Apple Now Selling $300 Developer Strap for Vision Pro

Through its Developer website, Apple is offering a $300 "Developer Strap" for the Vision Pro, which provides a USB-C connection between the headset and a Mac.

apple developer strap
Apple says that the Developer Strap is helpful for "accelerating the development of graphics-intensive apps and games." It is designed to provide the same audio experience as the standard Right Audio Strap, so it can be used for both development and testing.

As noted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber, the Developer Strap is only available to developers who are logged in to a paid U.S. Apple Developer account.

Earlier today, we shared images of the Developer Strap in Apple's documentation. Apple will use the accessory for diagnostics in Apple retail locations.

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...
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,...
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 ...
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...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....

Top Rated Comments

Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
24 months ago
We have reached peak dongle
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
24 months ago
Probably brought to you by the same team that made the $699 Mac Pro wheels.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neuropsychguy Avatar
24 months ago

Should be cheaper
How much cheaper? What does this cost Apple to design, have manufactured, and to support?

It's a specialized tool with a most likely small demand (not just because of the cost), which means Apple has little incentive to charge less for it: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-vision-pros-developer-strap-and-diagnostics-mode-revealed-in-more-detail.2418210/

It's unlikely most developers would need it. The higher price also potentially puts up a barrier to people who might be tempted to buy it without understanding what it's for.

An edit for people thinking I'm supporting the price. I'm not. All I'm doing is offering one potential explanation out of many for why it might be priced the way it is. Besides, what if Apple was losing money on it at this price (Apple isn't)? Would it still be priced too high? Those are just hypothetical questions for people spouting off knee-jerk reactions that it’s priced too high without taking time to reflect.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
grantishere Avatar
24 months ago
Should be cheaper, especially since Apple is ****ing EU devs
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ant862 Avatar
24 months ago
The people doing mental gymnastics to defend Apple at every turn is pretty weird. They’re greedy. It’s as simple as that. Apple only cares about money, and they will nickel-and-dime you to death if you let them. They could be still wildly successful and popular with lower prices. They have decided that they want ALL the money instead of just some of it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thewiccaman Avatar
24 months ago
You can buy the new Metaquest for this price almost!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)