visionOS is a
mixed realityoperating system derived primarily from
iPadOS core frameworks (including
UIKit,
SwiftUI, ARKit and RealityKit), and MR-specific frameworks for
foveated rendering and real-time interaction.[4][5] It was developed by
Apple Inc. exclusively for its
Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset. It was unveiled on June 5, 2023, at Apple's
WWDC23 event alongside the reveal of the Apple Vision Pro.[6] The software released on February 2, 2024, shipping with the Apple Vision Pro.[7]
History
Apple has reportedly been working on and conceptualizing visionOS throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.[8] Internally
codenamed Borealis,[9] it was officially revealed to the public at Apple's WWDC23 event alongside the Vision Pro. Apple stated the two would release in early 2024.[10] App Store guidelines for the operating system similarly state that developers should refer to visionOS software as "spatial computing experiences" or "vision apps", and avoid the use of terms such as "augmented reality" and "mixed reality".[11][12]
During the event,
The Walt Disney Company announced plans to develop spatial computing apps for visionOS;[13]Disney+ will offer features such as streaming of selected titles in
stereoscopic 3D, and 3D environments based on the
El Capitan Theatre and locations from Disney-owned franchises.[14]
The operating system was initially planned to be released as xrOS before the name was changed reportedly days before the release, after the WWDC23 keynote and developer sessions had already been filmed.[15] On January 8, 2024, Apple announced that the Vision Pro with visionOS would be available in the US on February 2, 2024, with pre-orders beginning on January 19.[16]
Developer tools
From June 5–12, 2023, Apple released 35 free virtual sessions covering visionOS development as part of WWDC23. On June 21, 2023, Apple released
Xcode 15 Beta 2, which was the first Xcode beta to include a
software development kit for visionOS and Reality Composer Pro, a tool to create 3D content for visionOS.[17] Xcode 15 launched without these features, which were eventually added in Xcode 15.2 on January 8, 2024,[18][19] the same day that Apple started accepting submissions for the visionOS App Store.[19]
During the WWDC23 keynote, Apple revealed it was working with
Unity Technologies to support the
Unity engine on visionOS,[20][21] and that Unity would be releasing development tools for 3D games on Vision Pro, which launched in beta on July 19, 2023.[22]
Features
visionOS uses a
3D user interface navigated via
finger tracking,
eye tracking, and
speech recognition. For example, the user can click an element by looking at it and pinching two fingers together, move the element by moving their pinched fingers, and scroll by flicking their wrist. Apps are displayed in floating
windows that can be arranged in 3D space. visionOS supports a virtual keyboard for text input, the
Siri virtual assistant, and external
Bluetooth peripherals including
Magic Keyboard,
Magic Trackpad, and
gamepads.[23][24]
During visionOS setup, a user can create a
digital persona by taking off the headset and scanning their face with it. Users can use this persona during FaceTime calls, and see other participants' personas if they are using visionOS.[25] From visionOS 1.1, the ability to see personas in 3D moving around and interacting with apps was added, dubbed 'Spatial Personas.'[26]
The Photos app supports presenting spatial video, depth-mapped 3D video recorded on Vision Pro or iPhone 15 Pro, by adapting the video's depth to the user's head movements.[27]
The
Apple TV app offers
3D films; the company announced that over 150 films would be available in 3D at launch, at no additional charge to users that rent or purchase the films on
iTunes Store.[29]
WebXR, an API for mixed reality experiences through web browsers, is supported in
Safari.[30]
visionOS users can also access their
Mac with a resizable 4K virtual display that appears after looking at the computer.[31][32][33][34]
Supported apps
visionOS is backwards compatible with existing iOS and
iPadOS apps, which are rendered in windows within the user environment and are automatically compatible with visionOS' input system.[16][35] The developers of iOS and iPadOS apps have the option to opt out of visionOS compatibility. Apple claims that over 1 million apps from iOS and iPadOS are available on visionOS.[16] In addition to iPadOS and iOS apps, over 600 native visionOS apps have been developed specifically for the platform, according to Apple.[36] Apple also claims 100
Apple Arcade games will be compatible with visionOS at launch, the majority of which can make use of visionOS' gamepad compatibility.[24][37][38]
Some of the most popular entertainment apps for iOS and iPadOS including
Netflix,
Spotify, and
YouTube have not made their iOS or iPadOS apps available to run on visionOS, recommending users instead use their respective websites on Safari.[41] YouTube has announced that a visionOS app is "on [the] roadmap."[42]
Before the February 2024 launch, Apple gave controlled demos of the Apple Vision Pro to many technology journalists, some of whom have praised its multitasking capabilities and input methods, while lamenting that the software is only available on expensive hardware.[43] Other reviewers have focused on the software's spatial videos feature and high resolution, while questioning what the software's main use case will be.[44] Speculation from journalists noted ongoing disputes from the developers of popular apps regarding the commissions charged by Apple for in-app purchases through apps distributed on the App Store as a potential cause for many not developing visionOS-native versions.[45]
Release
Many reviews praised visionOS even while criticizing the hardware. Some reviews even mentioned features more advanced than the Apple Vision Pro hardware, such as eye and hand tracking.[46] Almost all key reviews praised the window mechanics and experience.[47][46]
Version history
Major visionOS releases
Release
Initial release date
visionOS 1
February 2, 2024
visionOS 2
Q3-Q4 2024
Previous release
Current release
Current beta release
visionOS 1
visionOS 1 is the first major version of the visionOS. It was announced in WWDC 2023 on June 5, 2023,[48] and was released on February 2, 2024, shipping with the Apple Vision Pro.[49]