The Apple Vision Pro has been one of the most talked-about mixed reality headsets since its original launch. With the recent introduction of the M5-powered version, many enthusiasts and early adopters have been eager to see if Apple has truly listened to feedback and delivered meaningful improvements. As someone who has used both the original M2 model and the new M5 edition extensively, this review reflects on whether the Vision Pro’s latest iteration justifies its premium price and hype.
Performance and Visual Upgrades with the M5 Chip
At the heart of the Vision Pro M5 is Apple’s latest M5 chip, built on advanced 3-nanometer technology. This new processor boasts a 10-core CPU and next-generation 10-core GPU architecture, delivering roughly four times the GPU performance of its predecessor. This boost translates into faster app launch times, smoother graphics, and significant improvements in demanding applications like AI-driven Persona avatar rendering, which is now up to 50% quicker. The M5 chip also enhances hardware-accelerated ray tracing for games and spatial apps, lending more realistic lighting and reflections that enrich immersion.
The display benefits too, with roughly 10% more pixels presented to where your gaze falls thanks to intelligent foveated rendering. Combined with a variable refresh rate now supporting up to 120Hz, scenes and interface animations feel smoother and more natural. However, some users report that the 120Hz benefit is inconsistent when the Vision Pro is used as a Mac external display, often defaulting to 60Hz, which diminishes this advantage. Battery life has also improved by about 30 minutes, reaching around three hours of media playback, though the headset still requires breaks due to heat and weight.
Comfort and Design: The Dual Knit Band
One major gripe with the original Vision Pro was comfort. Apple addresses this in the M5 model by introducing a redesigned dual knit band that incorporates tungsten weights to provide better counterbalance across the head. This design helps offset the front-heavy weight, making longer wear sessions less fatiguing. The band also offers adjustable tightness in two dimensions plus an additional top strap adjustment, allowing for a more customizable fit.
That said, the headset remains heavier overall, with the new strap adding weight rather than reducing it. Users report that while comfort has improved significantly, the Vision Pro still causes some facial pressure, red marks, and hair flattening, which could be a drawback in professional or social settings. The headset’s bulky design restricts mobility, confining use primarily to seated or reclined experiences rather than walking or active use.
Use Cases and Software Ecosystem
The Vision Pro continues to shine as a versatile spatial computing device, especially for immersive media consumption, productivity, and remote collaboration. Apple’s improvements to FaceTime personas—lifelike avatars that convey gestures and eye contact—have reached a new level of realism that enhances virtual meetings. Imagine manipulating 3D models or slides in the middle of a virtual room during a conference call; this feature is a compelling proposition for businesses exploring new remote collaboration tools.
Moreover, Vision Pro offers a futuristic movie-watching environment with spatial audio that provides rich, headphone-free experiences, and multitasking via multiple virtual displays remains a standout productivity feature. However, there is still no definitive “killer app” or use case that forces widespread adoption. Developers continue to build content and apps, but the catalog remains limited compared with more mature platforms.
Final Thoughts: Great but Still a Niche Device
The Apple Vision Pro M5 represents a clear evolutionary step versus the original, with tangible performance, display, and comfort gains. Yet it remains a high-cost, niche gadget more suited for early adopters, creators, and enterprise scenarios than mass-market consumers. Issues like weight, price, and the question of compelling daily use remain pertinent.
If you own the original Vision Pro, the new dual knit band alone is a worthy upgrade for comfort. The faster M5 chip and improved battery life enhance the experience, but for many, these upgrades may not justify a full replacement. Looking ahead, potential buyers would likely desire a lighter form factor and broader software ecosystem to make the Vision Pro a true daily driver.
Ultimately, the Vision Pro M5 is still the best spatial headset available today—immersive, polished, and impressively interactive—but its future depends on Apple refining comfort and finding that elusive killer feature that will make it indispensable.
