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Apple Releases New visionOS Beta Ahead of Sending Out Vision Pro Dev Kits

Apple today released a second beta of visionOS, the software that will run on the future Vision Pro headset. The first beta came out in June, so it has been available to developers to experiment with for a full month.

Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta
Because no developers have access to Vision Pro headsets at this time, testing on an actual Apple device is not possible. As of now, the SDK can be accessed through the latest Xcode beta in a virtual capacity.


Apple plans to provide select developers with Vision Pro headsets for app development purposes in the coming weeks. Apple yesterday began accepting applications from developers who are hoping to get one of the development kits. Apple will give developers Vision Pro "loaner" headsets that can be used to develop and test apps. The headsets will need to be returned to Apple at some point, and Apple is asking developers to keep the headsets locked up when not in use.

App development must be done in a private, secure workspace accessible only by the developers who are approved to work with the Vision Pro, rules that will perhaps keep additional headset details from leaking. Registered developers can apply for a test kit on Apple's website.

Apple plans to evaluate each application and priority will be given to applicants developing apps that take advantage of visionOS features and capabilities. Vision Pro is expected to launch sometime in early 2024, so developers have six to nine months to work on apps.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Neutral)
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Top Rated Comments

43 months ago
The vision Pro reminds me of those portable hair dryers from the 70s that woman used to use 😂



Attachment Image
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
43 months ago

The vision Pro reminds me of those portable hair dryers from the 70s that woman used to use 😂


My grandmother used one of those :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
43 months ago
Feel like Apple showed this way too soon, this isn't in the cultural zeitgeist right now, no mentions of the product on social media really, hype seems to have basically disappeared
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
43 months ago
Exciting times!

Not long from now, MacRumors will be all:

"visionOS updates are usually minor in scale, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the visionOS update, and no features were found during the beta testing process."
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Surf Monkey Avatar
43 months ago

My grandmother used one of those :)
Mine too. She had several. Said they didn’t work great but still used them.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
43 months ago

I was thinking the EXACT same thing lol.

I mean I know it’s a while away and the dev kits aren’t out yet, but man…

the hype is not there. even on rumor sites I don’t see many articles about it.

I think it’ll definitely pick up steam as time goes on (as usual), but right now… it’s not really a thought.
It will be like the barbie movie. People knew about it vaguely but as it got closer the marketing strategy was world class and suddenly every woman in America was talking about it and it went from a movie people thought would be a dud to a box office juggernaut. Apple gave a preview but the hype train hasn't even started down the tracks.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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