APPLE VISION PRO M5: THE $3,700 QUESTION – IS THIS SPATIAL COMPUTER WORTH THE WEIGHT?

It's been two years since Apple dropped its first "spatial computer" and left us all wondering if this was the future of tech or just a fancy paperweight. Now, the Vision Pro M5 is here, and it's time to see if Apple has addressed the two major issues that held its predecessor back: ergonomics and fluidity. But is it enough to turn this luxury item into an indispensable tool? ‍️

1. The Paradox of Weight: Heavier, but Lighter to Wear

The most surprising thing about the Vision Pro M5 is its weight. On the scale, it tips in at around 800 grams, a significant increase from its predecessor's 650 grams. BUT, and this is a big but, the user experience tells a different story.

By replacing the original band with the Dual Knit Band, which features tungsten rods as counterweights, Apple has proven that comfort is not just about the total weight, but about how it's distributed. This means you can finally wear the thing for more than three hours without feeling like you're in a tech-induced headache.

Technical Breakdown: How the Dual Knit Band Works

The Dual Knit Band is designed to redistribute the weight of the Vision Pro M5, making it feel lighter and more comfortable to wear. The tungsten rods act as counterweights, balancing out the weight of the device and reducing the pressure on your face. It's a clever solution, but it's not a fix for the underlying issue of the device's density. ‍️

2. The M5 Chip and 120 Hz: The End of Visual Fatigue?

The M5 chip is not just a spec bump; it allows the Vision Pro M5 to reach a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This increased fluidity reduces the lag between your head movements and the display, making for a much more immersive experience.

The image quality itself hasn't changed much, but this stability is crucial for reducing motion sickness (yes, that's a thing now). Paired with a battery life that's creeping up to three hours, this power makes "spatial" usage finally viable for a half-day of work.

3. The Ecosystem: A Killer App Called Mac Virtual Display

Our testing confirms a trend: the Vision Pro shines as a Mac extension, not as a standalone device. The Mac Virtual Display feature is the real MVP, letting you deploy an ultra-large desktop in a minimalist environment (think trains or hotels).

However, things get dark when you leave the Apple ecosystem. Two years after launch, the lack of native apps for giants like YouTube or Netflix is a major stain on a device that costs over $3,700. Having to use Safari to consume content on a device this pricey highlights the resistance of third-party editors to visionOS's closed model.

4. Socially Acceptable: The Awkwardness Persists ‍️

Despite technical progress on Personas (3D avatars for FaceTime), which now include the bust and hands, Apple still can't break the "weird" barrier.

The EyeSight feature, meant to display the user's eyes on the external screen, remains criticized. Dark, blurry, and deemed "anecdotal" by our testers' entourage, this tech raises questions: wouldn't Apple have been better off ditching the external screen to reduce weight and price? The Vision Pro remains, for now, a fundamentally solitary experience.

So, What’s the Verdict?

• Get ready for a serious wallet punch: this thing costs over $3,700!
• Don't expect a revolution in design, but ergonomics and fluidity have improved
• The Mac Virtual Display feature is a game-changer, but the ecosystem is still limited
• Socially acceptable? Not quite yet, but Personas are getting better
• EyeSight? More like Eye-Sore, am I right?

Final Verdict

So, is the Apple Vision Pro M5 worth the weight? For die-hard Apple fans and those with deep pockets, maybe. But for the rest of us, it's still a luxury item that's more of a statement piece than a necessary tool.

Share your thoughts: are you ready to shell out the cash for this spatial computer, or are you waiting for the next gen? Let us know in the comments! And don't forget to enable 2FA, because, you know, security