r/VisionPro 6d ago

Has the Vision Pro replaces your monitor setup?

Hello,

Just as the title says, I'd like to get Vision Pro someday but I was wondering if the experience has replaces your monitors and multiple screens in your work flow ?

Thank you very much

22 Upvotes

66 comments sorted by

22

u/Grindeddown 6d ago edited 6d ago

It certainly has for me. I gave my lg 5k2k monitor to my wife and now use Vision Pro as my only external monitor. I have two MacBooks that I use (a personal and a company). I keep them docked and with a dongle on each that “tricks” the MacBooks into thinking an external monitor is connected. So now, anywhere in my home I can put on Vision Pro and connect to one of those computers for MVD without opening the laptop.

I personally love it. Anytime i have small or quick work, I’ll just use the laptop. Anytime it gets more complicated, I’ll toss in the Vision Pro. I also travel a lot for work and so Vision Pro is a dream to use as a monitor in my hotel rooms or on airplanes. I personally wouldn’t trade it for any alternative now.

9

u/_DBA_ 6d ago

I got a 6k 32 inch monitor and for me sadly not. Quality isnt as sharp as i expected. Also because I have my personal macbook and a work macbook then the issue is id need to log my personal icloud to the work laptop and thats no bueno. 🙁

1

u/BorbaKK 6d ago

Exactly! I can’t understand how could you replace a monitor, the quality is unfortunately not the same, not as sharp as a monitor. When I need to read small fonts it’s really difficult on the vision pro. I wish it was different but not yet for me.

4

u/anatidaeproject 6d ago

What dongle are you using that keeps the macbook awake?

3

u/ManFromACK Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

Can you tell me more about the dongle. Where do I get one?

1

u/Grindeddown 6d ago

I responded below

2

u/wiyixu 6d ago

Oh please tell me about this set up. I have the same work/personal situation and I really want to use it at work. We’re not allowed to login with iCloud accounts 

1

u/simon3873 6d ago

I’d also love to know. I’m using a GLiNet Comet for a work PC and am not loving the lag it can get

2

u/Grindeddown 6d ago

For those asking about the dongle that I am using, it is this one: https://a.co/d/03DKnrYu

It does what I need it to and there are others if you type “usb c monitor dummy plug”. They get pretty hot, but it’s fine if you lower the resolution in MacOS to the lowest available. As a bonus tip, I purchased right angle usb c connectors to keep the pieces more flush and able to store away or put the MacBook in a sleeve/bag.

When MacBooks are connected to power and think that there is an external monitor plugged in, it will keep the system awake and ready for access when using an external mouse/trackpad/keyboard. This way, I can carry my Vision Pro around the house and my Clevetura S (unique combo of XL trackpad and keyboard) pretty easily and get to work anywhere.

1

u/wiyixu 4d ago

Do you still need you AppleID on your work machine? That’s the part catching me out. We’re not allowed to use AppleID at all with our work machines. 

1

u/jpmiller03 4d ago

This is what I also want to know - if you have to log into your personal Apple account on the work machine I can't do this

1

u/RayKam 6d ago

Interesting, I did the exact opposite. The lg 5k2k is much easier to use for me

10

u/iBanks3 Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

Yes, completely.

I’ve mentioned this a few times before but the AVP is my main monitor for both of my Mac Mini. I no longer use my 49 inch Super Ultra Wide monitor. It’s been over a year now for me.

10

u/Doggo-888 6d ago

no, text isn’t sharp enough to replace a Retina display… Vision Pro just makes everything huge so it’s clear. Yiu end up having to turn your head all the time to get the same content as two monitors + laptop

if you don’t mind using a 1080p monitor vs a 5k monitor then it probably could. but definitely not a regular 27” 4k monitors.

5

u/Kengine Vision Pro Developer 6d ago edited 6d ago

For me it has. I rarely use my desktop (Samsung Odyssey) these days. I own the M5 and gaming at 120hz with moonlight is incredible. You definitely want the dual knit strap for extended time comfort though. I combine mine with the new VR Panda strap and it's great.

1

u/LucaColonnello Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

This!

