The Vision Pro, and how to unlock its potential: a tech consultant’s perspective

The immersive experience within the Apple Vision Pro redefines what it means to enter a virtual world. And it does this by representing environments that are not only visually stunning but deeply engaging. It utilises its high-resolution displays to deliver hyper-realistic visuals, making virtual environments feel as if they are directly in front of you.

Picture sitting courtside for an NBA game, the spatial audio surrounding you as you watch your favourite team from previously unattainable seats, all from the comfort of your living room. This example shows how the Apple Vision Pro can recreating something that is imaginable, however it can also put you in the position of something that is unimaginable, such as making you feel a part of a storyline by offering a 180 Point of View of a movie that is unfolding before you, like in the example of the Apple immersive 20 minute short ‘Submerged’.

Example business use cases that can make the most of this feature:

In our post-pandemic digital world, the idea of collaborating in headsets makes sense. By enabling lifelike, shared virtual environments, it transforms how teams can work together, blurring the lines between physical and digital spaces.

Vision Pro creates shared virtual spaces that feel tangible. Colleagues can appear as realistic avatars, brainstorming or problem-solving as though they are in the same room. Vision Pro can capture and render enough of the subtleties of body language that the digital nature fades away. This spatial presence fosters a sense of connection and engagement unmatched by traditional video conferencing tools.

The Vision Pro’s advanced tracking capabilities enable natural interactions within shared spaces. For example, team members can gesture to elements in a presentation or point out details on a 3D model. These features make collaboration intuitive and highly engaging.

Example business use cases that can make the most of this feature:

Spatial audio provides precise sound positioning, creating a sense of presence that traditional audio lacks. In collaborative settings, this allows participants to identify where voices and sounds are originating, mirroring the dynamics of an in-person meeting.

This immersive approach enhances the depth and realism of virtual collaboration, making it more engaging and effective than ever before. Whether for brainstorming, presentations, or hands-on training, spatial audio ensures that communication feels as intuitive as it would in the real world.

When combined with virtual spaces, spatial audio makes environments feel tangible. Imagine presenting a design model or hosting a team meeting where participants’ voices come from their respective avatars’ locations. This spatial alignment fosters a sense of proximity, making remote collaboration more engaging.

Example business use cases that can make the most of this feature:

Example business use cases that can make the most of this feature:

Our final strength that should be highlighted is the Vision Pro is part of the Apple ecosystem, and in turn becomes more than just a standalone device. Integration with iPhone, iPad, and Mac ensures smooth workflows across Apple products. Users can mirror apps from their iPhones, iPads, or Macs effortlessly. This feature ensures that workflows transition smoothly across devices, reducing friction during collaboration. Whether reviewing documents, presenting ideas, or co-editing content, users can interact with familiar applications in immersive settings.

This strength of the ecosystem also extended to developing for the AVP. The ecosystem uses the same language, tooling (in large part), and frameworks (again, in large part) meaning that there is a significant number of iOS developers who already know how to build for the platform.

Example business use cases that can make the most of this feature:

As we’ll uncover in this piece, the pros and cons of the device are constantly in a tug-of-war against each other, and this is the first of a few weaknesses to consider when designing for the Vision Pro. At 600 grams for the headpiece and an additional 350 grams for the tethered battery, the Vision Pro’s weight and bulk make it one of the heaviest headsets in its class. This design choice, although necessary to accommodate its advanced technology and features, can pose significant challenges for users.

Extended usage may result in neck strain, discomfort, and fatigue, particularly for individuals who are not accustomed to wearing such devices for long periods. These ergonomic concerns highlight a critical tradeoff between the device’s functionality and its physical form, emphasising the need for thoughtful design solutions and careful consideration of the user’s context and length of time within an experience.

To fully harness the immersive video quality that the Vision Pro can deliver, 8K, 180-degree content must be created. This necessitates not only navigating the steep learning curve associated with operating advanced and newly emerging cameras, but also mastering the complex process of creating high-fidelity virtual objects and environments. Specialised tools and expertise are often beyond the capabilities of typical development teams, mirroring the hardware hurdles. Furthermore, the very cameras capable of capturing the necessary immersive footage are only just beginning to enter the market, further limiting current content availability.

While the creation of such immersive content is achievable, the combined complexities of hardware and software development pose a significant barrier to widespread consumer adoption. However, the device is more accessible for enterprise-focused applications who can leverage its capabilities for training simulations, virtual collaboration, and immersive design workflows, where the investment in high-quality content creation is justified by the return on improved productivity and innovation.

In direct contrast to the strength of in-device collaboration, achieving it requires widespread ownership of the device so users can collaborate with anyone they would like to. However, this is hindered by a major weakness: its price point. You can’t collaborate with someone who doesn’t have the device, and the high cost significantly limits accessibility, currently confining its viability primarily to niche applications and enterprise use cases.

The Apple Vision Pro’s personalised nature, calibrated to individual eye and hand movements, is key for comfort but creates a sharing hurdle. Previously, each new user required a time-consuming recalibration, which could be problematic for shared devices in workplaces or at events.

Recent updates help alleviate this. Users can now store eye-tracking data on their iPhone’s secure enclave, allowing quick recall on communal headsets. A companion app also offers a “sharing mode” for less frequent use, remembering the last guest’s settings. These features require close proximity between the Vision Pro and iPhone, both running iOS 26/visionOS 26 or later, and signed into the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication.

Even with these improvements, sharing the Vision Pro with someone who has a vision impairment, such as needing glasses, still presents a significant challenge. For them to experience the headset seamlessly, custom prescription lens inserts are required. While essential for clarity and comfort, these inserts introduce an additional layer of complexity and cost, potentially acting as a barrier to wider adoption of the device.