At the beginning of June, Apple surprised the tech world with yet another news about a forthcoming digital asset that caused a lot of positive commotion. With bells and whistles, the tech Goliath introduced the early version of the Apple Vision Pro, a wearable computer with a lot of cutting-edge features.
Apple announced the Vision Pro as a spatial computer you can use in more ways than one. The company pitched the headset as a product that“ seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.”
If this piques your interest, just as it piqued ours, we’re about to break down all there is to know about Apple’s Vision Pro. From VR and AR specs to the pros and cons, we bring you a detailed guide on everything Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro Overview
The Vision Pro is Apple’s first 3D camera you are supposed to wear on your head and is advertised as the first spatial computer. The Vision Pro’s main aspect is it’s a headset, much like VR sets that go over your eyes. When you wear the Vision Pro, you practically look at the computer’s output directly in front of your eyes, without a physical screen.
Two small displays in super high resolution, with very little space between them, that project content right in front of your eyes. Instead of controlling the computer with the help of a keyboard, a touch screen, or a mouse, you are practically using your face and eyes to do so. This is made possible thanks to Apple’s super-quality interface with eye-tracking and gesture features.
What the Vision Pro actually does is track your eye movement to detect what you’re interested in, and it also detects your hand movements and gestures to define what you want to do (scroll, tap, etc.) As interesting as this sounds, we’ll have to wait until next year to try out these features since Apple is set to launch the gadget in stores and online next year.
Apple Vision Pro: A Powerful Mixed Reality Headset Blending AR and VR
Even if it won’t become widely available until next year, there’s no reason we shouldn’t have a sneak peek at the Vision Pro’s abilities to blend AR and VR for the ultimate user experience. Boasting Apple’s proprietary M2 chip and an R1 chip specially designed for real-time processing, the novelty gadget will track your eye movement and detect your usual hand gestures to predict the content (and actions) you’re interested in interacting with.
Also, the Vision Pro wouldn’t be so pro if it lacked voice control. You can access your games and other preferred content with voice commands, which is a pretty neat feature to have.
Comfort-wise, the Vision Pro comes with a soft and cushiony headband that rests nicely around your head. The headband is available in several sizes and is 3D-knitted in one piece to avoid seams, lines, and other uncomfortable fabric downsides. In addition, the band fabric is breathable and stretchy and allows for comfortable cushioning. You won’t even feel you’re wearing it, given the fact that the gadget is overall lightweight (it is speculated that the gadget weighs 454g, not including the external battery).
If the Apple Vision Pro is in the cards for you, you can use it to elevate your Mac’s productivity, FaceTime on a whole new level, indulge your senses in watching videos of extraordinary quality, and play games as if you were right in the center of the action.
Blended AR and VR Is the Reality for the Apple Vision Pro
As we mentioned, the Vision Pro is advertised as a mixed-reality headset that merges both AR and VR. Thanks to the R1 and M2 chips for real-time processing of the views of 12 cameras, 6 microphones, and 5 sensors, the Vision Pro is truly a highly promising spatial computer we can’t wait to get our hands on.
Designed with micro-OLED displays in 23 million pixels, the Vision Pro tops other 4K headsets by a long shot. Apple officials have confirmed that the Vision Pro will have a refresh rate of 90Hz and a 96Hz for video content created in 24 frames per second. In addition, thanks to the two audio pods on either side of the headset, the Vision Pro delivers superb sound as part of its Spatial Audio System.
Apple Vision Pro: Pros and Cons
As perfect as this new gadget might sound, it is only fair that we mention all of the specs, both good and not-so-good. We have shortlisted some of the most noteworthy pros and cons of Apple’s Vision Pro, so let’s skim through.
Pros
- Super sleek design
- Dial for customizing immersion
- Amazingly powerful R1 and M2 chips
- Super sharp micro-OLED, 4K displays
- Genuinely intuitive UI with hand gestures and eye tracking
Cons
- Super expensive
- Battery life is not so great
- Additional gear might have to be purchased for a full experience
As you can see, the cons mostly revolve around the headset’s price and the battery life expectancy. Rumour has it that people who want to buy the Apple Vision Pro would most likely have to spend close to $5000. This is not solely for the gadget but for Apple Care and the external battery, too.
Apple Vision Pro: Battery Life Expectations
Battery-wise, Apple could have done a better job. It is estimated that once charged, the battery will last for whole 2 hours. While some might argue that’s more than enough, others won’t agree, especially tech experts who rely on long battery life.
Regarding the size of the internal battery, the capacity ranges around 20,000mAh (74Wh), and you can expect an overall power consumption of close to 30W. However, Apple makes it possible to include an external battery into the mix, giving you an extra 6 hours of use. Note that the external battery will be sold separately.
Apple Vision Pro: Design
When it comes to the design of Apple’s Vision Pro, it’s probably safe to say the headset resembles a pair of futuristic, high-tech goggles. The headset is made of an aluminum alloy frame that holds the 3D-formed glass, looking all super classy and luxurious.
