Apple's Vision Pro could cannibalize the iPad, but it will take years

[Shawn Knight]

Bottom line: Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset went on sale earlier this month. As a first-gen product in a brand-new category, it does have some limitations – $3,499 starting price and all. Eventually, however, some believe the device will replace another established product in Apple's catalog.

Apple's tablet arrived in 2010 and was pitched as a way to enjoy the iPhone's features on a larger screen. The strategy worked and sales took off but in recent years, Apple started positioning its tablet as an entry to the Mac – or in some cases, an outright replacement – given accessories like the Pencil and detachable keyboard.

That sort of left the iPad on rocky ground. Is it a device meant for content consumption, a slate designed to get real work done, or something else entirely?

Where does that put the Vision Pro, then? As Gurman highlights, some think it could evolve into a replacement for the Mac or the iPhone. After spending a week with Apple's new headset, Gurman sees a future where it cannibalizes the iPad.

During testing, Gurman said, the Vision Pro excelled at streaming video, sending messages, and performing light work tasks. He also said it was great as a secondary, external monitor in places where you might use a Mac laptop like on the couch, in bed, or on a plane.

Despite praising its snappy performance, quality graphics, and top-notch hand control system, Gurman said today's Vision Pro is more of a preview of things to come. The current iteration is heavy and cumbersome, and battery life leaves a lot to be desired. The custom operating system is also a bit buggy, but these are all things that can be fixed with future revisions.

When will the Vision Pro truly be ready for consumers? That depends on who you ask. Gurman said he feels like the visionOS is about a year away from prime time. Some working in the Vision Products Group (the team that is developing the headset) told Gurman it could take as many as four generations before it feels truly complete.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/101855-apple-vision-pro-could-eventually-cannibalize-ipad-but.html

 

[VitalyT]

iPad is for people, Vision Pro is for lunatics looking to disconnect themselves from reality and become atrocious zombies. If those zombies decide to feed on iPad-s, that's the only way to cannibalize iPad-s.

 

[hazphan]

I have a hard time believing that any battery powered object you need to strap to your head with 5 sensors, 6 microphones and 12 cameras will become a household staple. But like the article states, we'll see what happens 4 generations from now.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

I have a hard time believing that any battery powered object you need to strap to your head with 5 sensors, 6 microphones and 12 cameras will become a household staple. But like the article states, we'll see what happens 4 generations from now.

You don't want to upgrade? Your head currently has a speaker, two microphones, two cameras, and at least three other sensors. As a matter of fact the packaging of all this technology (or biology) is pretty amazing. It even has some regenerative capabilities against scratches and burns. The one downside is the CPU is often wonky.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

People use iPads for something other than entertaining small children?

Or are we planning on strapping a $3500 computer to lil Timmy’s face to keep him quiet at dinner?

 

[LetTheWookieWin]

I’ll believe the Vision Pro is a risk to cannibalize iPad sales when it is priced an order of magnitude lower than it is currently.

 

[Mr Majestyk]

So something that costs $7K in Australia is set to replace iPads starting well under $1K.
April 1st has arrived early it seems.

 

[Watzupken]

Replace iPads? The cost of the specced out Vision Pro could get you a 2TB version of the iPad Pro, with more than enough money left to buy the accessories. If one opts for a 1TB variant, there could still be enough money to buy an entry level MacBook. Given that the OS powering the Vision Pro is more iPad OS than Mac OS, it’s not going to be as full featured.