visionOS 27: Apple Vision Pro was gone but not forgotten at WWDC

visionOS wasn't the least-mentioned of Apple's operating systems at WWDC — that would be tvOS — but it was hardly a headliner.

Usually, the WWDC keynote includes a dedicated segment for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. But this year, Apple focused on upgrades to the new Siri AI experience, Apple Intelligence, and cross-device functionality.

However, we did learn some new details about visionOS 27. Reading between the lines, I think we also learned why the Vision Pro has value for Apple, even if few people are actually using the $3,499 headset. The Vision Pro has famously struggled to find a user base.

As Mashable's tech editor, I am one of the few people still using this head-worn computer. Apple sent me the headset for testing, and I'll have a full review coming soon. So, as a Vision Pro user, here's everything I gleaned from WWDC about visionOS 27 and the future of the Apple Vision Pro.

Siri AI is coming to visionOS 27

The Vision Pro got the most attention during the beginning of a segment on Siri AI, the new Gemini-powered version of Siri coming to Apple devices this fall. To show off Siri AI's visual intelligence, Apple showed a video of the visionOS 27 experience.

Vision Pro users will have a 3D visualization of Siri that will live in their virtual space as a floating, glowing bubble. Users can start talking to Siri at any time. In the example, the floating Siri AI could answer questions about a Safari page on the screen as well as objects in the user's view.

In addition to Siri AI, a new suite of Apple Intelligence tools will also be available to Vision Pro users. Now that it's powered by Gemini, Apple users will be able to talk to Siri and quickly generate text, images, and transcripts. Users will also benefit from contextual awareness. So, if you're reading a message about an upcoming flight, Apple Intelligence will automatically pull up your flight details.

Custom Environments

Environments are one of the coolest Vision Pro features. These 360-degree spatial computing environments make it seem like you're on the surface of the moon or a cliff in Hawaii. Browsing the internet can be fun, but have you ever browsed the internet from one of Jupiter's moons?

With visionOS 27, users will be able to turn their own panorama photos into custom environments. This is a feature I'm definitely excited to test out for myself.

Developer environments

In addition to turning your own photos into custom Environments, third-party developers will also have this ability. The Apple website states, "Developers can render 360-degree backgrounds that completely surround your physical space and make browsing more immersive."

How visionOS benefits other Apple products

Almost all of the AI features Apple talked about at WWDC are already widely available on Android devices or via AI chatbots like Gemini, with one notable exception.

When discussing updates to the Camera app, Apple also introduced "Spatial Reframing." This tool is unique to Apple devices, and it lets users adjust the angle, perspective, or zoom of photos using on-device spatial models. Apple specifically credited the spatial and visual intelligence technology that powers visionOS as the genesis of Spatial Reframing.

So, while this AI editing tool isn't specific to Vision Pro headsets, it shows how visionOS technology may still be useful to Apple, even if the product lacks widespread adoption.

As a related note, Mike Rockwell, the former head of Vision Pro at Apple, has since been tapped to lead the Siri AI and Apple Intelligence efforts, which can't be a coincidence. With Apple smart glasses rumored for 2027, the new visual intelligence features emphasized at WWDC 2026 could be setting up Apple's next big device launch.

General improvements

During the keynote, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, said that general improvements were a major focus of the new generation of operating systems. And on its website, Apple says that visionOS 27 includes "tons of refinements that make your Apple Vision Pro even more responsive, reliable, and delightful to use."

This will include the ability to expand notifications with your eyes and a new look for the control center.

In a press release, Apple said that "connecting to Wi-Fi is up to 3x faster" in visionOS 27. There's not much else to say about that.

Is there a future for Apple Vision Pro?

I hope so! I've loved testing the Vision Pro headset, even if I can't quite give it a full recommendation thanks to its $3,500 price tag. However, it still has a small base of dedicated users, and Apple has introduced some really cool immersive sports experiences over the past few months.

A potential follow-up, the Vision Pro 2, may arrive in 2027 or 2028, but the lack of sales may ultimately lead Apple to give the product the axe.

However, WWDC showed that even if Vision Pro doesn't generate a ton of sales, the underlying technology could have downstream benefits for a host of current and future Apple devices.

visionOS 27 is available as a developer's beta now, and it will be available for all Vision Pro headsets in the fall.