Apple Vision Pro, the company’s first attempt at a mixed-reality headset, went on sale in the US on February 2. A new trend has begun to emerge in just over two weeks, which overlaps with the company’s 14-day deadline for returning products. According to a report, many users who purchased the headset during the first few days of sale are now returning it for five major reasons. Users have highlighted physical discomfort, feeling of isolation, lack of apps and content library, and other issues with the Apple Vision Pro.
In his newsletter, Apple analyst Mark Gurman reported that a “surprising number” of users had returned their purchases within the first 14 days of the headset’s launch, which passed on Friday (February 16). Gurman’s claim comes from data obtained from retail stores that shows the Apple Vision Pro’s return rates are average and above average compared to other products. “Some smaller stores are seeing one or two returns per day, but larger locations are seeing more than eight take-backs in a single day,” he said.
Five reasons why users are returning the Apple Vision Pro
Gurman revealed that he spoke to more than a dozen buyers who returned the headset within the 14-day return window. According to feedback received from people, there have been five main reasons for returning wearable devices. The first issue was its weight and the physical discomfort posed by the external battery pack and wiring which made it difficult to manage. The usage experience was described as “headache-inducing and uncomfortable”. Second, people cited the lack of apps and video content as a reason for their disappointment with the mixed-reality headset.
“This is clearly the future – but there aren’t enough things for it yet. The apps aren’t there,” Farzad Mesbahi, a former Tesla supply chain manager in Texas, told Bloomberg.
The third issue that resonated with many buyers was a different experience. Unlike the iPhone, which the user can easily pass to show a video or meme, it is much more difficult with the Apple Vision Pro. This lack of shared experience often results in isolation from friends and family.
“You find yourself in this virtual environment and you’re asking yourself what are you doing here,” Randy Chia, a product manager at an investment firm in Los Angeles, told Bloomberg.
Additionally, the fourth issue highlighted in the report includes narrow field of view and glare from the screen, resulting in eye strain and vision problems. Finally, users also said that the mixed-reality headset was not very useful for productivity and instead found that working on it for long periods of time was too taxing on the eyes.
Gurman highlights that although returns for products are not unusual, these reasons are quite concerning. Additionally, considering that most buyers are purchasing the first-generation product at a price of $3,500 (roughly Rs. 2.9 lakh), it is unlikely that they will be easily disappointed by common glitches and issues.
