Tag: apple vision pro

Why the Apple Vision Pro Failed: The $3,500 Headset That Couldn’t See Its Future

When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, it was pitched not just as a headset—but as the beginning of something bigger: a new era of computing.

Forget phones. Forget laptops. This was “spatial computing,” and Apple was placing a bold bet on it. With stunning visuals, eye tracking, gesture control, and a brand-new operating system called visionOS, the Vision Pro was sleek, powerful, and, in classic Apple fashion, beautiful.

But by 2025, the Vision Pro hasn’t changed the world. It hasn’t redefined computing. In fact, most people barely remember it exists.

So what happened?
Why did the most hyped product since the original iPhone fall flat?

Act I: The Promise of a New Reality

Apple hadn’t launched a new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015. When Vision Pro was introduced in 2023, it was marketed as the future of productivity, entertainment, and communication—all without the friction of traditional devices.

  • You’d watch movies on 100-foot screens in your living room.
  • Browse Safari in 3D space.
  • Take FaceTime calls where people appeared life-size in your environment.
  • Use your eyes and hands to control everything—no controllers required.

Apple made it look effortless in demos. Critics and fans alike called it the most advanced consumer headset ever made.

But beneath the awe was an undeniable problem: no one could explain why anyone needed it.

Act II: The Price, the Pain, the Practicality

When the Vision Pro launched in early 2024, reality hit hard—and fast.

1. The Price Tag

$3,499.
That was the starting price—and that didn’t include prescription lens inserts, extra battery packs, or accessories.

For most people, this wasn’t a computer replacement. It was a luxury toy that cost more than a MacBook Pro and an iPhone combined.

2. The Comfort Problem

Even Apple couldn’t escape physics. The Vision Pro was heavy—nearly 1.4 pounds on your face. Users reported neck strain, red marks, and headaches after extended use.
Early adopters joked that Apple had reinvented VR fatigue.

3. The Battery Flaw

The headset required a tethered battery pack that lasted two hours. It had to stay in your pocket, clipped to your belt, or placed awkwardly nearby.
For a product marketed as “freeing you from your desk,” it felt ironically… attached.

4. The App Gap

visionOS was brand new, and despite Apple’s push, few developers rushed in.

  • Netflix didn’t build a native app.
  • Spotify said “no thanks.”
  • YouTube? Not optimized either.
    That left users with web apps and tech demos—not immersive ecosystems.

Act III: The Reality Check

By mid-2024, Vision Pro was being referred to as a “dev kit with a nicer shell.” It became clear it wasn’t meant for everyday people—it was for developers, early adopters, and Apple superfans.

Sales reflected that.

  • Initial shipments sold out—but only because they were limited.
  • By Q3 2024, demand plateaued.
  • Return rates were quietly high.
  • Stores went from “line out the door” to “try it in the corner over there.”

The most damning sign?
Even Apple barely talked about it by the end of the year.

Act IV: The Culture Clash

Part of the Vision Pro’s problem wasn’t just technical—it was cultural.

  • Wearing a headset is isolating. You can’t wear it in public without looking awkward.
  • It’s hard to share. You can’t just show someone your screen like a phone or laptop.
  • It lacked a killer app. There was no “FaceTime moment,” no “Instagram for AR.”
  • And crucially: it didn’t feel social.

Apple built a personal productivity and entertainment device—but the world wasn’t asking for one. Not in that form. Not at that price.

Act V: The Aftermath and What Comes Next

In early 2025, Apple quietly shifted its messaging.

Instead of calling it the future of computing, they rebranded Vision Pro as a high-end niche device for:

  • Architects visualizing blueprints in 3D
  • Filmmakers viewing immersive footage
  • Remote workers attending high-end spatial meetings

And that’s where it seems to be headed: a Mac Studio for your face—not an iPhone replacement.

There are rumors of a Vision Air, a lighter, cheaper version due in late 2025 or 2026. If Apple can hit a $1,500 price point and fix the weight issue, they might still have a shot at mainstream relevance.

But the shine is gone. And the original promise—this will change everything—has already slipped away.

The Takeaway: Vision Pro Didn’t Fail Technically. It Failed Emotionally.

The Vision Pro is an incredible piece of engineering.
But it failed to make people care.

