This Vision Pro accessory is an absolute must-have [Review]

The Pressure-Reducing Comfort Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro by Annapro is an absolute must-have game-changing accessory. It makes using the headset in its default mixed-reality mode far more engaging and comfortable, as it lets you use the device without Apple’s peripheral-blinding Light Seal. It also enables more people to use the more comfortable Solo Knit band, so it’s incredibly easy to put on and take off.

Annapro’s head strap makes the Vision Pro less like putting on ski goggles and more like putting on big glasses. It’s a small change that has radically impacted how I think about the device. And at a highly affordable $39.99, it’s a no-brainer accessory that every Vision Pro owner should pick up … all 200 of them.

Keep reading or watch our video review.

Annapro’s better head strap for Vision Pro

You can click here to watch us discuss the product on The CultCast:

As a refresher, the stock Vision Pro comes with a choice of two bands that go around the back of your head, and a Light Seal that attaches to the front:

• The Solo Knit band wraps around the back of your head. It’s easy to put on and take off, which is essential to making the headset feel less clunky. It’s instantly adjustable with a built-in dial. But it doesn’t offer any top strap, so all the pressure of the heavy headset is on your face and the back of your head. Most people tend to find this band uncomfortable after 30 minutes (although I do not).
• The Dual Loop band is made up of two velcro straps, one of which goes above your head, the other goes around the back. In my testing, I found it really fiddly to use. The top strap naturally sits right where my hairline begins, which gives me a headache … and ruins my hair.
• The Light Seal is a piece that connects the Vision Pro to your face, distributing some weight around your forehead and cheekbones. It also blinds your peripheral vision, which makes entirely virtual experiences feel immersive, but can make mixed reality feel like tunnel vision.

User consensus is generally that the Solo Knit band is more convenient to use, but the Dual Loop band is more comfortable for longer periods of time. Considering the Dual Loop band didn’t work for me, I was in search of a better solution.

Annapro’s additional top strap spreads out the weight

The Annapro Comfort Head Strap is an additional piece that sits across your forehead. It attaches to the arms of the Vision Pro, just behind the speakers. To put it on, you have to unplug the Vision Pro and take off the band, which is a mild inconvenience if you want to take it on and off regularly. Luckily, the product is so good that I haven’t felt the need to.

It plays nicely if you want to use it with the Light Seal. It spreads the weight across a bigger surface and makes the whole device more comfortable. While I already found the Solo Knit band comfortable enough as is, it’s even better with the top strap.

But the real magic happens when you take the Light Seal off.

Going sans-Light Seal for fully augmented reality

First of all, without the Light Seal, you have much of your peripheral vision back. You still have some blind spots because of the Vision Pro’s thick bezel and arms, but it’s remarkable how much more environmental context you have.

I have rather poor vision, so my periphery is entirely out of focus. But I can still see the dog laying down to my left and the drink on the table to my right. If I’m wearing the Vision Pro while I’m eating or snacking, I can look down to see below me.

Equally as revelatory is that I can scratch my face, my nose or eyebrows if they itch. The Light Seal blocks access to my face, but without it, I can just reach inside. Without the Light Seal, I can smile easier, too. There’s nothing pressing down on my cheekbones.

Other people in the room can also see more of my face. The EyeSight feature has been heavily criticized as being a poor imitation of a face. But from the side, someone can look into the Vision Pro and see my actual eyes.

Easier to put on and take off

With only the top strap and the Solo Knit band, the Vision Pro much easier to put on and take off. The Light Seal requires you to tilt your face into it in just the right way, but not so with the top strap. You can just lower the thing onto your head, pulling the rear band down into place. That might sound clunky from the description, but in practice, it’s so much easier that I find myself putting the Vision Pro on more often.

Taking it off is as simple as grabbing the strap from the top and lifting it vertically.

The top strap also sits just in front of my hairline, so it’s comfortable and doesn’t give me weird-looking bed head. Although you do still look weird while you’re wearing it. That can’t be helped.

A couple weird side effects

Without the Light Seal, mixed reality is more immersive. Well over 95% of the time, that’s how I use the Vision Pro. I use it for writing (including this article!), work, browsing social media, watching YouTube videos and listening to podcasts while I cook and eat, and watching TV in the evening. In all of those contexts, I like to stay aware of my surrounding environment — I live alone with two dogs and I want to keep an eye on them.

The downside is that when I do want to watch immersive content or play VR games, my peripheral vision peeks through and breaks the effect. Luckily, it’s easy to snap the Light Seal back on.

Another oddity is that as soon as I step outside without the Light Seal, the Vision Pro immediately crashes. The screen turns black for a moment and visionOS resets. After this happens, eye tracking and video passthrough is twitchy and buggy. Turning the device off and on again does the trick … until you step outside again.

This is a bizarre bug, but it’s not a problem specific to the Annapro Comfort Head Strap. Hopefully, it can be patched in a future software visionOS software update.

Actually, it be interpreted as a feature. It prevents you from being caught in public wearing a Vision Pro.

Annapro Comfort Head Strap: Final thoughts

I’m thrilled by the diversity of weird, interesting Vision Pro accessories. The SoloTop is a popular 3D-printed part that lets you add a second Solo Knit band on top, and although the product itself is cheap, buying a Solo Knit band is pricey at $99. The CMA1 Comfort Mod by Globular Cluster also lets you use the device without a Light Seal, but it’s more expensive and looks rather … clunky.

The Annapro Comfort Head Strap offers the best of the bunch. It’s highly affordable at just $39.99. After you blow a truly heinous amount of money on a Vision Pro, you’ll appreciate a cheaper accessory. It works with and without a Light Seal, enabling a whole new level of mixed reality while making immersive reality more comfortable. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to install and use.

Every Vision Pro owner should buy one of these.

Buy from: Amazon
Price: $39.99

★★★★★

Annapro provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.