visionOS 3 rumors: WWDC25 could be a huge leap forward

WWDC25 is a mere days away. While the hottest news is that iOS, macOS, watchOS and other platforms will get a visual redesign borrowed from visionOS, the question left unasked is … what’s coming to visionOS?

Rumors say there will be new advanced eye tracking features and support for VR hand controllers. But with a full twelve months of development, Apple probably has much more in store for its premium spatial computer.

Here’s what Apple may announce on Monday for the Vision Pro.

visionOS 3 rumors for WWDC25

While Apple’s other platforms are getting a Vision Pro-inspired makeover at WWDC25, what about the Vision Pro itself — the company’s most ambitious device in decades? With a full year of development under its belt, visionOS 3 (or perhaps visionOS 26) could mark the headset’s true coming of age. From hands-free eye scrolling to long-overdue native apps and full-on VR controller support, Apple seems poised to show us what spatial computing really looks like.

The Apple Vision Pro headset was released nearly a year and a half ago on February 2, 2024. visionOS 2, the first major software update, was rolled out just four months later. That means Apple didn’t have a lot of time to develop novel new features; it felt more like visionOS 1.5.

That makes 2025 the first year where Apple has had a full twelve months to develop new software features. The first few years of a product’s life are always the most exciting — when everything is new and there’s so much untapped potential.

Here’s what Apple is likely to be cooking up.

Table of Contents:

1. Hands-free eye scrolling
2. Year-based version numbers
3. Support for VR game controllers
4. More native apps from Apple
5. Catching up on Apple Intelligence features
6. User interface improvements
7. Integration with the iPhone
8. More immersive video content and environments

Hands-free eye scrolling

Perhaps the most exciting new functionality coming to Vision Pro is a hands-free way to scroll content. Using just your eyes, you’ll be able to scroll through lists, web pages and more throughout the system.

It’ll probably work by letting your eyes dwell at the edge of a scrollable area, and the content will move in the indicated direction. It’ll probably be a lot more comfortable than the current hand gesture to scroll, which involves pinching two fingers and flicking your wrist up and down. Personally, I find that tiring after a while.

Year-based version numbers

Apple will likely rebrand all of its operating systems to use the same version numbers going forward. iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS will all be numbered with the year of release.

That means visionOS could jump straight from version 2 to 26. While the transition may be jarring, it makes more sense than iOS 19, macOS 16, watchOS 12 and visionOS 3 all releasing at the same time.

visionOS 3 rumors: Support for VR game controllers

Gaming on the Vision Pro is (in part) limited by the lack of VR game controllers, like the PSVR 2 Sense controller made by Sony.

Other Apple devices have pretty rich support for third-party controllers — you can connect Xbox, PlayStation and Switch controllers to your iPhone, iPad, Mac and even Apple TV. I often use a PS4 controller on my Vision Pro, but it’s not tailored for VR experiences.

I’m excited to see what kind of VR games and experiences this could unlock on the Vision Pro.

More native apps from Apple

A lot of Vision Pro’s built-in apps are still iPad apps running in compatibility mode.

Maps, Calendar, Reminders and Podcasts could all sing as native visionOS apps.

Apple often claims that it’s easy making excellent platform-specific apps when you use UIKit and SwiftUI, but doesn’t follow through. Apps like Translate, Calculator and Journal aren’t even available to run at all.

While Apple can’t will more third-party apps into existence, the company could at least lead by example. I’m hoping to see more native visionOS apps at WWDC.

Catching up on Apple Intelligence features

The Vision Pro is a little behind on Apple Intelligence features that have shipped on other platforms.

Notification summaries, ChatGPT integration and Apple product knowledge in Siri are missing from visionOS.

And there’s no Visual Intelligence — a feature that ought to be a natural fit for a headset that’s always aware of your surroundings.

These would all be great additions.

There are, however, some rumored new features coming to visionOS: Apple Intelligence-powered Shortcuts creation, an API for third-party apps and the new Siri that’s totally still coming (eventually).

Whether anyone really wants these features is a different question. Apple Intelligence and the Vision Pro: a match made in heaven of two struggling, under-baked products.

User interface improvements

Many parts of the visionOS interface are still somewhat rudimentary. There are hardly any window controls. The Home View doesn’t have an App Library. The whole system of notifications and Control Center feels a little clunky.

There’s a lot of room for Apple to improve the spatial computing aspect of the Vision Pro. Let’s hope Apple addresses these shortcomings next week.

Integration with the iPhone

There are also a lot of iPhone integrations Apple could make. Vision Pro could borrow some Continuity features from other devices to save a lot of headaches:

• Unlocking an iPhone with Face ID is a major hassle, considering your face is covered and it fails every time. But Apple already solved this problem in 2021 by letting your Apple Watch unlock your iPhone when you’re wearing a mask — Apple could do the same for the Vision Pro.
• iPhone mirroring would be great for the Vision Pro. Your phone screen is blurry and hard to read through the Vision Pro cameras — mirroring could make it seamless.
• Call forwarding is available on basically every other platform. Your Mac, iPad and Apple Watch can all answer phone calls using your iPhone as a relay. The Vision Pro can take FaceTime audio calls, but not phone calls. This feature is probably the lowest hanging fruit.

visionOS 3 rumors: More immersive video content and environments

The easiest way Apple can make Vision Pro owners happy is to release more immersive video content and add more 3D environments. The beach and spooky lake environments added in visionOS 2 were both big hits; I’d love to see what Apple was able to cook up in the last year.

I hope that production of immersive video ramps up as well. With the release of a Blackmagic camera that can record immersive video in late 2024, Apple — and other companies — should be able to easily film new content (and concerts).

Other rumor roundups

After reading up on the visionOS 3 rumors, check out our other roundups:

• iOS 19 rumors: A major design overhaul
• iPadOS 19 rumors: More Mac-like features
• macOS 16 rumors: What to expect
• watchOS 12 rumors: Apple Intelligence on your wrist
• Apple Intelligence might take a backseat

D. Griffin Jones

D. Griffin Jones is a writer, podcaster and video producer for Cult of Mac. Griffin has been a passionate computer enthusiast since 2002, when he got his first PC — but since getting a Mac in 2008, he hasn’t turned back. His skills in graphic and web design, along with video and podcast editing, are self-taught over 20+ years. Griffin has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has written several (unpublished) apps for Mac and iOS. His collection of old computers is made up of 40+ desktops, laptops, PDAs and devices, dating back to the early ’80s. He brings all of these creative and technical skills, along with a deep knowledge of Apple history, into his work for Cult of Mac.