Apple on Monday unveiled visionOS 26, its upcoming update to the Apple Vision Pro’s software. The update brings new spatial experiences, making everyday interactions more immersive.
The update adds widgets that integrate into a user’s space, spatial scenes that use generative AI to add depth to photos, enhancements that make Personas feel more natural and familiar, and shared spatial experiences for Vision Pro users in the same room.
“Apple Vision Pro has defined what’s possible in this new era of spatial computing, and with visionOS 26, we’re excited to push the boundaries even further,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision Products Group. “With brand-new ways for Vision Pro owners to connect, explore, work together, and enjoy content, we’re incredibly excited for users to enjoy features like apps and widgets that they can arrange in their spaces, spatial scenes that offer a brand-new viewing experience for their photos, and dramatically enhanced Personas on Vision Pro.”
Spatial Widgets
visionOS 26 brings spatial widgets that integrate seamlessly into a user’s space and whenever they put on their Apple Vision Pro. Widgets are customizable, with a variety of options for frame width, color, and depth. New widgets — including Clock, Weather, Music, and Photos — all offer unique interactions and experiences.
Users can decorate their spaces with their favorite widgets, including panoramas and spatial photos of memories, clocks with distinctive face designs, and quick access to their go-to playlists and songs on Apple Music. The Widgets app helps users find widgets, including those from compatible iOS and iPadOS apps. Developers will be able to create their own widgets using WidgetKit.
Improved Shared Spatial Experiences
visionOS 26 allows users to share spatial experiences with other Apple Vision Pro users in the same room, allowing them to come together to watch a movie in 3D, play a spatial game, or collaborate with coworkers. Remote participants from across the world can participate via FaceTime.
Personas
visionOS 26 Personas are more natural and familiar. Personas now have striking expressivity and sharpness, offering a full side profile view, and accurate hair, lashes, and complexion. Personas can still be created on device in a matter of seconds.
Spatial Scenes
visionOS 26 makes spatial photos more realistic, leveraging a new generative AI algorithm and computational depth to create spatial scenes with multiple perspectives, letting users feel like they can lean in and look around.
Users can view spatial scenes in the Photos app, Spatial Gallery app, and Safari, and developers can use the Spatial Scene API in their own apps.
PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller Support
visionOS 26 also introduces support for the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller. Now, developers can deliver even more engaging gameplay experiences for Apple Vision Pro, with high-performance motion tracking in 6 degrees of freedom, finger touch detection, and vibration support.
Availability
All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program.
