The Apple Vision Pro may have taken social media by storm when it was released, but that's not to say that its buyers were satisfied with the device. According to an analyst, almost a third of the returns were due to users not fully understanding spatial computing.
Apple Vision Pro's Unfamiliar Technology
Given that Apple's AR/VR headset offers something new, it's expected that people will have an adjustment period and get used to the idea of spatial computing. However, some people did not get past that process and just returned the product instead.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that around 20% to 30% of the users who returned their products were due to not knowing how to set up the Vision Pro. It is also important to note that only around 1% of the purchases were returned, as reported by Gizmodo.
It could already be a huge switch from a mouse, a keyboard, or a touchscreen for some users, but Apple uses eye-tracking to replace the mouse function, which is a whole new way to navigate through a computer.
Of course, users can also do these through gestures, which allow them to select, type and even scale the windows, but they will have to press a physical button on the headset to get out of spatial computing.
Even so, the release of the Apple Vision Pro was a success. While the demand is already slowing down after the hype, the company still expects it will sell more this year, and it helps that the shipping estimate is not down to just three to five days.
Initially, during the pre-order period, the device could take up to a month before it arrived to users. It's hard to say whether this will be a more widely used product in the following years, but Kuo said it might not be until 2027 that Apple releases a cheaper, mass-produced version.
Is It Worth It?
With a $3,500 price tag, it's normal for people to ask whether the headset is worth the purchase. For a busy person who has a lot of tasks that involve a computer, it might be worth the purchase, especially since your screen is only limited by the space you have.
You can create a digital space by assigning tabs open in certain areas, such as recipes in your kitchen, streaming services in your living room, conference call apps in your office, and many more. However, you might still have to get used to a keyboard that's not tactile.
Many have also complained that prolonged use of the headset has led to headaches and neck strains. There's even a mysterious phenomenon among select users where they find a random crack in the middle of the Apple Vision Pro's front glass.
Others speculate that it may be due to the device overheating while charging, according to The Verge. If you ever find your unit with a hairline crack, you will have to pay $500 to have it fixed, which could go up to $799 if you do not have Apple Care.