In addition, the Light Seal feature between the headset and the user’s face prevents light from slipping out or coming inside the user’s eye perimeter. One of the major features of the Vision Pro is Apple’s trademark EyeSight feature. In essence, EyeSight is developed to help users become aware of other people’s presence when they are using the headset.
For instance, if you come close to someone using the Vision Pro, they will be made aware of it by the display becoming transparent and revealing the user’s eyes.
Apple Vision Pro: Hardware
The Vision Pro is packed with an amazing feature: dual 4K micro-OLED displays. At first glance, they look as sharp as it gets, whether compared to a VR set or a TV (yes, a full-blown TV!). Photos look amazingly sharp and crisp, with no noise or blurs. Moreover, panoramic photos are especially a delight to enjoy; they fill the whole visual field.
In addition, any 3D videos captured with the Vision Pro front cameras look amazingly realistic, almost as if you are transported to the action scene.
Building upon Apple’s silicon chip, the ultra-high-resolution display allows for immaculately pixelated images through micro-OLED technology. You are getting your money’s worth with vivid colors and true video dynamics.
Moving on, Apple’s novel video format is yet another feature that calls for attention called Apple Immersive Video: the blade-sharp, 180-degree videos in 3D. Now, you might say there are other VR headsets with 360-degree VR videos, so the 180-degree angle is not anything new; still, would you be able to say the video quality is super-sharp? Definitely not, mainly because even the best of the VR sets with a 360-degree angle generate rather blurry and fuzzy videos.
On the other hand, Apple relied on its 6K camera that captures incredibly realistic videos. Whether you’re watching a fast-paced game of football, or are looking at videos of hand gliding adventures up in the sky, rest assured you’ll be amazed by how lifelike the videos are.
Apple Vision Pro: Games You Can Play
To the delight of millions of gamers worldwide, the Apple Vision Pro is compatible with many different games. In fact, Apple officials have emphasized that the gadget supports over 100 games that are currently enjoyed by iPad and iPhone users. In other words, this means that if someone is enjoying their favorite arcade game on their iPhone now, they can expand their experience on the Vision Pro.
For instance, the NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition, Candy Crush Saga, and Rec Room are fully compatible with the Apple Vision Pro. Moreover, it is stated that users can also connect wirelessly to their Apple Macs and play their favorite games using the Vision Pro if they are compatible. Also, all Unity-native games are expected to be a good match for the Vision Pro, but we guess we’ll see once the gadget is live.
Apple Vision Pro: Pricing and Availability
As we mentioned, this beast of a headset won’t come cheap, and we didn’t expect it to. As it can be read on Apple’s website, the Vision Pro will begin selling for $3,499, and if we may say so, it’s at the top of the priciest headsets in the U.S.
However, expert techies and gamers shocked us even more when they said that the cost is only a starting price and it is expected to increase as the developers tweak and better the Vision Pro. Moreover, if you consider that you’ll probably need to buy Apple Care, which costs around $500, and an external battery (that’s optional), you’re probably looking at a price total of $5000.
Availability-wise, Apple says the Vision Pro will only debut in the U.S., and will gradually add other markets, starting early next year. At first, customers will be able to enjoy a first-hand experience at official Apple Stores.
The Final Note
If you thought the Apple Watch and the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would be the latest superstars launching out of Apple’s lab, you’re in for a surprise. 2024 will be the year Apple launches its state-of-the-art, super powerful, incredibly vivid Apple Vision Pro, the first spatial computer, the company, has ever developed.
Displaying images and videos through whopping 23 million pixels, the Vision Pro will (probably) be the best XR headset you have ever seen. Featuring two micro-OLED displays and a super lifelike vision field, the Vision Pro allows you to playback your favorite videos, enjoy your iPhone Apple Arcade Games, and even FaceTime with your friends and family without feeling like you’re away from them.
If you are ready to splurge $3,499 on the Apple Vision Pro, you can rest assured you’ll immerse your visual and audial senses into a high-quality XR, seamlessly merging VR and AR together for an incomparable user experience.
Ready for 2024? We know we are!
FAQs
Can I use the Apple Vision Pro while wearing my glasses?
Well, technically, you can, but there’s a twist. If you wear glasses, you won’t be able to use the once you use daily but will need a separate pair of optical inserts that will attach to the lenses of the Vision Pro, magnetically. These will be sold separately and are referred to as vision correction accessories.
Is the Apple Vision Pro a standalone item?
Yes, it is. You don’t need your Mac, iPad, or iPhone for it to work.
Is there a waiting list to join to buy the Apple Vision Pro when it becomes available?
So far, Apple hasn’t announced such an option.
- Claude AI Review: The Next-Generation AI Assistant to Love - December 3, 2023
- GPT-3.5 vs GPT-4 Turbo: What Are The Improvements - November 26, 2023
- Apple Vision Pro – Release date, Specs, Pricing and more - June 24, 2023
