I watched the Last of Us on Vision Pro — and now I'm torn about Apple's headset

Opinion
By Mark Spoonauer
last updated

Immersive? Check. Isolating? Yup.

A split-screen image of a man wearing Apple Vision Pro and Bella Ramsey in The Last of Us
(Image credit: Future)

“You gotta face reality. That part of your life, it’s ending. And what I’m offering you is a beginning. But if you can’t find a way to trust me…then, yes, you are alone.”

No, this isn’t something the Apple Vision Pro said to me as I watched the heart-wrenching episode 8 of The Last of Us. It’s a quote from David, a preacher who was trying to convince Ellie to join his cause. The twist to this quote I'd make with the Vision Pro is that if you trust it, then you're truly alone. 

I’ve been thinking about this part of the episode since I watched it through the Vision Pro headset over the weekend. I had an hour or two to kill and had fallen way behind on The Last of Us season 1, so what better way to catch up then through the immersive Max app on Apple’s headset?

Screenshot of The Last of Us in Apple Vision Pro

The Last of Us is very immersive in the Vision Pro Max app (Image credit: Future)

The Vision Pro is certainly offering a new beginning when it comes to entertainment. But every time I wear it for an extended period of time, I feel cut off from the world around me.

But let’s start with the positives. While I wish there were more Environment options in the Max app, I liked that I could choose the Iron Throne Room as my backdrop for watching The Last of Us. It’s like dread upon dread, and the video player itself looked movie theater-sized to my eyes as I leaned back on the sofa and took in the brutally cold hellscape that Ellie had to navigate to hunt for some food. 

Photo of golden retriever taken with Apple Vision Pro

My golden retriever is not a fan of the Vision Pro  (Image credit: Future)

Within the first 10 minutes, I got pulled out of the action as I felt my golden retriever started sniffing my hand and jumped up on the couch. Normally if I’m watching TV, he’ll just lay next to me but I think he was a bit freaked out by the Vision Pro’s snow goggle-like design and wanted to make sure I was okay. Eventually he settled down, but I was feeling a bit guilty going back into the episode.

With the Vision Pro, you’re there but not there.

As I got sucked in again to The Last of Us, I noticed how good the sound was through the Vision Pro, as I could hear the footsteps of a deer cracking a branch on the left side of the screen. This is Spatial Audio at work.

I felt completely immersed in the episode again, until my partner asked where I was. She was in the kitchen baking, and I was in the dining room — normally she could just hear the TV from the other room and know whether I was downstairs or not. But even though I was in the next room, she had no idea. With the Vision Pro, you’re there but not there.

I responded and then tried to finish the episode. Without trying to give too much away — in case you haven’t watched it yet — the Vision Pro delivered a crisp and smooth picture all the way through — even when Ellie fends off her attacker in a nearly blind but very justified rage. I felt like I was in the abandoned restaurant as it burned around Ellie and as she escaped and reunited with Joel, I felt a sense of relief. Relived that she was safe but also relieved I could make it through 51 minutes of amazing television with only 2 interruptions.

Mark Spoonauer wearing Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro felt pretty comfortable during the hour-long episode...physically (Image credit: Future)

Would I want to use the Vision Pro again to watch the finale and The Last of Us Season 2? I think so, but I may have to hole myself up in my bedroom to do it. Or announce to the household I'm about to go Vision Pro-ing. Both of which are weird things to do, I know. And that's why I keep going back to that quote from the pseudo-preacher David. 

Yes, the Vision Pro has social features in it, such as the ability to FaceTime with your Persona with others. And people can still see a digital copy of your eyes on the outside of the headset. But, for better or for worse, you are truly alone when you’re knee-deep in a movie or show on the Vision Pro. And I’m not sure how comfortable I am with that. 

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Mark Spoonauer
Mark Spoonauer

Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Fox Tread3
    February 28, 2024 - I find the subject of this article very interesting. I am of a generation that when watching TV, no talking was allowed "while the show is on." Normal life resumed during the commercial breaks. I have been led to believe that currently, people spend a lot of time talking with others while watching the same film or show. Actually, I used to talk on the telephone with my good friend who lived in another city. While we watched the same football games together. I have to wonder how people that are accustomed to chatting with others, while watching something. Will adjust to the "isolation" of viewing things using a Vision Pro. Personally, since I live alone, I would welcome the feeling of being immersed into what I am watching. This also brings into question of how will people that want to watch the same thing at the same time manage it? Will everyone have to have their own Vision Pro and stop from time to time. To discuss what they are watching together, but separately? Hmmm..🤔😊
    Reply
  • Mark Spoonauer
    Fox Tread3 said:
    February 28, 2024 - I find the subject of this article very interesting. I am of a generation that when watching TV, no talking was allowed "while the show is on." Normal life resumed during the commercial breaks. I have been led to believe that currently, people spend a lot of time talking with others while watching the same film or show. Actually, I used to talk on the telephone with my good friend who lived in another city. While we watched the same football games together. I have to wonder how people that are accustomed to chatting with others, while watching something. Will adjust to the "isolation" of viewing things using a Vision Pro. Personally, since I live alone, I would welcome the feeling of being immersed into what I am watching. This also brings into question of how will people that want to watch the same thing at the same time manage it? Will everyone have to have their own Vision Pro and stop from time to time. To discuss what they are watching together, but separately? Hmmm..🤔😊
    Thanks for your comment. It's a good question about what happens going forward. If devices like Vision Pro get more affordable it's conceivable the family could watch the same thing at the same time and chat using their Personas. Though that would be weird if they're in the same room :)
    Reply
  • BluesMessiah
    Oh look - another review of the Apple Vision Pro from someone with absolutely no knowledge of VR. Yes, it can be really awesome sitting in your living room and being in an entirely different virtual environment. I've been doing that with my Quest Go and each of the Quests (1, 2, and 3). There should be a disclaimer on these things at the beginning. It feels dishonest otherwise, like they are trying to convince people who truly have no knowledge of VR that this is something new and revolutionary that you need to have an Apple Vision Pro to experience.
    Reply
  • BluesMessiah
    Mark Spoonauer said:
    Thanks for your comment. It's a good question about what happens going forward. If devices like Vision Pro get more affordable it's conceivable the family could watch the same thing at the same time and chat using their Personas. Though that would be weird if they're in the same room :)
    Mark, I'm guessing that you have no experience with Virtual Reality until now. The exact experience being described in this article has been included in every VR headset since the release of the Oculus Go when Facebook first acquired the company nearly a decade ago. And even when new, the GO ran $200. It was designed specifically for video consumption just like this.
    Reply
  • Shareonline
    I think the review and question of isolation is fine in general, but it's wierd that these questions haven't been asked by the same people 10.years ago. I have to some extend agree with bluesmessiah on this..
    If Apple makes a more affordable headset down the line, guess what it would be.. The quest series.
    This is the iPhone saga all over again of course, so no reason to point it out really, but as a reviewer I think the standards have to be a little higher than normal. It is very clear that the reviewer probably only sees tech if it's made by Apple, otherwise the review would not have called this a revolution.

