I tried the future of Mac multitasking and it was amazing and uncomfortable

Mac Virtual Display doesn't beat physical yet, but there is a ton of potential.

- BY THIAGO TREVISAN

The Apple Vision Pro (fave. co/3vIDfPS) is a perplexing piece of hardware. It's a technological marvel that stuns the senses, but it lacks the killer app and content needed to overcome the initial cost of investment and awkward ergonomics. I'm fascinated by its potential and was brave enough to hold on to the Vision Pro beyond the return window.

When I use it, I am reminded of its unique abilities, such as its Mac Virtual Display feature. Bringing a boring “real world” experience to a hybrid virtual one sounds good on the surface, but the original Mac Virtual Display was limited and didn't offer much of a benefit. But in visionOS 2.2 (fave. co/4mD8KKT), Apple added the ability to support a wide or ultrawide monitor, making the feature much more useful. It was one feature I've been anxiously waiting for.

A Mac Pro with an Apple Pro Display XDR surrounded by two Apple Studio Displays.

I'm a big fan of using a three-display setup for my Mac, but does the updated Mac Virtual Display provide a superior experience? Could it be the killer Vision Pro feature we've been clamoring for? The answer is not so simple. Let's dissect the experience of the Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro to see if it makes the $3,500 investment worthwhile.

WHAT THE WIDE AND ULTRWIDE UPGRADE MEANS

The Vision Pro operating system uses its Mac Virtual Display feature to mirror a Mac’s display within a virtual environment. It's a way to stay grounded to the Mac but it opens new possibilities. You can have the Mac screen front and center and pin various app windows all around you, including the various Vision Pro apps. The experience feels like something you've seen in a sci-fi movie.