What visionOS 26 Means for Apple Vision Pro

July 17, 2025 VRNerd

Apple has previewed the next iteration of its visionOS Apple Vision Pro operating system, the first to be named for its year of release. visionOS 26 brings numerous updates and enhancements designed to maintain Apple Vision Pro’s often tenuous position as a popular advanced MR (or spatial computing) device.

visionOS 26 features — Apple has announced a fall release of visionOS 26, which has already begun beta testing. [Image: Apple]

Shared Spatial Experiences

One popular feature of Apple Vision Pro is its ability to allow users to share in a spatial experience. If two or more users are in the same room they can watch a 3D movie, collaborate on a virtual project, or play AR games together. visionOS 26 improves this feature and now allows more users than ever to participate via remote connections courtesy of FaceTime.

For design, engineering, and creative professionals, this opportunity for enhanced remote collaboration is a marked improvement over traditional video meetings, allowing them to observe and discuss detailed 3D rendered objects and products as if they were situated in front of them.

Two people at Dassault Systèmes utilizing Apple Vision Pro's shared VR experience features — Companies like Dassault Systèmes are already utilizing Apple Vision Pro’s shared VR experience features; visionOS 26 will improve quality and add remote participants. [Image: Apple]

Another upgrade to video conferencing with Apple Vision Pro comes courtesy of significantly improved Persona avatars. Photorealistic avatars for remote communication have long been a feature promised to users. visionOS 26 delivers the most detailed and realistic avatars yet, with enhanced expressiveness, full profile views, accurate rendering of hair and complexion, and a lighting fast generation speed.

visionOS 26's upgraded Persona avatars — Offering a huge increase in photorealism, visionOS 26’s upgraded Persona avatars facilitate more effective real-time 3D video conferencing. [Image: Apple]

Spatial Scene Capture

Zillow Immersive with the Apple Vision Pro — Zillow Immersive allows prospective buyers and renters more detailed visual access to properties of interest via Apple Vision Pro. [Image: Zillow]

Spatial image and video capturing was a highly touted feature of Apple Vision Pro and with visionOS 26, that feature set sees significant improvement. Utilizing a new generative AI algorithm to capture and convey spatial scenes with multiple viewing perspectives, users can now explore spatial environments more fully than ever before. Online real estate market Zillow is already using this feature to better its services. Zillow Immersive allows users to explore properties with greater depth of access than ever.

Gamers in Control

The big news for gamers is that visionOS 26 will add support for PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers. This brings 6-DoF, haptic support, and finger touch detection to the system for the first time and will no doubt be eagerly embraced by Vision Pro’s gaming community.

Another peripheral added to visionOS 26’s compatibility list is Logitech Muse, a stylus often employed in creative pursuits. Continuing to offer a wider array of peripherals and controllers will no doubt extend the lifespan of Vision Pro.

Spatial Widgets and Other Wonders

Widgets, the contained app displays and access points so crucial to most Apple ecosystems, make the spatial leap in visionOS 26 and can now be placed anywhere within a virtual space. Placing widgets on walls and desktops bears a strong resemblance to our actual living and working spaces, just with obviously more customization potential.

Eye scrolling is also added in visionOS 26, allowing users to quite literally use their eyes to scroll though apps, documents, and websites.

Testing of visionOS 26 beta 3 by developers began in early July with rollout of the finished OS due in fall ’25.