Apple’s Vision Pro headset may have had a slow news cycle recently, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that a significant update, visionOS 3, is on the horizon. This news comes as a reassurance that Apple remains committed to its spatial computing platform despite the Vision Pro’s lukewarm reception.
Apple has invested heavily in the Vision Pro’s underlying technology and, according to Gurman, can’t afford to let the product stagnate. He anticipates visionOS 3 to be a substantial update, packed with new features. More details are expected to be unveiled at WWDC later this year.
While the specifics of visionOS 3 remain under wraps, it’s confirmed that these new features won’t include Apple Intelligence. This functionality has already been integrated into the visionOS 2.4 beta, slated for public release in April. Furthermore, the Vision Pro companion app for iPhone and the Spatial Gallery feature are also scheduled to launch before WWDC in June. This suggests that visionOS 3 will likely focus on entirely new functionalities.
The Vision Pro has faced challenges since its launch, with reports suggesting slowdowns and pauses in the development of future models. Despite this, Gurman believes that Apple is still working on both a new Vision Pro model and a more affordable version.
The continued development of visionOS makes strategic sense for Apple. By testing new features on the current Vision Pro user base, Apple can refine its spatial computing operating system and build a robust foundation for future products in this category. This approach allows them to gather valuable user feedback and iterate on the software experience, paving the way for more compelling and user-friendly spatial computing devices in the years to come.
This commitment to visionOS development reinforces Apple’s long-term vision for spatial computing. While the Vision Pro may not have achieved the desired initial impact, Apple seems determined to learn from the experience and continue pushing the boundaries of this emerging technology.
