AR Glasses: The Vision Pro Didn't Stick the Landing

Key Takeaways

• The Big Shift: How Agentic AI is changing the game.
• Actionable Insight: Immediate steps to secure your AI Privacy.
• Future Proof: Why Local LLMs are the ultimate privacy shield.

THE SCOOP

Alright, vibe tribe, let's get real about the Apple Vision Pro. Launched with the classic Apple hype machine in full swing, the promise was a revolution in "spatial computing." Fast forward to today, December 2025, and the reality is... complicated. While the Vision Pro undeniably pushed the boundaries of what's technically possible in a headset, sales figures paint a less-than-stellar picture. Initially, there was buzz and long queues, but that quickly faded. By the end of 2024, Apple had only managed to ship around 500,000-600,000 units [9, 22]. Production of the original Vision Pro ceased by the end of 2024 with an estimated 200,000 units sitting in inventory [22]. The planned "Vision Air," a cheaper, more accessible model, was scrapped, signaling a major strategic shift [22].

Why the stumble? Several factors contributed:

• The Price Tag: Starting at $3,500, it was out of reach for most consumers [2, 9, 19].
• Ergonomic Issues: Many users found it heavy and uncomfortable, leading to headaches and neck strain [2, 11].
• Limited Use Cases: The "killer app" remained elusive. While it was great for media consumption, it didn't fundamentally change how people worked or created [2, 4, 11, 22].
• Competition: Samsung is poised to release an XR headset that could challenge the Vision Pro with better resolution and color accuracy, while being more affordable [17].

THE VIBE

So, why should you care that Apple's fancy AR headset didn't exactly set the world on fire? Because it highlights a crucial truth about new tech: innovation alone isn't enough. It needs to be accessible, practical, and solve real problems in a way that enhances our lives, not complicates them. The Vision Pro, for all its technological marvel, felt more like a proof-of-concept than a must-have gadget. The cultural impact was minimal. No one's trading in their phones or laptops just yet. Instead, people are opting for the Meta Quest 3, the Xreal One Pro AR glasses and Beam Pro, or Playstation VR 2 [23].

KEY INSIGHT

The Vision Pro’s reliance on gesture and eye-tracking, while innovative, proved to be a double-edged sword. While reviewers lauded the intuitiveness when it worked, any hiccups in tracking led to frustrating user experiences. This is one reason why some games are incompatible with the system [4, 8].

THE VERDICT

DELETE (for now). The Apple Vision Pro, in its current form, is a no-go for the average consumer. The price is too high, the use cases too limited, and the ergonomics need serious work. However, don't count Apple out entirely. This is likely a first-generation product, and they're known for iterating. Keep an eye on what Samsung's new XR headset is offering [17]. If and when Apple releases a more affordable, comfortable, and genuinely useful AR device, then it might be time to reconsider. Until then, stick with reality... or maybe a Quest 3.