Multiple owners of Apple’s new Vision Pro augmented reality headset are reporting spontaneous cracks forming on the device’s front glass surface without any drops or impacts. The unexplained cracks are spurring questions around the structural integrity of the $3,499 wearable.
In two recent Reddit posts, Vision Pro owners shared images of cracks strangely materializing across the center of the headset’s front glass when not in active use. One owner – Reddit user dornbirn – returned their Vision Pro to its case after a typical cleaning to discover a prominent splintered crack the next morning.
“No drop, no shuffling in the case,” they wrote, perplexed by the fault. “There seems to be a consistent manufacturing issue with the glass – my ignorant guess is the unique form creates some tension above the nose that eventually cracks.”
A second Redditor, ContributionFar8997, relayed a similar story – pulling their Vision Pro from an overnight charge to find an aberrant fissure in the same central location sans any impact. The similar crack positioning points to a potential structural flaw in how the front housing glass withstands pressure.
Problematically, with AppleCare+, a Vision Pro screen replacement comes with a $300+ repair fee. Without extended coverage, users face an eye-watering $800 charge. The exorbitant costs are causing early adopter customers to worry about the long-term durability of their thousand-dollar AR headsets.
While sporadic hardware faults do occur with new product launches, Apple cannot ignore the financial headaches and inconvenience repeat glass cracks present for Vision Pro owners. As the issues risk souring public perception of the headset’s build quality, Apple may need to proactively confirm whether the cracking stems from a manufacturing deficiency or limited material tolerance problem.
If a persistent issue, it may come down to Apple offering free front glass repairs and extending the Vision Pro’s standard 1-year warranty to maintain customer trust. But the company will also want to quell doubts before perception spreads of their AR device being anything less than ultra-premium kit.