    I get that people have preferences and opinions, I absolutely do to. But the general close minded approach to tech in general (only if made by apple), is well, scary I would say.. As a reviewer at least be curious about tech in general. This is not applesguide.com hint hint :)

    Apple vision pro is not a revolution by any means or standards. It's impressive hardware for sure, but that has more to do with the price tag than it has innovation. I am sorry but the quest 3 doesn't have the same hardware or the same eco system, but my God it is the exact same thing packed into a cheaper package to cater to a broader audience.

    I am really impressed by the avp hardware and would so love to have the same hardware in my vr headset, but not at that price point for me. Everything above (I think) 2000 dollars would begin to feel stupid, as vr in general doesn't have the mass adoption it could have yet, and therefore is lacking content and quality in general.
    Reply
  • BluesMessiah
    Shareonline said:
    I think the review and question of isolation is fine in general, but it's wierd that these questions haven't been asked by the same people 10.years ago. I have to some extend agree with bluesmessiah on this..
    If Apple makes a more affordable headset down the line, guess what it would be.. The quest series.
    This is the iPhone saga all over again of course, so no reason to point it out really, but as a reviewer I think the standards have to be a little higher than normal. It is very clear that the reviewer probably only sees tech if it's made by Apple, otherwise the review would not have called this a revolution.

    I get that people have preferences and opinions, I absolutely do to. But the general close minded approach to tech in general (only if made by apple), is well, scary I would say.. As a reviewer at least be curious about tech in general. This is not applesguide.com hint hint :)

    Apple vision pro is not a revolution by any means or standards. It's impressive hardware for sure, but that has more to do with the price tag than it has innovation. I am sorry but the quest 3 doesn't have the same hardware or the same eco system, but my God it is the exact same thing packed into a cheaper package to cater to a broader audience.

    I am really impressed by the avp hardware and would so love to have the same hardware in my vr headset, but not at that price point for me. Everything above (I think) 2000 dollars would begin to feel stupid, as vr in general doesn't have the mass adoption it could have yet, and therefore is lacking content and quality in general.
    It's just been bizarre to me to watch. There are tech reviewers I have trusted and have looked to for years who just seem to suddenly have amnesia. It's not just he "immersive theater" thing - but other things people have been doing in VR for years that suddenly are being reported for the Vision Pro as if they are exclusive. I view the AVP as an auto show Concept Car, only they never actually release the Concept Cars to the public. Tim Cook threw everything they had into this headset knowing that anything that comes next will only include some of these features. But it's a great Concept Car.

    You mentioned the iPHone all over again - but there is a major difference and it's why I think you see all these strange reviews. That is, the iPhone did something revolutionary that no other could do at that time - it accessed the full internet. Before then even the Blackberry could only use certain sites. Even beyond the full touch screen and phone/ipod/internet device, it did provide something that would be very useful to the average user that couldn't be had anywhere else. And it was only $200 more than the Blackberry Pearl (not outrageously more than the nearest competitor as I see many saying. AND they reduced the price by $200 just 2 months into the lifespan after the initial burst in sales dried up).

    This is the difference between Tim Cook and Steve Jobs - Steve CREATED, Tim IMPROVES. Right now, AVPs big advantage for most users is the 'spatial computing" anchors. However, Meta has been releasing more and more previews of their own version of this to be released any day now. The Vision Pro definitely offers a more vivid image for those with the visual acuity to appreciate that level of definition, but I'm just not seeing "here's what the Vision Pro can do that you absolutely won't be able to do on another system", and that is a problem.

    That is also why Apple Marketing photoshopped every ad for the Vision Pro to make it look like the one thing that they were focused on PRE-Launch - the front facing OLED - actually worked very impressively. Once it released and everyone picked up on "hey, you have to be exactly in front of the person wearing the headset to see it", we saw the shift to these other things that aren't really new, just a little higher resolution.
    Reply