What a visionOS app actually is
visionOS apps live in the user's space. They can be flat windows floating in the room, 3D volumes you walk around, or fully immersive scenes that replace your surroundings.
Input is different from any prior Apple platform: you look at a target and pinch to select. Designing for eyes and hands, and for comfort over long sessions, is the core craft here.
- Windows: familiar 2D app content placed in space, often the fastest path
- Volumes: bounded 3D content users can view from multiple angles
- Immersive spaces: full or mixed environments built with RealityKit
- Input: eye tracking plus hand pinch gestures, no controllers required
- SwiftUI and RealityKit are the primary building blocks
Choosing the right level of immersion
Not every app should be a floating galaxy. Many strong visionOS experiences start as a well-designed window and add depth only where it earns its place.
The hardware is capable but the audience is still small and early. We help you decide whether to build for Vision Pro now, adapt an existing iPad or iPhone app, or wait, based on your goals rather than hype.
- Start with a window-based app when your content is mostly 2D
- Add volumes or immersion where spatial context genuinely helps the user
- Design for comfort: text legibility, motion, and session length
- Consider whether an existing iPad/iPhone app can run on Vision Pro with adjustments
- Plan for a small early-adopter audience and set realistic expectations
More on ios apps
Frequently asked questions
Can our existing iPad or iPhone app run on Vision Pro?
Many compatible iPad and iPhone apps run on Vision Pro as-is in a window, unless the developer opted out. A purpose-built visionOS app is a separate effort. We'll help you weigh a quick compatibility pass against a native build.
Is it worth building for Vision Pro right now?
It depends on your goals. The install base is still early, so if you need reach today it may not be the priority. If you want to lead in spatial computing or have a use case that truly needs 3D, there's real value. We'll give you a straight read.
What skills does a visionOS app require?
SwiftUI for the interface and RealityKit for 3D content, plus spatial design thinking around eye-and-hand input and comfort. It overlaps with iOS skills but isn't identical. We scope each project to the immersion level you actually need.