Apple Vision Pro’s Weight Woes: Early Adopters Voice Concerns
Since its release just two weeks ago, the Apple Vision Pro has faced a barrage of criticism from its initial wave of users. As reported by various media outlets, including The Verge and MSN, some customers are making a point of returning their Vision Pro headsets within Apple’s standard 14-day return window. Disgruntled headset owners have taken to Twitter and Threads to express their dissatisfaction with the device’s weight, claiming that extended use causes significant discomfort and even the occasional burst blood vessel.
Premium Materials, Hefty Consequences
While Apple is renowned for its sleek product designs, the Vision Pro’s premium materials—primarily aluminum and glass—have resulted in a headset that is considerably heavier than its competitors, which often utilize plastic and other lightweight components. Additionally, the Vision Pro requires an external battery pack, further compromising its portability. The combined bulk, weight, and awkwardness of wearing a computer on one’s face create a cumbersome experience that seems at odds with the activities Apple suggests for Vision Pro users, such as watching movies in VR, working, or even dancing while building a surfboard.
Size Matters: The Lever Effect
Eduardo Umaña, a hardware designer, attributes the discomfort to the device’s size and dimensions rather than its materials. In an email to The Zero Byte, Umaña explains, “When you have weight (the aluminum frame) acting a distance from an anchor point (the user’s face), it creates almost a lever effect that, although minimal, will disturb the user’s experience.”
Lessons from Eyewear Design
Umaña suggests that Apple could learn from the design of traditional eyeglasses, which sit close to the face and rest directly on the nose, minimizing leverage. He advises, “If Apple wants to make the device more comfortable and wearable, this distance needs to be reduced significantly. Or at least, the heavier materials should be closer to the user’s face, like in a ski mask.”
Meta’s CEO Weighs In
In a recent Instagram video, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg compared the Vision Pro unfavorably to his company’s Meta Quest headset, stating, “Quest is better for the vast majority of things that people use mixed reality for.”
A Developer’s Kit, Not a Consumer Product
Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at IDC, suggests that the Vision Pro is intended primarily as a developer kit rather than a consumer-ready product. “I think Apple realizes there would be this sort of backlash, but it’s the kind of backlash they’d be willing to accept as collateral damage,” Ubrani says. “Really they’re trying to make inroads with the developers right now.”
The Path to Headset Enlightenment
Experts propose several solutions for Apple to address the Vision Pro’s weight and comfort issues in future iterations. Ubrani suggests exploring lighter materials like fiberglass or Kevlar, while Umaña points to the use of
5 Comments
Apple slimming down the Vision Pro, because who said tech can’t be sleek and comfy
So Apple’s making the wearable tech less of a workout, cool.
Innovation or desperation? Apple’s now playing catch-up in the comfort game.
Finally, Apple figured out we don’t want to wear a brick on our faces!
A lighter Apple Vision Pro? Let’s hope it doesn’t lighten our wallets just as much.