Oliver Haslam on July 29, 2023, 12:40 am

Vision Pro Developer Kits Are Using AirTags To Track Units

Apple is getting ready to start handing out Vision Pro developer kits so that app developers can start testing their wares, and they’re going to be tracked using AirTags.

Apple is notoriously secretive and protective of new products so it’s going to want developers to keep their developer kits under lock and key. Apple seemingly also wants to know exactly where those headsets will be at all times and it appears that it will be attaching AirTags to them to do just that.

MacRumors reports on the documentation developers will use when applying for a developer kit, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also shared screenshots of the process.

It shows that developers will be asked for information to help Apple ensure that Vision Pro has a good fit, while there are also instructions relating to how an AirTag can be unpaired when returning the developer kit — suggesting that one will be used for headset tracking purposes.

Information on Apple’s developer website also mentions a workflow for unpairing an AirTag when returning a kit, which suggests Apple is using its item trackers to keep tabs on the headsets. Vision Pro developer kits are shipped in a lockable Pelican case that needs to be kept locked when the headset is not in use, and developers must keep the headsets in a secure location. An AirTag could perhaps be included in the storage case to allow it to be tracked down in the event of a theft.

Apple announced the Vision Pro headset during WWDC in June but precious few people have actually been able to wear one so far. Giving units out to developers will be a big step for Apple and it’s clearly worrying that they will fall into the wrong hands — whether they’re an eBay buyer or someone at competitors like Meta and others.