While the Apple Vision Pro currently experiences a few bugs, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that it could potentially replace the iPad in the future.
Apple Vision Pro — the company’s first mixed reality headset that went on sale in the US this month — has quite a few bugs for a first-generation Apple product, but could eventually replace the iPad, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The company’s wearable ‘spatial computer’ that costs $3,500 (roughly Rs. 2.9 lakh) is currently available in the US and offers support for both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) content and with over 600 apps available when the headset was launched.
People in the Vision Products Group — involved in the development of the headset — think that it could take Apple up to four generations until the Vision Pro is at its “ideal form”, Gurman writes in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter, while pointing out that this was also the case for Apple’s early smartphones, tablets, and smartwatch models.
Gurman notes in his review of Apple’s Vision Pro headset that the visionOS operating system is buggy and feels like it is “a beta version and about a year away from feeling refined enough for consumers to use on a day-to-day basis.” He also states that the Vision Pro could eventually replace Apple’s iPad and allow users to perform the same tasks that they can on the tablet.
Early adopters of the Apple Vision Pro may encounter teething issues, particularly related to the device’s authentication system. If a user forgets their Vision Pro passcode, they will reportedly need to visit an Apple Store for a reset, according to Bloomberg.
Furthermore, for the Vision Pro to be considered a viable alternative to the iPad, software support will need to significantly increase. Presently, there are no official apps for popular platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube on the Vision Pro. However, YouTube has recently indicated that an official app is in development, following the arrival of Juno, a third-party app for the headset, on the App Store.
In terms of global launch plans, a recent report suggests that the Vision Pro will debut in China by May under a different name due to trademark conflicts with Huawei. Despite the anticipated launch, initial sales for the headset in China are expected to be limited.