Apple Vision Pro Two Years On: User Verdict on the $3500 Spatial Computer

Two years on from its initial release, the Apple Vision Pro (AVP) continues to spark debate among tech enthusiasts, as seen in a recent Hacker News discussion. While lauded as a 'revolutionary piece of technology' by some at launch, the current sentiment leans towards skepticism, with many questioning its value proposition and mainstream appeal.

The $3500 Elephant in the Room

The most frequently cited barrier to adoption is the AVP's $3500 price. Commenter solardev described the target audience as needing to be "rich enough that a couple months' rent is nothing." This sparked a side discussion on varying rent prices, with MeetingsBrowser questioning where rent is $1750/month, highlighting how the AVP's cost is perceived differently based on individual financial situations. Ultimately, as bdangubic succinctly put it in response to a user who loved the device, there are "3,500 reasons for the lack of uptake."

Form Factor and User Experience Concerns

Beyond price, the physical experience of using the AVP draws criticism. solardev colorfully described it as a "clunky, heavy...nerd-alert flight helmet with a googly-eyes-of-doom projector up front." The weight is a recurring complaint, making extended use, like watching a movie, a neck workout. The EyeSight feature, which projects an image of the user's eyes, was also singled out as an unconvincing attempt to bridge the gap between the virtual and real worlds, landing in an "uncanny valley."

The Quest for Compelling Use Cases

The discussion highlights a significant lack of unique, indispensable applications for the AVP. Many feel it's a solution searching for a problem.

Current Bright Spots: For those who do use it, the primary use cases are as a Mac Virtual Display – particularly praised by hboon after the ultrawide option was released – and for media consumption like watching movies. runjake corroborates these as the main uses among their acquaintances.
Productivity Power-Up: shmoogy shared a useful tip for productivity, mentioning the use of Moonlight for app streaming, alongside VPN, SSH, and RDP, allowing them to travel without a laptop. This points to potential for niche professional uses.
The App Gap: A major pain point is the scarcity of dedicated, immersive apps. izolate noted, "Apple urgently needs to incentivize developers to create apps for the platform, and not just repackaged iPad apps." kypro pointed out that even professional VR developers find it lacking due to issues like inaccurate hand tracking beyond simple gestures, making it unsuitable for interactive educational experiences and calling its execution a "disaster" without controllers.

Market Positioning and Competitive Landscape

Commenters frequently compared the AVP to other devices and Apple's own history.

iPhone/iPod Analogy: askafriend suggested that criticisms of the AVP mirror those once levied against the original iPhone. However, solardev countered this, arguing the iPhone was an evolution of existing PDA/smartphone concepts, while the AVP's advanced tech adds bulk and expense without clear user benefit. The iPod's early criticism was deemed a more apt comparison by some.
Competition: solardev and msgodel highlighted that cheaper alternatives exist. For around $300-$500, devices like Meta Quest offer VR experiences, and AR glasses from companies like Xreal provide functional virtual monitor capabilities that are "plug and play" and more comfortable, according to msgodel.
Echoes of HoloLens: giantg2 suggested the AVP's trajectory mirrors that of Microsoft's HoloLens, which found a niche in enterprise but failed to achieve mass consumer adoption due to similar feature sets and high pricing relative to perceived value.

Is it a Dev Kit or a Misstep?

Several users, like yokoprime, view the current AVP as a "tech demo and devkit," hoping Apple is working on a more mass-market-ready product. This perspective frames the AVP not as a failed consumer product but as a first-generation iteration for early adopters and developers to explore the technology's potential.

The Optimists and Future Outlook

Despite the criticisms, some users like ndgold express love for the device. Others, like leakycap, acknowledge the potential 'mind-blowing' experience but are deterred by price and limitations. There's anticipation for future developments, with slater pointing towards WWDC for updates. In the context of the discussion (set in June 2025), ecesena even shared a mock link to a "VisionOS 26" announcement at "WWDC25," underscoring the ongoing expectation of software evolution.

Overall, the Hacker News discussion paints a picture of the Apple Vision Pro as a technologically impressive device struggling to justify its existence for most consumers two years post-launch. While a few find specific value, its high cost, ergonomic challenges, and a yet-to-materialize ecosystem of compelling apps leave its future uncertain, pending significant improvements or a more accessible successor.