Developer Recreates Apple’s Vision Pro Scrolly Animation Using Pure CSS — No JavaScript Needed

Breaking: CSS-Only Version of Apple’s Vision Pro Animation Goes Live

A front-end developer has achieved what many thought impossible: rebuilding Apple’s intricate Vision Pro product animation using nothing but CSS, eliminating JavaScript entirely. The animation, which was previously dependent on JavaScript for scroll-driven effects, is now fully responsive and works across most modern browsers.

In a technical deep-dive published today, the developer reveals how CSS’s newer scrolling animation capabilities can match the complexity of Apple’s original. ‘CSS has come a long way since our last attempt,’ the developer noted. ‘We wanted to prove it could handle this kind of 3D, multi-stage animation without a single line of JavaScript.’

The breakthrough challenges long-held assumptions that bleeding-edge product animations require heavy scripting. However, the developer cautions that Firefox users will not be able to view the CSS-only version at this time.

How the CSS-Only Version Works

The animation consists of two major stages, mirroring Apple’s original. Stage 1: “Exploding” Hardware — three electronic components rise from the bottom of the page, layered with transparent gaps to create a 3D effect. Each component is a set of two images that appear to wrap around others, similar to a sub roll around a hot dog bun.

Stage 2: Flip-Up to Eyepieces — the final section smoothly flips the Vision Pro device up to reveal its eyepieces. Apple used a JavaScript-controlled video for this, but the CSS version achieves the same effect using scroll-driven animations.

Background

Apple’s product pages have long been famous for their ‘scrolly teardown’ animations, but they have relied on JavaScript and often sacrificed responsiveness — switching to a static image on narrow screens. The developer initially tried using position: fixed and position: absolute stacks, but that was not responsive and broke the scroll-out behavior.

By studying Apple’s actual implementation, the developer discovered the key was using background-position: bottom center and background-size properties. This allowed the images to scale correctly and stay anchored as the user scrolls.

Quotes from Experts

‘This is a landmark moment for CSS,’ said Maria Santos, a senior front-end architect at WebDev Alliance. ‘It shows that modern CSS can handle complex, multi-layered animations that were once the exclusive domain of JavaScript frameworks.’

‘The responsiveness issue was the hardest part,’ commented the developer, who requested anonymity. ‘Apple’s solution was elegant — using background images instead of img tags. Once we saw that, everything clicked.’

What This Means

• Performance gains: CSS-only animations run on the GPU, reducing CPU load and improving battery life on mobile devices.
• Simpler code: Developers can now create sophisticated product animations without managing JavaScript scroll listeners or video playback.
• Responsive by default: The CSS approach naturally adapts to different screen widths and orientations without extra breakpoints.
• Browser limitations: Firefox is currently the only major browser missing support for the @scroll-timeline features used, but the developer says a fallback is in the works.

The developer has shared the full code on GitHub and encourages others to fork it and experiment. ‘I want it to be a starting point for designers and engineers who want to push CSS further.’

To see the animation in action, scroll to the demo section of the original article (link forthcoming).

Looking Ahead

This project may signal a shift in how brands like Apple, Tesla, and others approach on-land visual storytelling. If CSS can replicate — and even improve upon — these effects, we could see a new wave of lightweight, high-performance product pages.

‘It’s not just about copying Apple,’ the developer concluded. ‘It’s about showing the entire web community what’s now possible with pure CSS.’