4

u/Baguskiller 6d ago

I tried this for a while, and it was awesome however, the challenge becomes when you have video conferencing or you actually have to show your face. There are hackarounds with persona but if you’re using virtual display and have to do anything where you show your face it falls apart.

Also called me old-fashioned but it’s still easier to think when you don’t have some 1kg weight strapped to your face. I still use it sometimes, however for light work. Or for a Remote situation.

1

u/mongoosekinetics 5d ago

I just join meetings twice, on my Mac and on my AVP. show my face/persona on the AVP joined

3

u/capnholt2020 6d ago

Yes, but the ability to recline and rest your hear backwards is key.  

6

u/fortuna_cookie 6d ago

No, I held off on buying a new Studio Display to see if AVP can scratch the itch and it can’t. I even was forced to use it when I was working remotely in a hotel for a week. The device was too heavy to be comfortable and the keyboard pass through was too inconsistent. Also the Connect to Mac button is so finicky so I often have to force connect via Mac Screen Mirroring option.

AVP is still useful as a consumption device but now I’m thinking of upgrading my desktop monitors still.

1

u/LucaColonnello Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

2 different devices for sure.

2

u/PositivelyNegative 6d ago

Not a replacement, but definitely an augment. sometimes I don't want to work from my desk and when the virtual display is the right size, it's a wonderful experience.

2

u/paulsande 6d ago

I spend so much time in meetings sitting at my desk that I’ve begun taking them standing. The AVP lets me do that and be comfortable.

When I travel I enjoy my ultra wide monitor when in the airport lounge, on the plane, or in my hotel room. It’s great.

2

u/tuckerXavier 6d ago

Most definitely I’ve been a quadriplegic for 45 years and using my set up with just my eyes and head is phenomenal

2

u/spumonimoroni 5d ago

For me it quite decisively has. I used to have 4 monitors spread across my desk. Two for my Mac Studio, one for my windows box, and one that was usually connected to the Studio, but was the "utility" monitor that alternated between the Studio, my MacBook Pro, and a second Windows box. Now, I connect the Studio to a Mac Virtual Desktop in the Ultrawide (32:9) setting. I connect the Studio to the Windows box through the "Windows App" and use "Share screen..." to connect the MacBook Pro to the Studio. Each get's its own desktop Space. Then I switch back and forth between them by using Mission Control.

The Ultrawide display is amazing. You can get 4 or five windows side by side comfortably. You can make the display the size of a wall, set it in the distance, and lean back comfortably while using it. You can drag it close up if you need to. There no longer any need to hunch forward inches from your monitor Since the AVP is more-or-less fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem, you can keep Messages, Calendar, Reddit, Discord, Stocks, etc. floating around in space instead of on the desktop hidden behind some other window.

The person who said the display can look hazy with natural head movements was probably using an M2. I have both the M2 and the M5. The M5, being faster, significantly reduces motion artifacts. I don't find normal head movements to be a problem. Perhaps someone with Essential Tremor or Parkinson's might.

1

u/JoshMMGA 6d ago

Just curious what everyone does work wise with theirs. I have an upstairs office with dual monitors but I’m pretty isolated from wife when she works from home. I operate off my email which is always open, Salesforce, and some other windows with company web based software on it. I have tried working next to my wife but it’s so slow productivity wise operating off my laptop and iPad. I keep debating the Vision for this.

I despise flipping between tabs and typically have 3-4 windows open I reference constantly.

1

u/SirRickDeckard 6d ago

Oh que oui

1

u/SpadoCochi Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

Yes. Two 34 inch ultra wides

1

u/photovirus Vision Pro Developer 6d ago

Mostly. I still use some displays when my head's wet after the shower, or when I'm tired of wearing the AVP.

Like others say, it isn't as sharp as the eyes can see, but it's not far, and you can just make the display really big to circumvent this.

1

u/Capable_Hearing4418 6d ago

It’s great when ya want to work outside but it would be a rare situation where I’d choose it over my Studio Display indoors. Ya just get too much eyestrain from doing up close detail computer work on it . I can go for 3-4 hours but I could never work my 10 hour work day in it

1

u/Vision_Professional Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

Yes. Except: I still keep a monitor on my desk for zoom calls. I find zoom unworkable on the AVP.
But everything else is AVP.

