Apple is about to launch the Vision Pro headset in February 2024 and it promises to take mixed reality technology to new heights with its innovative design and powerful capabilities. However, one area that has raised some concerns is the Vision Pro’s battery life. Here’s what we know so far about the Vision Pro’s battery performance.
Vision Pro Battery Specs
According to Apple, the Vision Pro headset itself does not contain an internal battery. Instead, it relies on an external, removable “Magic Battery” pack that connects to the headset via a braided USB-C cable.
The capacity of this Magic Battery pack is estimated to be around 6,500 mAh based on regulatory filings. For comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a battery capacity of 4,323 mAh.
So, while the Vision Pro’s battery pack has a higher capacity, it also has to power much more energy-intensive components like dual 4K displays and an array of sensors.
Battery Life Estimates
Apple’s official battery life estimate for the Vision Pro Magic Battery is “up to 2 hours” of general use. General use cases include a mix of video playback, internet browsing, video capture, and FaceTime calls.
More recently, Apple updated the Vision Pro site with a battery life estimate of “up to 2.5 hours” specifically for video playback. This was based on testing 2D movie content from the Apple TV app using one of the headset’s virtual “Environment” backgrounds.
So, in practice, you can expect somewhere between 2-2.5 hours of usage on a single Magic Battery charge, depending on what you are doing in the headset. Activities like gaming or using more graphically-intensive apps may result in battery life closer to the 2 hour mark.
Charging and Power Options
The Magic Battery pack itself can be charged via the included USB-C cable and power adapter. Apple states that when plugged in, the Vision Pro is designed for “all-day” use – presumably meaning you can use it indefinitely while charging.
Early teardowns also suggest the Magic Battery pack is removable and swappable. So users could potentially buy additional spare battery packs to extend their untethered usage time.
There’s also the option to connect any USB-C power bank to the Magic Battery for portable charging. However, most power banks would add significant weight and bulk to carry around.
Battery Life Concerns
The Vision Pro’s maximum untethered battery life is quite limited compared to many other headsets on the market. For example, the Meta Quest Pro promises 1-2 hours of active use or 7+ hours of media viewing.
This short battery runtime could be frustrating for users who want to move freely and immerse themselves in longer experiences. It also means you’ll need to stay near a power source to use the Vision Pro for extended periods.
On the other hand, Apple has prioritized minimizing weight and eliminating an internal battery to allow for a slimmer, more balanced design. This could improve long-term comfort and usability.
What’s the Future?
Given that the Vision Pro is only the first generation of Apple’s mixed reality headset, we can expect the battery technology to improve dramatically in future iterations.
As Apple VP Mike Rockwell said, “We wanted to get this into customers’ hands and start getting feedback…to accelerate and improve the product from here.”
So while the battery life isn’t exceptional right now, Apple is playing the long game with the Vision Pro. And with their vast resources and expertise, more advanced batteries and power management are sure to come.
