Apple Totally Copied This 3D Print... and No One’s Talking About It

Apple’s “New” Vision Pro M5 Upgrade

Apple’s Vision Pro M5 is finally here, and of course, it packs all the expected upgrades like a faster processor, a sharper display, and improved battery life. But one of the biggest (and most surprising) changes this year isn’t inside the headset... it’s the band.

At first glance, it might not look like much, but this small change makes a huge difference. The original Vision Pro’s single strap design was one of the most common complaints users had. It looked sleek, sure, but it caused pressure on the back of your head and made long sessions uncomfortable. Some users even resorted to wrapping extra padding or elastic bands around it just to get it to sit right.

The new strap basically takes the old Vision Pro band and duplicates it, giving you two points of support instead of one. The result? More comfort, less slippage, and a headset that actually feels balanced for once.

Apple even redesigned the material slightly to be softer and more breathable, which helps reduce that weird “VR helmet hair” effect. It’s the kind of upgrade that looks small in a keynote but makes a big difference in daily use. They showed this off like it was a brand-new design idea. But the thing is... it’s not.

Someone Already Made This For Free

Months before Apple revealed the Vision Pro M5, a 3D printing creator online went viral for making the exact same concept. They designed a 3D printable adapter that let you attach two of the original Vision Pro bands together, effectively turning it into the same dual-strap setup Apple is now selling as a “new” feature.

The best part? The creator released the file for free, no patent, no paywall, just a clever solution to make the headset more comfortable.

And now, seeing Apple roll out a near-identical design makes this whole thing feel... well, kind of funny.

Innovation or Inspiration?

It’s hard to say whether Apple actually saw that viral 3D print and decided to officially build it into the new model, but the timing definitely raises eyebrows.

Apple has a history of quietly adopting community-driven ideas (remember MagSafe mods and cooling stands that fans made long before official accessories came out?). This feels like another one of those moments where the DIY community beats Apple to its own idea.

Either way, it’s cool to see Apple finally improving the comfort issue that so many Vision Pro owners complained about, even if it took a 3D printing hobbyist to show them how.

Final Thoughts

The Vision Pro M5 looks like a solid upgrade, but the new band design might be the most telling part of it. It shows how much Apple actually listens (or at least watches) what the community is doing.

So yeah, Apple may have “invented” the dual strap in 2025, but someone in their garage already did it last year. Guess Apple’s next big innovation will be “Apple 3D Printing (Beta).”

See you in the next article!