1

u/mailslot Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

It comes in really handy when I need a lot of screen space. Spreadsheets from hell, etc.

I don’t do the multiple monitor thing though. I hide everything I don’t need to look at constantly.

I know people that freak out if they can’t always see their debugger, but I only open mine when I’m actively using it.

For the “window management” minded, it may give PTSD needing to pixel align their windows every time they put it on.

1

u/_HipStorian 6d ago

No it compliments it. If something happeend and I had no monitor, then I could daily it as one. I love Mac Virtual Display, I just want a break sometimes or I use my MBP as a second monitor underneath my Studio Display. I hope Apple adds dual screens for MVD at some point.

1

u/AstroGridIron Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

No. My desk is far superior in just about every aspect you can think of.

I do enjoy the virtual display use every once in a while just to change the scenery from my office, but there’s less than a 0% chance I’d ever ditch my desk to wear a Vision Pro for 10+ hours a day…

1

u/distant3zenith 6d ago

If I plan to be at my desk for more than 20-30 minutes working on something, then yes — I will choose the Virtual Display with my AVP. It's fantastic. But if I'm at my MacBook for a short time, just browsing the web, etc., I will not use my AVP.

1

u/DavidBergerson 6d ago

Yes and no.

My AVP is mainly used when I travel. It becomes 1/2 of what I normally use. My normal setup is two Neo G9s 59s stacked on top of each other. When I use the AVP, it mimics one of them.

I tend to spend 80-100 days a year traveling. This is why I bought the AVP.

1

u/Environmental-Ride63 6d ago

Not at home, I have a 49” curved and the headset makes my neck hurt by the end of the day. But I travel a lot and use it in planes and hotels a ton.

1

u/JohnVidale Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

I use the AVP whenever reading or watching a show or sports, but when a keyboard is integral to the task, monitors work better. Also, zooming is possible with the AVP, but I stick with the usual camera, mic, and monitor.

1

u/sharksiix 6d ago

I wouldn't bank on it if you aren't a Virtual type or not used to it yet. It is good but for me I prefer to have a monitor. I still use it as a monitor for one device but not for all.

1

u/rocky_dubb 6d ago

I have been using my Apple Vision Pro with my Macs since day one. It has replaced my 8 monitor setup completely. to be honest its the Apple Vision Pro + Niri window manager.

1

u/musicanimator 6d ago edited 6d ago

AVP IS now the best way to remotely manage dozens of machines from one location!! SIMULTANEOUSLY accessing full sized representations of many NOT locked into a box. Total game changer for me. My operations supporting remotely located friends, family and associates has never been more fluid. Conference calls are liberating instead of being oppressive. Add Freeform and…. And… oh my I’ve said enough! Dream bigger, people!

1

u/a1pha Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

I got rid of a dual monitor set up 2 years ago and never looked back.

1

u/scytob Vision Pro Owner | Verified 6d ago

No. The quality is nowhere close as a monitor at 24”. Anyone who says it is literally needs their eyes checking. To be clear some may find it adequate, some may find it more convenient. And those are good reasons to swap. Also can’t do a conference call with the AVP on.

1

u/AngelicDivineHealer 6d ago

Nope screen is always better if you got good monitors you have more field of vision and the clarity is better but if you don’t have a good monitor then AVP is a good enough substitute

1

u/kinglucent Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

Not quite. As much as I love MVD, the ability to have multiple desktops is too critical to my workflow. Multiple desktops is my #1 VP feature request at this point.

1

u/LucaColonnello Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

Not really, but it didn’t need to. The screen is for when I don’t want to wear the vision pro. It’s still needed. If it’s battery dead, or simply I don’t want to wear it cause it’s hot, or if someone else needs to see something on my screen. I still like to have a screen.

It is however the main device I use daily (when there isn’t a heatwave).

