Big news dropped yesterday (October 23, 2025) for Apple Vision Pro owners and spatial computing enthusiasts: Vimeo just rolled out a significant upgrade to its 3D video support, directly embracing Apple's Immersive Video format. This isn't just a minor tweak; it's a bold move that firmly positions Vimeo as a premier destination for high-quality immersive content, perhaps even a superior alternative to YouTube for those deeply invested in their Vision Pro headset, including the recently released M5 model.

What's the big deal, you ask? Well, Vimeo now natively supports Apple Immersive Video, which means we're talking true stereoscopic 8K video at up to 60 frames per second, complete with Spatial Audio integration. Imagine watching content where the sound adapts dynamically with your head movements, all delivered through your headset's speakers or AirPods Pro. That's a game-changer for immersion, isn't it? It's not just basic 3D; it's designed to leverage the Vision Pro's high-resolution displays and sophisticated audio capabilities, making the content feel incredibly lifelike. Creators can now upload files up to 20GB, optimized for the Vision Pro's M5 chip, ensuring a smooth, high-fidelity experience.

This isn't an accidental update; it's a calculated strategic pivot from Vimeo. The platform has clearly signaled its intention to capture the high-end creator market, distinguishing itself from more generalist video services. Vimeo's CEO, Anjali Sud, put it quite plainly, stating they're "thrilled to bring Apple Immersive Video to our platform, empowering creators to deliver truly spatial experiences." They're making a strong case for Vimeo to be the go-to for professional-grade 3D content on Vision Pro, offering seamless integration for advanced stereoscopic video and Spatial Audio.

And get this: Vimeo's even introduced a beta tool for AI-assisted 3D conversion, helping creators upscale existing 2D videos with impressive accuracy. Plus, for the serious filmmakers and brands, they're offering spatial engagement analytics, tracking things like viewer head movements and gaze data. That’s something you won't find just anywhere. For Vimeo Pro subscribers, who pay around $20 a month, this means unlimited 3D uploads and priority encoding – a pretty sweet deal if you're serious about this kind of content.

The community reaction has been largely exuberant. Over on Reddit's r/AppleVisionPro, users are calling this "finally, a YouTube alternative," with many praising the "stunning" 8K 3D quality on their M5 Vision Pros. There's a real sense that this fills a significant content void. Industry analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo are already predicting that this "smart pivot" could see Vimeo capturing a notable slice of Vision Pro's content market share from YouTube within six months. The focus on ad-free, premium experiences resonates strongly with a lot of users and creators.

Of course, not everyone's entirely uncritically effusive. Some early adopters have noted that upload times for these massive 8K 3D files can be a bit lengthier than standard video, which is to be expected given the sheer data involved. And while the initial content library is growing, with about 500 3D videos available at launch, it's certainly not exhaustive yet. But don't you think that's a fair starting point for such a specialized format? Vimeo's public rollout for uploads began immediately, with full playback support in their Vision Pro app expected by October 28. This move really highlights the accelerating trend in spatial media, and frankly, Vimeo has jumped ahead.