Apple Vision Pro Anniversary: Two Years of Apple’s Mixed Reality Headset

The Apple Vision Pro first arrived in the United States on February 2, 2024, marking Apple’s entry into spatial computing with a head-mounted mixed reality headset. The launch introduced a new category that blends digital content with the physical world and uses eye, hand, and voice controls to interact with apps in three-dimensional space.

At launch, Apple set the starting price at $3,499 in the U.S. and offered Vision Pro with options for 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. Reviews noted the headset’s impressive visual clarity and tracking precision, while critics pointed to battery life and limited software tailored to spatial experiences as challenges.

The Vision Pro runs on visionOS, a spatial operating system derived from iPadOS frameworks. It presents information in a series of floating windows around the user and uses a blend of sensors and cameras to understand physical space.

Technical Features You Should Know

The Vision Pro packs a range of advanced components designed to support mixed reality:

• Displays
  • Dual micro-OLED screens with a total of about 23 million pixels
  • Multiple refresh rates up to 120Hz (M5 model)
• Processing Power
  • Original model: Apple M2 chip with R1 coprocessor
  • 2025 update: Apple M5 chip, improved GPU and Neural Engine
• Sensors and Cameras
  • Multiple world-facing tracking cameras
  • Four eye-tracking cameras and LiDAR scanner
  • Stereoscopic 3D camera system
• Biometric Security
  • Optic ID uses iris scanning for secure unlocking and purchases

Vision Pro’s Progress Over Two Years

Apple released an updated model in late 2025 with an M5 chip and a more comfortable Dual Knit Band head strap. This revision improves performance, increases refresh rate support, and extends battery life.

Although Apple expected Vision Pro to be a niche product at first, adoption has remained modest compared to mainstream tech like smartphones and laptops. Industry reports suggest slower sales growth two years after launch.

The Vision Pro remains one of the most ambitious consumer devices Apple has made. It is a platform that continues to evolve, with software updates and new content aimed at developers and early adopters.