Apple is already working on visionOS 3.0 and visionOS 2.4

AppleInsider

Following the release of the visionOS 2.3 developer beta on Monday, we now have evidence that Apple is already working on the next major versions of the Apple Vision Pro operating system.

Apple is already working on visionOS 3.0, according to references accidentally left in sample documentation.

visionOS

is the operating system for the Apple Vision Pro. The device is Apple's first attempt at a virtual reality headset, with the company's CEO Tim Cook calling it an "early adopter product." Following the visionOS 1.0 release, visionOS 2 became available to the general public on September 16, 2024.

The latest publicly available build of the Apple Vision Pro operating system is the visionOS 2.3 developer beta. Internally, however, Apple is already developing visionOS 3, the next major software update for its headset.

As discovered by AppleInsider, the company accidentally included a reference to the unreleased operating system in the documentation for a sample project, available on the Apple website. Another sample project referenced visionOS 2.4, which is expected to debut in 2025. In both cases, the platform target referenced unreleased operating system versions rather than the expected visionOS 2.2.

There are currently no details about the contents or features of either unreleased operating system, though various bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements will almost certainly be included. The Apple Vision Pro notably lacks support for Apple Intelligence features, despite the device featuring the Apple M2 chip.

On iPad and Mac devices with the same Apple Silicon system-on-chip, Apple Intelligence powers a wide variety of generative AI features. This includes Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, and more, which are all available on iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, as well as macOS Sequoia. It remains to be seen whether visionOS 3.0 will introduce any Apple Intelligence features to the existing Apple Vision Pro headset.

Of course, it is obvious that Apple has been working on visionOS 3.0 and other future versions of the operating system. This slip-up is just the first indication of the future version numbers from Apple.



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pema

This is indeed good news. Vision Pro in its current form is clearly not a commercially viable product. It was rushed out the door to deflect from the demise of the Apple Car. That said, it still comprised of the best quality materials and construction - vintage Apple - but at $3500 per unit it was way too expensive. 

If VisionOS 3.0 means the Apple buyers will be getting a streamlined version of Vision Pro with a head band like Resmed's Kontour, features to boot and content and use case to make it compelling, especially at $1995 a unit. I am in. Perhaps 2026 will be the year that Apple defines the standard for Mixed Reality headsets the way that it did for  Smartphones, Tablets, Wireless earbuds, Music, Watches etc. etc. etc. 

And perhaps 2026 will be the year that Apple resurrects the Apple Car as Software to manage EVs worldwide regardless of the car manufacturer. 

jvm156

I mean I would hope so, they only have a few months to go til unveiling lol

fidonet127

Pema said:

This is indeed good news. Vision Pro in its current form is clearly not a commercially viable product. It was rushed out the door to deflect from the demise of the Apple Car. That said, it still comprised of the best quality materials and construction - vintage Apple - but at $3500 per unit it was way too expensive. 

If VisionOS 3.0 means the Apple buyers will be getting a streamlined version of Vision Pro with a head band like Resmed's Kontour, features to boot and content and use case to make it compelling, especially at $1995 a unit. I am in. Perhaps 2026 will be the year that Apple defines the standard for Mixed Reality headsets the way that it did for  Smartphones, Tablets, Wireless earbuds, Music, Watches etc. etc. etc. 

And perhaps 2026 will be the year that Apple resurrects the Apple Car as Software to manage EVs worldwide regardless of the car manufacturer. 

These are indicators newer versions of Vision OS is being worked on already, not any indicator of what the hardware will be, nor the cost point. Apple always has to work on new versions early. It is just Apple slipped up a little and reveled that they are working on them.

kiltedgreen

Evidence is hardly needed. The idea that Apple developed Vision Pro, released visionOS 2.0 and then decided to call it a day is bizarre as evidenced by the last line of the article “Of course, it is obvious that Apple has been working on visionOS 3.0” and you don’t need a slip-up in documentation to be 99.9% sure it’s the case!

octomonkey

Will visionOS 3.0 still support the original Vision Pro?  or are they already obsoleting the original Vision Pro in favor of Vision Pro 2?

tht

OctoMonkey said:

Will visionOS 3.0 still support the original Vision Pro?  or are they already obsoleting the original Vision Pro in favor of Vision Pro 2?

It would be a surprise to see a Vision Pro 2 in late 2025, so it’s basically guaranteed that visionOS 3 will support the 2024 AVP.

visionOS 5 will support the 2024 AVP. 

mattinoz

OctoMonkey said:

Will visionOS 3.0 still support the original Vision Pro?  or are they already obsoleting the original Vision Pro in favor of Vision Pro 2?

VisionOS 6.0 will probably support original visionPro. Series 1 Apple Watch was supported up to OS6.3 for example.

mpantone

OctoMonkey said:

Will visionOS 3.0 still support the original Vision Pro?  or are they already obsoleting the original Vision Pro in favor of Vision Pro 2?

Apple's normal policy is to provide the latest operating system support for 6-7 years after a hardware model launches, followed by two more years of security updates.

For example, the six-year old iPhone Xs (launched 2018) is supported by iOS 18. When Apple stops supporting this model with the latest software, it will still offer two generations of iOS security updates. Apple is still serving up security updates for iOS 16 and iOS 17 right now.

This is pretty much a blanket policy for all of their hardware product families, including iPad, Macs, the aforementioned Apple Watch and more. Especially with a $3500 price tag, Apple would upset some very rich customers (many of them enterprise customers) if they dropped OS support for the original AVP so quickly. They really need to support the AVP the same manner as their other product lines.

My hunch is this a fundamental concept in Apple's software engineering philosophy so there is no confusion from individual employees. All of Apple's software engineers know the code they're working on must have ongoing compatibility/support over a predictable period of time. That way some engineer writing USB drivers for Device A doesn't stop updating their code before the engineer who writes audio subsystem code for the same device.

This sort of long-term planned engineering roadmap is what one should expect from a Fortune 10 engineering team. The senior management doesn't randomly wake up one day and decide to obsolete software just because their English muffin got a little charred.

edited December 2024

miiwtwo

Apple has to be working on a better price if they wanna get a "Big win" 

danox

Believe it or not, Apple is iterating across all their product lines. What is it in the last 25 years that says otherwise??

macgui

miiwtwo said:

Apple has to be working on a better price if they wanna get a "Big win" 

They're not worried about a 'big win'. You can do that for them.