Apple’s Vision Pro Shines with visionOS 2 Update

Apple introduced updates to all of its major operating systems this week, including the Vision Pro. With visionOS 2, the company aims to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the new platform to both current and prospective buyers of its high-priced headset.

Following several months of beta testing, visionOS 2 presents more of a refined version of the original software rather than a dramatic overhaul. Enhancements such as new gestures, improved device support, and new features aim to alleviate much of the initial friction experienced by Vision Pro users, encouraging them to revisit the device.

Key improvements include features that arguably should have been present from the beginning. Notably, Apple has added Bluetooth mouse support and the ability to rearrange apps on the homescreen, which were previously sorted alphabetically. iPad and iPhone apps can now be moved out of their default folders and placed alongside Vision Pro-native apps. However, the anticipated ability to create new folders for better organization is still absent.

The update also enhances navigation with new gesture controls. Users can now access the homescreen by tapping their fingers together and looking at their palm, where a circle appears. Flipping their hand as if checking a watch transforms the circle into a status bar displaying the time, battery, and volume levels. Tapping the status bar grants access to Control Center, while holding it allows for volume adjustment. These gestures aim to provide a more intuitive and enjoyable user experience. Additionally, Apple has enabled navigation through paired Bluetooth controllers, such as the Nintendo Joy-Cons.

For productivity, visionOS 2 enhances compatibility with mouse support and introduces a Keyboard Awareness feature. This feature allows a physical keyboard to be visible in the virtual environment, reducing the need to search blindly for keys. However, the feature seems to work more reliably with Apple’s own keyboards than with third-party options. A significant addition awaited by users is the curved ultrawide virtual display announced at WWDC, expected to be available later this year.

Apple has also included more engaging features and improvements, such as converting photos into 3D spatial images, similar to retroactive portrait mode on the iPhone. Despite its impressive ability to add emotional depth to old photos, the feature can sometimes misinterpret elements like hair or glasses, creating amusing effects.

Furthermore, visionOS 2 supports saving biometric data for one guest user, eliminating the need for repeated setup, although it stops short of supporting multiple user profiles.

Viewing video content on Safari is improved with a floating video view that enhances the immersive experience by minimizing the presence of web page elements. Despite the absence of native YouTube or Netflix apps, third-party applications like Juno and Supercut offer alternatives for these services. Safari now also supports WebXR by default, facilitating web-based VR and AR games and experiences, although the quality of available options varies.

Despite these updates, it is uncertain whether visionOS 2 will significantly boost Vision Pro sales, which have faced hurdles such as high costs and user reluctance toward VR. Reports indicate that sales might not exceed 500,000 units this year. Discussions about a more affordable version of the headset suggest potential changes in the future.

Ultimately, even those able to afford the $3,499 Vision Pro may find that visionOS 2 does not resolve all issues highlighted in previous reviews, such as the device’s limited field of view and the isolated experience it can create. However, the update represents progress and indicates Apple’s continued investment in the Vision Pro platform.

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