How the Apple Vision Pro is Damaging Eyesight and Failing on Durability
Apple’s Vision Pro, its ambitious foray into augmented and virtual reality, has sparked intense debate since its announcement.
While positioned as a premium device, numerous user reports highlight issues ranging from physical discomfort to functional shortcomings, raising questions about whether the device lives up to Apple’s reputation for quality and innovation.
Health Concerns: Eye Strain and Migraines
Such problems are due to the “vergence-accommodation conflict,” a common problem accompanying AR/VR devices because the eyes fixate at a fixed screen but perceive a fictional depth.
Though Apple has incorporated features like adjustable light seals and proximity warnings, such relief hasn’t completely eliminated the discomfort. For those experiencing symptoms, experts suggest frequently taking breaks and making proper fit adjustments.
Such solutions, however, might not be effective for all the users.
Durability and Build Quality Issues
It is not helping issues such as complaints over minor drops making the device fail, which does not befit a device sold for ₹3,49,990.
The heavy design was also a cause for complaints as its tethered battery pack and front-heavy weight distribution made it unbearable for long sessions.
Charging and Connectivity Issues
The charging mechanism has also been a point of frustration. Apple used its proprietary connection instead of the far more widely adopted standard USB-C, drawing criticism on the issue.
The battery offered an external use time of just two hours of use, which greatly limits mobility and convenience for those using the device.
It stands in stark contrast to Apple’s traditional emphasis on the user-friendly design that it espouses.
The app library for the Vision Pro hasn’t helped initial adopters, either. The device runs on the new visionOS, but compatibility is limited to a handpicked selection of iPad and iPhone apps, and without fully devoted AR/VR software, the opportunity is lost.
For many, it comes down to a richer application and game ecosystem, especially at the price point Apple set. Relying on future contribution from developers leaves the current third-edgy offering sadly unfulfilling.
The Price Is It Worth?
Priced at ₹3,49,990, the Vision Pro is one of the priciest AR/VR headsets out there. Devices like Meta Quest 3 or HTC Vive XR Elite command such rich features at dramatically lower prices.
Apple’s latest, therefore appears to be a developers’ and early adopters’ offering, as opposed to mass market consumer play, which might leave most potential users behind.
Early Verdict: A Mixed Bag
The Apple Vision Pro is ambitious, but with cutting-edge technology in form, the execution feels short in key areas. There is the concern of being physically uncomfortable, not to mention durability.
It doesn’t quite justify the premium cost, especially considering that future updates and developer support would increase its appeal. For now, the Vision Pro feels mostly an unfinished product and one that doesn’t live up to those standards set by Apple.
Indeed, the Vision Pro is a bold step into the mixed-reality market, but it reflects and blurs the lines of the challenges in first-generation hardware launches.
For now, buyers may want to weigh the device’s limitations with its costs and possibly wait for future iterations that may do better in redressing those shortcomings.