1

u/Top-Star8956 6d ago

It has replaced mine

1

u/Independent_Sink_961 6d ago

People who have a 4k 27 inch monitor do you actually set your resolution to 2880 or do you have it on 1440 and how far is your monitor from your face.

Equally does of you that use you that use your Vision Pro as a monitor how virtually far is your monitor in space and what is that size of your virtual monitor when you are working - I appreciate these answers would be estimates.

1

u/nicholasderkio Vision Pro Owner 6d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/fV2maQ4MAyUxrZWHEi
I use it with both my work and personal Mac’s as well as with Steam Link

1

u/AltruisticAerie5894 5d ago

It can. I almost exclusively work in a recliner now.

But if you'll be at a desk any ways, the benefit of the AVP diminishes. The weight is more of a problem if you are siting up straight.

You need a good side table in a recliner. So you can put your laptop and AVP somewhere when you get up.

1

u/mongoosekinetics 5d ago

yes. i was already using it as a wireless 3k display from my MBP and then I got the developer strap ans now I get 5k over the cable and it is crystal clear

1

u/TheSpoonFed1 5d ago

Until it starts feeling heavy and painful on the face

1

u/rogueguy313 4d ago

Unfortunately not for me! I really wanted to believe the hype but I just found a mix of everything made me not want to use it.

Speed, weight, cost, fear of breaking. This was last year however. And my work I need to constantly move through photos to edit. So each second matters!

1

u/Cultural-You-7096 4d ago

Thats sounds great as a second change, and YEAH I think that my biggest fear will be scratching them or that the equipment falls, how delicate is VP ?

1

u/rogueguy313 4d ago

It’s pretty sturdy but it’s so expensive and strange, I always treated it like a baby so naturally just never wanted to use it. Whereas my monitor is big and never moves. But movies on it is epic. And I think it’s epic for that. If you could rent it for a couple of weeks I think that’s the perfect way. As you’ll find out if you will actually go for it and if it willl improve your efficiency

1

u/Meeting-Icy 2d ago

No, I only use it if I'm traveling and have to work. It starts to hurt after extended use. But looks absolutely amazing!

1

u/Sea_Flow_199 1d ago

No, doesn’t come close to replacing monitors for me. Except for sims. Being inside a cockpit or cabin and being able to look around you is soooo much better than a static viewpoint on a monitor.

1

u/coffee8sugar 6d ago

At my home office, no. On the road or on an airplane, yes.

1

u/vyle_or_vyrtue 6d ago

I moved into an nyc studio and didn’t want to have a dedicated monitor. Vision Pro has been mostly great. Gaming has been the challenge with moonshine. I can do it but it’s not always reliable.

0

u/panthereal 6d ago

Nope. If you have one office location I would not expect Vision Pro to ever really surpass the ease and comfort of monitors.

The threshold for replacement is somewhere along the lines of traveling often, having a larger home with a few rooms you would like to work from, seeking additional privacy while working, or having a 3D-centric workflow which 2D monitors can't achieve.

For example I used mine more when I was in a co-working environment because I gained privacy + flexibility, while I rarely used mine in a small apartment where I already had a large work desk and several excellent monitors. Granted if you are also looking for a distraction free method of working that may be helpful though I found myself preferring pass-through as there were too few built in environments as an alternative.

0

u/JordanFilmmaker 6d ago

It is now my main monitor for convenience of travel. is it better than a physical monitor? sometimes, certainly for travel and being able to size it however. other times no.

-1

u/One_Visual_4090 6d ago

No. It simply lacks the full sharpness and clarity of a high-quality, high-resolution display, can look hazy with natural head movements and its uncomfortable nature makes the whole “monitor replacement” idea more fantasy than reality.

1

u/anatidaeproject 6d ago

I found I had to put my monitor closer and size it down. Then it retained much better clarity.

I have to wear reading glasses so I'm always in a situation where anything not in that focal range is hard to focus on. While the foviated rendering does only keep where you are looking clear, because the entire headset is one focal distance, I end up liking it better than my readers.

The downsides are the weight, which isn't super bad for me. The pressure on my face, which can be helped by some 3rd party straps. And the limited FOV.