Apple Vision Pro was set to usher in the era of ‘spatial computing’ for ordinary users, but three years after its launch, it is clear that it has not become a mass-market product. Apple does not publish its sales figures. According to IDC, as cited by the *Financial Times*, around 390,000 units were shipped in 2024, whilst a mere 45,000 units were forecast for the final quarter of 2025. In October 2025, Apple updated the device with an M5 processor, and the price in Germany currently starts at 3,699 euros.
A far more interesting development scenario is emerging in the field of medicine. During the first European Spatial Computing Healthcare Summit in Leipzig, Fraunhofer IWU and the local university hospital demonstrated solutions using Vision Pro for surgical navigation. Images from MRI, CT scans or other imaging systems can be fed directly into the surgeon’s field of view.
The benefits are beginning to be quantifiable. A study linked to UC San Diego, published in July 2026, analysed 32 endoscopic procedures. Operations using Vision Pro lasted an average of 34.4 minutes, compared with 42.7 minutes using a traditional monitor – around 19 per cent shorter. No complications were reported, and doctors reported feeling less strain. The authors note, however, that the study was small and non-randomised.
For Apple, this does not yet represent a business breakthrough. The medical sector will not replicate the scale of the iPhone market, but it could transform the role of the Vision Pro from an expensive consumer device into a specialist platform for hospitals, engineering and industry. If further studies confirm time savings and improved ergonomics, demand for certified medical apps and cheaper XR devices may increase.
