It has been more than a year since the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, and it has not exactly been a roaring success.
Of course, it is packed with impressive technology, but with a towering price and extensive design, it would never be the revolutionary product that Apple wanted. Now Apple is trying to breathe new life with Apple Intelligence, but I am not convinced that it is enough.
Apple’s AI Suite offers functions such as chatgpt integration, smart answers and genmoji. The headset even gets an exclusive create a memory movie function, which makes personalized video montages of user photos and videos. It is neat, but hardly a game changer.
Apple
However, the problem was never a lack of AI functions, but the Vision Pro itself. AI does not make it lighter, more comfortable or, crucial, more affordable. For £ 3,499/$ 3,500 it remains a luxury gadget.
The battery life is another persistent problem, with only two hours of use before you have to connect the external battery. And let’s not forget the inconvenience of wearing that battery in your pocket.
Even with AI, the Vision Pro struggles to fit naturally into daily life. It is great to view compelling content, but work or communication? Not so much.
The awkward app management and the insulating nature of the headset means that it does not replace existing devices, but only adds a different expensive screen to juggle.
Apple
That is why the idea of the smart glasses from Apple was so much more exciting for me.
A lightweight, AR-based alternative can offer real-time information without closing you from the world. But Apple is said to have suspended that project, so that we are stuck to the Vision Pro.
There is no doubt that Apple Intelligence will improve the experience, but it will not solve the fundamental issues of price, design and usability. No amount of AI can change that.