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In the lead-up to tomorrow’s Vision Pro pre-orders, Apple appears to be prioritizing the message that the device will be an ideal way to watch movies and TV shows. This may be true in many ways, but there is one major caveat: Netflix.
In a statement reported by Bloomberg today, Netflix revealed that it does not plan to provide an application for Vision Pro. Instead, users will have to use a web-based interface to watch the streaming service.
Netflix compares the experience to a Mac, but there are a few reasons why this experience isn’t ideal for users. First, the iPad and iPhone mobile apps support offline viewing of downloaded videos. This is especially useful while flying, which is arguably one of the best use cases for the Vision Pro.
Unfortunately, Netflix does not support offline downloads on the web. It also remains to be seen what resolution can be achieved, as the maximum resolution for Netflix streaming depends on the browser, with the maximum resolution set at 720p. That wouldn’t look great on a virtual 100-foot screen.
Netflix certainly streams in up to 4K resolution on Safari for macOS, but we don’t know if that’s the case for Safari on Vision Pro.
It will also make the app more complicated to operate, and the interface won’t be as nice to use as the original app.
There are two ways Netflix can support VisionOS more directly. The company could have developed a full-fledged mixed reality app like Disney+ did, with features specific to the VisionOS operating system. Or its iPad app could have at least been modified to work well under VisionOS.
The latter, while not entirely trivial, is relatively easy for a company with Netflix’s development resources, so it’s hard not to take this as a deliberate slight.
This isn’t the first time Netflix has chosen not to handle Apple’s new initiative well. Netflix is the most notable service missing from the useful Apple TV app on the Apple TV and iPhone, which aggregates your viewing activity and makes recommendations that link to individual streaming apps.
Netflix and Apple are now competing in the streaming space. In particular, both received awards for their original films with limited theatrical releases and strong campaigns. This may be an incentive, but we can’t know for sure what Netflix’s leadership is thinking.
Most other major streaming services, including Disney+, Peacock, Max, and Amazon Prime Video, will have VisionOS apps working when the device launches in early February, making Netflix a notable exception.
While this omission isn’t a deal-breaker for everyone, it gets to the heart of Apple’s messaging about the Vision Pro’s value proposition; The hefty price of $3,499 could be considered worth the investment if you see the device as an alternative to the iPad and a high-end TV. But that offer might be compromised a bit if the experience on this high-end TV is subpar for one of the more popular streaming services.