Evaluating Text Input Methods on the Apple Vision Pro: A Comparison of Tap Typing and Gaze + Pinch

The mixed reality headset, Apple Vision Pro (AVP), features advanced eye- and hand-tracking capabilities and offers two text input methods on a virtual keyboard—Tap Typing (TT) and Gaze + Pinch (GP). Twenty participants completed a text entry task using standardized phrase sets with both methods, followed by a set of questionnaires evaluating perceived usability, subjective workload, eye fatigue, simulator sickness, user experience, and perceived exertion. Objective performance results revealed significantly faster typing speed with TT compared to GP and significantly fewer errors with TT compared to GP. Participants generally preferred TT ( n = 15) over GP ( n = 5), as well as significant differences in perceived usability, select subjective workload subscales, and user experience ratings. Participant feedback and suggestions are discussed, and implications for future design and research directions are explored.