Apple Vision Pro Was Originally Called ‘Reality Pro’ During Development

Apple leaves the original M2 Vision Pro out of trade-in
Image: Vision Pro

Apple reportedly called the Vision Pro headset “Reality Pro” for a significant part of its development before choosing the Vision Pro name that eventually reached customers in 2024.

Prototype collector and leaker Kosutami shared an internal string, “realityprorealityosdev,” which appears to connect the early Reality Pro hardware name with Apple’s former realityOS software branding.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had previously reported in September 2022 that Apple’s first mixed-reality headset was expected to launch as the “Apple Reality Pro.” Trademark filings also appeared for names including Reality One, Reality Pro, and Reality Processor across several countries.

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Apple had also pursued trademarks linked to realityOS, while developers found references to that name inside Apple software and App Store upload logs. Later filings included terms such as xrOS, xrProOS, realityproOS, and realOS before Apple finalized its branding.

Apple eventually switched to Vision Pro and visionOS

Apple introduced the headset as Vision Pro at WWDC 2023 and named its operating system visionOS, leaving the Reality branding behind before the product launched in the United States for $3,499 in February 2024.

However, Apple reportedly still holds trademark rights to Reality Pro and Reality One, which could remain useful in markets where the Vision Pro name creates legal problems. Huawei holds a license to the Vision Pro trademark in China until 2031.

The naming history has surfaced as Apple reportedly scales back its headset plans, with recent layoffs affecting the Vision Products Group and reports suggesting the company has reduced work on Vision Pro gaming, immersive video, and future headset models while shifting more attention toward smart glasses.

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