Apple Claims Vision Pro SDK Downloads Exceeded Expectations Amid Developer Lab Attendance Concerns

Downloads of the visionOS software development kit (SDK) apparently surpassed Apple's expectations, despite previously reported concerns about developer interest in the Vision Pro headset.

Vision Pro lab
In an interview with Digital Trends, Apple executives indicated that there has been a high level of interest in Vision Pro from developers. The affirmation comes on the heels of concerns highlighted by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last month claiming that the developer labs have been "under-filled with small amounts of developers." Apple is not offering U.S. developer labs outside of Cupertino, which means any developer that wants to try the Vision Pro must travel to Apple's headquarters in California.

Apple refrained from directly addressing these reports, but Apple vice president of worldwide developer relations Susan Prescott pointed out that there was an "extremely high, three-digit customer satisfaction for the labs that we've run so far."

Steve Sinclair, senior director of product marketing for Apple Vision Pro, also told Digital Trends that "the number of SDK downloads has exceeded our expectations," purportedly indicating that Vision Pro has been very popular among developers. The visionOS simulator has been available since late June, allowing developers to begin building and testing apps for the device ahead of its launch in early 2024.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Monday December 1, 2025 2:40 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 18 Pro Leak Adds New Evidence for Under-Display Face ID

Monday December 8, 2025 4:54 am PST by
Apple is actively testing under-screen Face ID for next year's iPhone 18 Pro models using a special "spliced micro-transparent glass" window built into the display, claims a Chinese leaker. According to "Smart Pikachu," a Weibo account that has previously shared accurate supply-chain details on Chinese Android hardware, Apple is testing the special glass as a way to let the TrueDepth...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Johny Srouji

Apple Chip Chief Johny Srouji Could Be Next to Go as Exodus Continues

Sunday December 7, 2025 10:41 am PST by
Apple's senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji could be the next leading executive to leave the company amid an alarming exodus of leading employees, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Srouji apparently recently told CEO Tim Cook that he is "seriously considering leaving" in the near future. He intends to join another company if he departs. Srouji leads Apple's chip design ...
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Apple John Ternus 2019

Will John Ternus Really Be Apple's Next CEO?

Friday December 5, 2025 9:01 am PST by
There is uncertainty about Apple's head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding Tim Cook as CEO, The Information reports. Some former Apple executives apparently hope that a new "dark-horse" candidate will emerge. Ternus is considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Cook as CEO. The report notes that he is more likely to become CEO than software head chief Craig Federighi, ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...

Top Rated Comments

goonie4life9 Avatar
30 months ago
More of Apple’s tutti-frutti, phoney baloney, plastic banana, good time, rock-n-roll PR nonsense. Apple makes great products and I really don’t understand their insistence on using these vague statements. It’s like they don’t believe in their own products and are trying to add a facade to what otherwise would be bland products.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rodney Dangerfield Avatar
30 months ago

I want to try it, I am sure it will be great, but I don’t see how it would be a mainstream hit with that price. It’s not like people have some $3500 in their pocket to burn. People put up with price hike of iPhone because they need a phone and the alternative is android. People don’t really “need” Vision Pro.

This will be a niche product, and developers don’t spend their time developing for niche product. They will need to find ways to bring down the price to macbook air (or macbook Pro) range to consider it as Mac alternative / media player.
Disagree...Apple has hit a HOME RUN with Vision Pro and can always reduce the price!

For people with disabilities (like me with MS) and increasing cost of travel, the era of virtual travel will become mainstream!
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bobmans Avatar
30 months ago
Three digits customer satisfaction? What does that even mean?
100%? 90.5%? 5.69%?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
30 months ago
Low expectations = positive results
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
syklee26 Avatar
30 months ago
I want to try it, I am sure it will be great, but I don’t see how it would be a mainstream hit with that price. It’s not like people have some $3500 in their pocket to burn. People put up with price hike of iPhone because they need a phone and the alternative is android. People don’t really “need” Vision Pro.

This will be a niche product, and developers don’t spend their time developing for niche product. They will need to find ways to bring down the price to macbook air (or macbook Pro) range to consider it as Mac alternative / media player.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unami Avatar
30 months ago
yeah, “three digit”, a.k.a more than a hundred, probably far less than 200. Also, curious that she is talking about a three digit “customer satisfaction” which already sounds dishonest as if it were an indication that there were probably even less developers and they are counting every visitor and his dog. Obvious marketing-BS like this rather seeds mistrust than confidence.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)