Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro headset went on sale in February 2024, and within two weeks, some buyers were already returning it Bloomberg. You spent a lot of money on something that promised to change how you work and play. Apple said this was the future. Tech reviewers called it amazing. You believed them.

But now you’re wondering if you made a mistake. The headache won’t go away. Your neck hurts. And you can’t figure out what to actually use it for. Thousands of early adopters are dealing with Vision Pro regret right now.The five main reasons people returned their Vision Pro 9to5Mac.

Real return rate data from Apple stores 9to5MacGizmodo. What happened to sales after the first year Gizmodo. How to decide if you should keep or return yours.This isn’t about hating on Apple. Real people spent real money on this $3,500 headset. They deserve to know what went wrong and what to do about it.

1. What Actually Happened With Vision Pro Returns ?

You’ve heard the stories. People returning the Vision Pro left and right. Your friend said everyone’s sending theirs back. Return rate was lower than you think. Return rates dropped to around 1% after the initial launch period 9to5Mac. That’s it. One out of every hundred buyers. Apple Store employees said return rates were similar to non Pro iPhone levels Digital Trends.

Some stores saw 1 to 2 returns per day, while larger stores saw up to 8 returns daily 9to5Mac right after launch. That got people talking. Social media went crazy. Everyone assumed the Vision Pro was bombing.

Why the Numbers Got Twisted ?

Vision Pro sold 820,000 units in its first two months SQ Magazine. Not bad for a $3,500 headset nobody asked for. Then something weird happened. IDC reported fewer than 100,000 units sold by July 2024 Gizmodo.

By the end of 2024, estimates suggest around 500,000 units sold total AppleInsider. The Apple Vision Pro sales dropped hard after the initial rush.

2. Weight Problem Made People’s Heads Hurt

Put a pound of metal and glass on your face. Now wear it for an hour. Your head will hurt. It’s too heavy to wear. The headset is heavy, making it hard to use for long periods MakeUseOf. Apple doesn’t talk about this in ads. But every owner feels it.

Vision Pro weight sits right on your face. Your nose. Your cheeks. Your forehead. After 20 minutes, you notice it. After an hour, you’re done.Users had to squeeze the headset onto their face with the Solo Knit Band to make it fit right MakeUseOf.

Battery Pack Makes It Worse

The external battery pack adds to the discomfort. It hangs off a cable. You stick it in your pocket or clip it to your belt. But that cable pulls at the headset. Every time you move your head, you feel the tug. Every time you stand up or sit down, you have to adjust it. And when the battery dies after two hours.

Apple Knows This Is a Problem

Apple warns users to stop if they feel headache, eyestrain, or eye pain Apple Support. It’s right there in the safety guide. Look, every VR headset causes some discomfort. That’s normal. But the Vision Pro comfort issues go beyond normal. When people are getting black eyes and burst blood vessels, something’s wrong.

You might think you can handle it. Maybe you have a strong neck. Maybe you don’t get headaches easily.Weight on your face for long periods hurts. The Vision Pro weighs enough to cause real problems.

3. Eye Strain and Vision Problems Were Common

Your eyes aren’t meant to stare at screens two inches from your face. The Vision Pro makes you do exactly that. Your eyes will hurt. Symptoms include headaches, eyestrain, and eye fatigue from screen work Millenniumeyecenter. With the Vision Pro, these symptoms hit faster and harder than regular screens.

You’re staring at bright displays right in front of your eyeballs. The Vision Pro uses infrared and LED light for eye tracking Millenniumeyecenter. That’s light beaming directly into your eyes all day long.

The Screen Quality Makes It Worse

Displays had too much glare and narrow field of view 9to5Mac. You’re paying $3,500 for screens that hurt to look at. The glare hits you when you’re watching bright content. Movies with sun scenes.

Apps with white backgrounds. Your eyes strain to see through the reflection.The narrow field of view means you’re always moving your eyes around. Looking left. Looking right. Your eye muscles never rest.

Motion Sickness Hit People Hard

Some people experienced motion sickness with dizziness and nausea MacRumors. They’d put on the headset. Start using an app. Five minutes later, they felt sick. This happens when what your eyes see doesn’t match what your body feels.

Your eyes say you’re moving. Your body says you’re sitting still. Your brain gets confused. Not everyone gets this. But enough people do that it’s a real problem. And once you feel that nausea, you don’t want to put the headset back on.

4. No One Could Figure Out What to Use It For

You buy a $3,500 headset. You set it up. You try a few demos. You watch a movie. Fewer than 1,900 active apps remain as of February 2025 CNBC. That sounds like a lot until you compare it to your iPhone.

New Vision Pro apps have declined every month since launch CNBC. Developers tried it. Made an app. Watched nobody download it. Then stopped making more. Netflix and YouTube don’t have native apps. You have to use the web browser. On a $3,500 device. You’re watching YouTube in Safari.

What People Actually Use It For ?

The Vision Pro is a very expensive way to watch movies in bed. The screen looks great. The 3D movies are cool. Sitting in a virtual theater is neat. Some people use it to show off. They bring it to the office. Let coworkers try it. Everyone says “wow, that’s cool.” Then it goes back in the case.

5. It Made People Feel Alone

You’re sitting on the couch with your family. They’re watching TV. You’re wearing a headset. You’re in the same room. But you’re not really there.

You Can’t Just Hand It to Someone

The Vision Pro can’t easily be passed around because it needs a precise fit 9to5Mac. Remember. It has to be squeezed onto your face perfectly or the screen looks wrong.

Every person needs their own setup. Their own eye scan. Their own fit adjustment. You can’t say “here, check this out” and hand it over. They have to stop. Scan their eyes. Adjust the bands. Get it positioned right.

Vision Pro Isolation Gets Old Fast

Even sitting in the same room, you’re completely disconnected. Your partner talks to you. You don’t hear them because you’re watching a movie. Your kids want to show you something. You can’t see them through the headset.

People bought the Vision Pro thinking it would be cool to use around family. They found out fast that wearing it means choosing between the headset and the people around you.

6. The Price Didn’t Match the Reality

That’s what this headset costs. For that money, you could buy a MacBook Pro, an iPad, and an iPhone. Or you could buy a Vision Pro that gives you headaches and sits in a drawer.

You’re Not Getting $3,500 Worth of Value

At $3,500, work features don’t make people more productive than a regular external monitor 9to5Mac. A good 4K monitor costs $400. You can buy eight of them for the price of one Vision Pro.

The Vision Pro price makes no sense when you look at what it actually does. Watch movies. Your TV does that. Mirror your Mac screen. Your $200 monitor does that. Play games.

The Real Cost Is Even Higher

Total cost with storage upgrades and accessories can exceed $4,000. Base model $3,500, 1TB storage upgrade $400, Prescription lenses $150, Travel case $200, AppleCare500,

Meta’s headset costs $500. It has more games. Better battery life. A bigger app selection. And it doesn’t give people black eyes. Vision Pro has better screens. Better build quality. But is it seven times better.