Navigating Relationships in the Age of Apple’s Vision Pro
The Arrival of a Game-Changer
When my boyfriend’s eagerly awaited Apple Vision Pro finally arrived, I found myself texting him an hour after his messages suddenly ceased. We were both working from home, so I knew he had his phone nearby. But I also knew he was impatiently waiting for the headset’s delivery. “Oh no, have I lost you to the Vision Pro already?” I joked.
As an avid Apple user, my boyfriend already relied on the iPhone 15 Pro, the iMac Pro for work, and the Apple TV for streaming. It was only natural that he’d jump at the chance to own Apple’s most anticipated product in years. However, I never anticipated how much it would impact our relationship, both virtually and in person.
Seamless Integration vs. Unexpected Challenges
In the past, Apple devices have never hindered our time together or communication. If anything, they’ve enhanced it. As fellow iPhone and MacBook users, staying connected is effortless. We communicate via iMessage and FaceTime, enjoy TV together using SharePlay on our iPads when apart, and even track each other’s workouts with our Apple Watches. These devices have adapted to our lifestyles seamlessly. The Vision Pro, however, has been a different story.
The Omnipresent Headset
The Vision Pro quickly became an essential item in my boyfriend’s daily routine. Whenever he leaves the house, he crams the bulky headset and battery pack into his tote bag alongside his MacBook Pro. I’m surprised when he decides to leave it at home. But even when I know he has it with him, I can’t predict when he’ll use it.
Living with the Vision Pro has become one big jump scare. In person, it appears in my peripheral vision when I least expect it. It’s always nearby, whether plugged into a charger on the desk, on the coffee table, or the dresser. During a recent visit to his parents’ house, I walked in to find the Vision Pro cover on the kitchen table and the headset in the guest bedroom. It’s never too far away.
Stealthy and Surprising
The Vision Pro is somewhat stealthy, too. It doesn’t make any noise when he puts it on, and since the speakers are close to the ears, I can’t hear when he’s listening to anything. One day, while we were both working remotely, I turned around to ask him a question as he worked on his laptop. Later, I turned back to see him wearing the Vision Pro, fingers poking at the air, hands waving. He was editing a YouTube Short in Final Cut Pro, which was particularly entertaining because his laptop screen was blank.
Shocked that I had no idea he had put it on, I stared at him for what felt like an eternity until he finally said, “What?” It turns out we were both staring at each other the whole time. EyeSight, a feature that replicates eye movements to indicate if someone is talking to you while wearing the headset, isn’t always obvious, depending on the environment.
The Collaborative Conundrum
My colleague Julian Chokkattu experienced a similar situation with his wife. In his article “Apple’s Vision Pro Is the Best Headset I’ve Ever Used,” he mentioned how the Vision Pro’s ability to collaborate with others is expanding, a feature that should be available on such an expensive device. However, it still doesn’t make it easier for those who don’t own a headset, both virtually and in person.
When I told my boyfriend about the latest update, he excitedly suggested, “Oh! We have to get you a Vision Pro now.” Without hesitation, I replied, “Absolutely not.” The only thing worse than one Vision Pro in a relationship is two.
The Isolating Experience
Incorporating a mixed-reality headset into my daily life has been a unique experience and an unexpected learning curve, even though I’m not the one using the Vision Pro. It’s impossible to ignore, requires a specific type of communication, and truly impacts how my partner and I interact. I’m slowly getting used to it, growing less startled by its existence. But I’m still shocked that it’s taken even the slightest amount of work to incorporate it into my life.
There’s no denying that it’s an isolating experience for both the person inside the headset and outside of it. My boyfriend often comments, “This isn’t as fun,” when he’s using the Vision Pro to watch a YouTube video while I’m on the couch reading a book.
As a couple who sometimes spends quality time together in the same room while enjoying our hobbies, it’s always fun to check in on each other occasionally. I’ll often peek over his shoulder to see what he’s watching or working on, and vice versa. It feels like we’re still including each other to some extent. The Vision Pro, however, feels like a massive wall between us.
The Barrier Between Worlds
Regardless of the ability to control immersion within the Vision Pro (by rotating the knob on the headset), it’s impossible to be fully present in reality and visionOS simultaneously. As I wrote this story, I couldn’t help but think of two points made by my colleagues when the Vision Pro first launched. As Lauren Goode noted in her article “The Vision Pro Is the Best Headset Apple Could Make, but Not the Best It Could Do,”
It drives home the reality that an Apple headset, no matter how nifty its specs, is still a big honking gizmo plonked between its wearer and the rest of the world, inherently a barrier more than a conduit.
Whether the headset is staring right at you or present through a FaceTime call as an avatar, it feels like an awkward elephant in the room.
Genuine Communication Interrupted
The Vision Pro demands acknowledgment of its presence, regardless of whether you’re used to it, ultimately forcing any sense of genuine communication out the window. Try having a serious conversation with someone using either EyeSight or Persona. Speaking from experience, I guarantee you’ll ask them to take the Vision Pro off or call you back as their authentic self to avoid feeling distracted by two pixelated eyes staring into your soul.
The Novelty Wears Off
Finally, I’ve slowly watched the novelty wear off for my boyfriend. On a recent trip to Florida, I prepared myself for a three-hour flight during which he’d surely be wearing the Vision Pro the entire time. But I didn’t see it in his bag. “I didn’t have any room for it,” he said. Instead of sitting next to him and this gawky headset on the plane, we watched a movie, napped, and even stared out the window together.
It reminded me of life before the Vision Pro: free of distraction and awkward communication. I don’t think either of us felt regretful about leaving the headset behind.
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Who knew there was life beyond Apple’s shiny gadgets? Let’s dive in!
Venturing past the Apple Vision Pro could uncover hidden tech treasures, don’t you think?