There was no must-have reason to buy one.
No app that made it essential.
No cultural wave that carried it into daily life.

It launched with brilliance, but without a clear reason for existing—and in a world flooded with screens and devices, that’s a fatal mistake.

The dream of spatial computing isn’t over. But for now, the Vision Pro remains a headset in search of a purpose.

And until Apple—or anyone else—solves that, the future will stay just out of view.

The Rise, Fall, and Reboot of Augmented Reality: Why AR Almost Vanished—and Why It’s Coming Back

In the mid-2010s, augmented reality looked like it was going to change everything. Shopping, walking, gaming, working—it would all be transformed by digital overlays on our real world. Tech giants poured in billions. Demos were jaw-dropping. Headsets were teased like the next iPhone.

And then… silence.

Funding dried up. Startups shut down. Promises faded. For a while, AR looked like another overhyped dream, ready to join the ranks of Windows Phones—cool, but forgotten.

But now, in 2025, AR is coming back—with smarter hardware, clearer purpose, and the kind of quiet revolution that doesn’t shout, but sticks. Here’s how it almost vanished… and how it’s rising again.

The Golden Promise: AR’s Glorious Hype Era (2015–2018)

After the Pokémon Go explosion in 2016, AR was the tech world’s new darling. Suddenly everyone believed that seeing floating creatures on the sidewalk meant AR was ready.

  • Microsoft HoloLens dazzled with sci-fi-level demos of floating screens and interactive 3D models.
  • Magic Leap raised over $2 billion in funding before even releasing a product—its pitch? “A new reality for everyone.”
  • Snapchat launched filters. IKEA gave you virtual furniture in your living room. AR was everywhere—and it felt like the future.

But behind the scenes, nothing worked the way it was supposed to.

  • HoloLens was heavy, limited, and extremely expensive.
  • Magic Leap’s headset disappointed—narrow field of view, glitchy interaction, and a lack of compelling use cases.
  • Developers didn’t know what to do with AR outside of gimmicks.

By 2019, the AR gold rush had gone quiet. Magic Leap laid off over half its workforce. Google shelved its Glass reboot. The narrative shifted from “this is it” to “maybe one day.”

The Fall: Overbuilt, Underused, and Left Behind (2019–2022)

AR’s biggest problem wasn’t imagination—it was execution.

  • The hardware wasn’t ready. It was bulky, hot, and had pitiful battery life.
  • Software wasn’t compelling. Aside from novelty, most AR apps felt like solutions in search of problems.
  • People didn’t want to wear weird glasses or helmets in public.

By the early 2020s, the industry quietly moved on. VR was catching its second wind. Smartphones kept evolving. AR was that cool idea that almost happened… and maybe never would.

The Turning Point: Apple Steps In, Meta Doubles Down (2023–2025)

Just when it seemed like AR might fade into tech trivia, two players reignited the spark—Apple and Meta.

Apple Vision Pro (2024)

It wasn’t an AR headset in the strictest sense—it was a mixed reality headset with eye tracking, passthrough video, and ultra-premium visuals. It was expensive. Overkill, even.

But it sent a message:
“We’re not playing around.”

Apple showed that digital overlays, once clunky and cartoonish, could now feel native—almost physical. It was the first truly elegant glimpse of spatial computing.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses (2023–2025)

Meta, meanwhile, took a different route: instead of building a full headset, it made something that looked like regular glasses. And over two years, those glasses got smarter—adding AI voice assistants, camera upgrades, contextual understanding, and soon… in-lens displays.

It wasn’t full AR, but it was close.
And more importantly—it was wearable. Stylish. Affordable.

This slow, practical approach gave AR a new path forward.

2025: Where We Are Now

Today, AR is no longer selling the idea of a “new world.” Instead, it’s enhancing the real one.

What’s working now:

  • Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: Let you ask “What am I looking at?” and get real answers. They’re finally adding tiny displays inside lenses this year.
  • iPhones and Androids: Have powerful AR features used for shopping, gaming, and design—often without users realizing they’re using AR.
  • AR Navigation: More apps now show live walking directions layered over your camera feed (Google Maps, Apple Maps).
  • Enterprise AR: Warehouses, surgeries, remote maintenance—AR is thriving quietly in business and industry where utility outweighs fashion.

