most significant change. It was the latest VisionOS 26. The new software can transform the experience. I got to place widgets on my walls, scrolling through websites had images opening into 3D worlds, and placing 3D models from the internet became a lot easier. The world of the headset felt spatial, and I didn’t feel like a foreigner in it. 

When the headset worked like it was intended to, it was a marvel of a thing to use, but when it didn’t, it’s another story. At times, I’d get frustrated with the clunky eye-tracking used to navigate through the system. There would also be bugs here and there, where apps would quit mid activity or the headset would restart altogether.

In addition to the bugs, if you look at the bigger picture, Apple has made minimal improvements to the apps themselves. The technology is there, but accessibility is still lacking.

Apple’s new Vision Pro 2 is undoubtedly one of the best AR/VR headsets you can buy on the market. The technology and what you can do with it can seem literally insane at times, but the story isn’t that short. I wish it were.

To put matters into perspective, Apple has kept the brutal price tag at $3499 (base model with 256GB), made minimal overhauls to the product overall, and the experience remains relatively the same compared to the original Vision Pro. Along with a 2-year-long wait, Apple has clearly given less attention to the Vision series. Why is that? We don’t know. There are countless reasons out there.

Put all the pieces together, and you can see the bigger picture. Meta has made giant leaps with its AR glasses. Other companies are coming along as well. The competition is hot, and demand is right around the corner. So, what’s Apple’s next move going to look like?

There are two clear paths:

For now, though, the Vision Pro 2 is still a heavy, expensive upgrade that no one needs anytime soon. Not to mention the social embarrassment, you won’t be seeing it on my face.

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