The Apple Vision Pro spatial computer will eventually replace the iPad, Mark Gurman writes in his newsletter for Bloomberg News, “but the device has hardware and software shortcomings that need to be resolved first.”
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
When Apple Inc. launched the iPad in 2010, the device’s premise was simple: You can get all the great iPhone features with a larger screen. And that message quickly resonated with customers, who snapped up the device to watch video, browse the web, view photos and get light work done.
But in recent years, Apple has shifted away from that formula. The iPad is now positioned as more of a Mac replacement, complete with keyboard and trackpad accessories and high-end apps like Final Cut Pro… but you can’t beat the Mac’s operating system when you need to get real work done.
That’s left the iPad in limbo. The device lost its original purpose and has become a more confusing piece of Apple’s product portfolio.
So here’s where the Vision Pro comes in. There’s been a lot of talk that the headset could be the future of the Mac or a replacement for the iPhone. I don’t think either is true. After using the $3,499 device for about a week, I believe the Vision Pro could instead cannibalize the iPad. It has the potential to provide a far better experience for the main jobs that Apple’s tablet was designed to handle. But don’t get me wrong, it’s still very early days.
MacDailyNews Take: Yup.
The Apple Vision Pro is currently limited because so much of its content was designed for 2D. It’s filled with flat iPad apps running in an OS, visionOS, that offers so many more possibilities. With the passage of time and as developers learn to think and design in 3D — as sculptors, not the poster makers they are today — the Vision Pro will achieve its full promise. That is when it will surpass iPad in revenue and, eventually, unit sales. – MacDailyNews, February 8, 2024
It makes perfect sense, even if it seriously lacks imagination, to use Vision Pro as an iPad replacement. After all, what’s Apple’s most superfluous OS? iPadOS. Apple Vision Pro neatly replaces and/or improves upon iPad’s most-used features. We suspect Gurman, as the rest of us, will come to use Vision Pro as much more than just a mere “iPad replacement” as we all spend more time with Apple’s new spatial computer. – MacDailyNews, February 5, 2024
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Good luck with that.
Apple isn’t interested in replacing their other products. They are still a hardware company, they want you buying this, a Mac, iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, AirTags, iPad and accessories, at the very least.
I’m sorry, but no. People are not going to be wearing the Vision Pro in public (unless it gets smaller) and for the people who physically cannot wear the device due to medical issues (like me). I think there will still be a market for both for a long time to come.
Also, for that to happen, the Vision Pro’s price has got to come way down to meet the Quest 3.
One of the distinguishing features of the iPad is writing. Unless there’s a seamless way to write, the Vision Pro can’t replace the iPad.
I love to hand write my budget on my iPad and there’s no way I would ever put on a Vision Pro to do that. That would be ridiculous.
Agreed. The iPad and AVP each have their own strengths. The iPad is great for sharing things with multiple people. It will be a really long time before the AVP does that. Plus one great thing about the iPad is the Apple Pencil and drawing, annotating and writing. The AVP is different than this.
iPad will need to do a better job of one-upping iPhone. Look for a foldable iPad to slot into this role.
Well, considering I can buy eight iPads for the cost of one Vision Pro, the VP isn’t going to usurp iPads in the average home. I have my iPad, wife has hers, daughter has hers. That would be over $10K in Vision Pros.
hahahahhahahahah, Nope. $3500 vs $400? easy decision.
“The iPad is now positioned as more of a Mac replacement, complete with keyboard and trackpad accessories and high-end apps like Final Cut Pro… but you can’t beat the Mac’s operating system when you need to get real work done.”
Apple always said that using a touch screen laptop would lead to “gorilla arm,” all while promoting an iPad to hook up to accessories to make it a WEAK “laptop” with keyboard and mouse.
Tim is ultimately the wrong guy to lead Apple. Peter Principle in full effect here.
I think it will always be a bit of a niche market, even with gamers when you look at the Quest3 I don’t see any of them dumping their PCs to game solely on the Quest.
time will tell I suppose.