It’s not flashy. It’s not fully immersive. But it’s useful—and that’s how it survives.

The Future of AR: Quiet Ubiquity or Sudden Explosion?

Here’s what could take AR from helpful to transformative:

1. Affordable AR Glasses with In-Lens Displays

Ray-Ban Meta is leading here, but expect more brands (like Samsung, Xiaomi, and even Amazon) to enter with notification-first smart glasses that eventually evolve into full AR.

2. AI Assistants with Spatial Context

AI that understands what you’re looking at—not just what you’re asking. Think:

“Hey Meta, who makes that jacket?” → Glasses scan, identify, and link you to a product page.

3. Real-Time Translation Overlays

Text translated and rewritten live in your field of view. We’re already close—expect this to go mainstream by 2026.

4. AR Contact Lenses (Still Experimental)

Yes, companies like Mojo Vision have already built working prototypes. Full-function contact lenses are still years off—but they’re coming.

5. Spatial Social Media

AR filters are baby steps. Next up? Social experiences layered over real places. Friends visible on the street via AR blips. Music floating from a nearby party.

The Takeaway: AR Died, Almost Quietly. Now It’s Sneaking Back, Smarter Than Ever.

The first wave of AR collapsed under its own hype. The headsets were awkward, the ideas were vague, and the timing was wrong.

But 2025 is different. This time, AR is being built for real people. It’s not about escape—it’s about enhancement. Navigation. Translation. Memory. Fashion. AI.

Augmented reality isn’t just surviving now.
It’s learning how to fit into your life without taking it over.

And for the first time ever… that might be exactly what we needed.

How to Get a Meta Quest 2 for $100: A Simple Guide

Virtual reality is more accessible than ever, but top-of-the-line VR headsets can still be pricey. If you’re eyeing the Meta Quest 2 but don’t want to shell out the full retail price, here’s a foolproof guide to snagging one for just $100.

Why the Meta Quest 2 Stands Out

The Meta Quest 2 is a standout VR headset due to its:

  • Wireless Standalone Functionality: No need for a PC or external sensors.
  • Versatility: Use it as a mobile movie theater, for gaming, or as a workstation.
  • Long Battery Life: Enjoy extended VR sessions without constantly recharging.

Despite its advantages, the Quest 2 can be expensive. On Amazon, a new one costs around $350, with refurbished models at $270 and used ones at $200. Meta’s official site lists it for $200, but it’s often out of stock. So, how do you get it for $100?

The $100 Meta Quest 2 Strategy

Here’s how you can find the Quest 2 for just $100:

  1. Check Facebook Marketplace:
  • Search for “Meta Quest 2” or “Quest 2.”
  • Look for listings around $100. If you find any, message the sellers immediately and express your willingness to pick it up today.
  1. Expand Your Search:
  • If you don’t find any $100 listings, message sellers with higher prices. Offer $100 and emphasize your readiness to pick it up immediately.
  • Consider broadening your search radius to nearby cities. Sometimes sellers in neighboring areas might have better deals.
  1. Be Persistent:
  • Check the listings regularly. New offers can pop up, especially as people upgrade to newer models like the Quest 3.

Is It Sketchy?

Buying from Facebook Marketplace can raise concerns, but here’s how to mitigate them:

  • Trust Your Instincts: Look for listings from reputable sellers. Buying from a friendly, honest seller in a well-off area often reduces the risk.
  • Inspect Before You Buy: If possible, test the headset to ensure it’s in good working condition.

How Much Storage Do You Need?

The Quest 2 comes in various storage sizes: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Here’s what you should consider:

  • 64GB is Typically Enough: For most users, 64GB is more than sufficient. Most VR games and apps don’t require extensive storage, especially if you primarily use PC VR games which don’t rely on the headset’s internal storage.

When to Buy New

If you’re unsure about VR or just want to try it out, consider purchasing a new Quest 2 from Amazon or Meta’s website. If you like it and decide you want a cheaper option, you can return it within 30 days and look for a deal like the $100 one.

Affiliate Links

If you’re ready to purchase or want to explore options, here are some helpful links:

Disclaimer: These links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them.

With this guide, you’re well on your way to enjoying VR without breaking the bank. Happy hunting and enjoy your VR adventures!