{"id":901553,"date":"2025-06-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/?p=901553"},"modified":"2025-06-04T16:13:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T23:13:12","slug":"visionos-3-rumors-wwdc25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/news\/visionos-3-rumors-wwdc25","title":{"rendered":"visionOS 3 rumors: WWDC25 could be a huge leap forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

WWDC25 is a mere days away. While the hottest news is that iOS, macOS, watchOS and other platforms will get a visual redesign borrowed from visionOS, the question left unasked is \u2026 what\u2019s coming to<\/em> visionOS?<\/p>\n

Rumors say there will be new advanced eye tracking features and support for VR hand controllers. But with a full twelve months of development, Apple probably has much more in store for its premium spatial computer.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Apple may announce on Monday for the Vision Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

visionOS 3 rumors for WWDC25<\/h2>\n

While Apple\u2019s other platforms are getting a Vision Pro-inspired makeover at WWDC25, what about the Vision Pro itself \u2014 the company\u2019s most ambitious device in decades? With a full year of development under its belt, visionOS 3 (or perhaps visionOS 26<\/a>) could mark the headset\u2019s true coming of age. From hands-free eye scrolling to long-overdue native apps and full-on VR controller support, Apple seems poised to show us what spatial computing really looks like.<\/p>\n

The Apple Vision Pro headset was released nearly a year and a half ago on February 2, 2024. visionOS 2, the first major software update, was rolled out just four months later. That means Apple didn\u2019t have a lot of time to develop novel new features; it felt more like visionOS 1.5.<\/p>\n

That makes 2025 the first year where Apple has had a full twelve months to develop new software features. The first few years of a product\u2019s life are always the most exciting \u2014 when everything is new and there\u2019s so much untapped potential.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Apple is likely to be cooking up.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Hands-free eye scrolling<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Year-based version numbers<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Support for VR game controllers<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. More native apps from Apple<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Catching up on Apple Intelligence features<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. User interface improvements<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Integration with the iPhone<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. More immersive video content and environments<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Hands-free eye scrolling<\/h3>\n
    \"The<\/a>
    The Vision Pro already uses a lot of hand and eye gestures.
    Photo: Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Perhaps the most exciting new functionality coming to Vision Pro is a hands-free way to scroll content<\/a>. Using just your eyes, you\u2019ll be able to scroll through lists, web pages and more throughout the system.<\/p>\n

    It’ll probably work by letting your eyes dwell at the edge of a scrollable area, and the content will move in the indicated direction. It’ll probably be a lot more comfortable than the current hand gesture to scroll, which involves pinching two fingers and flicking your wrist up and down. Personally, I find that tiring after a while.<\/p>\n

    Year-based version numbers<\/h3>\n
    \"Graphic<\/a>
    Things could get much simpler.
    Graphic: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Apple will likely rebrand all of its operating systems to use the same version numbers going forward. iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS will all be numbered with the year of release.<\/p>\n

    That means visionOS<\/a> could jump straight from version 2 to 26. While the transition may be jarring, it makes more sense than iOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12 and visionOS 3 all releasing at the same time.<\/p>\n

    visionOS 3 rumors: Support for VR game controllers<\/h3>\n
    \"Vision<\/a>
    Vision Pro might soon get a couple of new accessories from Sony.
    Photo: Apple\/Sony<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Gaming on the Vision Pro is (in part) limited by the lack of VR game controllers, like the PSVR 2 Sense controller made by Sony<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Other Apple devices have pretty rich support for third-party controllers \u2014 you can connect Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers to your iPhone, iPad, Mac and even Apple TV. I often use a PS4 controller on my Vision Pro, but it\u2019s not tailored for VR experiences.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m excited to see what kind of VR games and experiences this could unlock on the Vision Pro.<\/p>\n

    More native apps from Apple<\/h3>\n
    \"iPad<\/a>
    These apps are available on Vision Pro, but they’re running in iPad compatibility mode.
    Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    A lot of Vision Pro’s built-in apps are still iPad apps<\/a> running in compatibility mode.<\/p>\n

    Maps, Calendar, Reminders and Podcasts could all sing as native visionOS apps.<\/p>\n

    Apple often claims that it\u2019s easy making excellent platform-specific apps when you use UIKit and SwiftUI, but doesn\u2019t follow through. Apps like Translate, Calculator and Journal aren\u2019t even available to run at all.<\/p>\n

    While Apple can\u2019t will more third-party apps into existence, the company could at least lead by example. I’m hoping to see more native visionOS apps at WWDC.<\/p>\n

    Catching up on Apple Intelligence features<\/h3>\n
    \"new<\/a>
    Apple Intelligence has had an even slower rollout on the Vision Pro, if you can believe it.
    Photo: Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The Vision Pro is a little behind on Apple Intelligence features that have shipped on other platforms.<\/p>\n

    Notification summaries, ChatGPT integration and Apple product knowledge in Siri are missing from visionOS.<\/p>\n

    And there’s no Visual Intelligence \u2014 a feature that ought to be a natural fit for a headset that\u2019s always aware of your surroundings.<\/p>\n

    These would all be great additions.<\/p>\n

    There are, however, some rumored new<\/em> features coming to visionOS<\/a>: Apple Intelligence-powered Shortcuts creation, an API for third-party apps and the new Siri that\u2019s totally still coming<\/a> (eventually).<\/p>\n

    Whether anyone really wants these features is a different question. Apple Intelligence and the Vision Pro: a match made in heaven of two struggling, under-baked products.<\/p>\n

    User interface improvements<\/h3>\n
    \"Rearranging<\/a>
    It\u2019s just a linear list of apps in folders, like iOS 4 in 2010.
    Photo: Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Many parts of the visionOS interface are still somewhat rudimentary. There are hardly any window controls. The Home View doesn\u2019t have an App Library. The whole system of notifications and Control Center feels a little clunky.<\/p>\n

    There\u2019s a lot of room for Apple to improve the spatial computing aspect of the Vision Pro. Let’s hope Apple addresses these shortcomings next week.<\/p>\n

    Integration with the iPhone<\/h3>\n
    \"iPhone<\/a>
    The Mac can do it. Why can\u2019t the Vision Pro?
    Photo: Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    There are also a lot of iPhone integrations Apple could make. Vision Pro could borrow some Continuity features from other devices to save a lot of headaches:<\/p>\n