Apple unveiled its highly anticipated XR headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at WWDC 2023. This cutting-edge hardware surpasses all existing VR and AR headsets in terms of technology. However, the impressive capabilities of the sleek and stylish Vision Pro come at a price that may be out of reach for most consumers.
One of the standout features of the Vision Pro is its intuitive control system. Unlike most VR headsets that require controllers, the Vision Pro allows users to have full access with just their hands. While specific details are limited, it seems that simple hand and finger gestures such as tapping, flicking, grabbing objects, and tracing with the index finger can trigger actions and interact with the visionOS interface. Hand-tracking is expected to be supported in all apps available on the visionOS App Store, making it a primary input method. Additionally, the Vision Pro utilizes a retina scan for quick and effortless user authentication.
The Vision Pro offers a truly immersive private theater experience, boasting a view equivalent to a 100-foot widescreen. Paired with Spatial Audio, users can enjoy movies, TV shows, sporting events, and more in a virtual theater environment. The image quality of the Vision Pro is exceptional, featuring 4K resolution for each eye and a total of 23 million pixels across both displays. This resolution surpasses that of competitors, providing brilliant color, spectacular detail, and a high dynamic range. The headset’s impressive display capabilities make it a potential substitute for traditional monitors, particularly for photographers, videographers, and graphic designers.
Apple has also incorporated spatial recording capabilities into the Vision Pro, allowing users to capture photos and videos with a realistic depth effect. These spatial memories can be played back within the headset, offering an immersive and lifelike experience.
The Vision Pro features a home screen with apps, like iPhones. Users can view the time, date, weather, and notifications, and familiar Apple core apps such as Safari, Photos, Music, and Messages are readily available. The headset supports voice input, and a floating keyboard, and can be paired with an Apple Magic Keyboard and Trackpad for increased productivity. While the library of native third-party apps for the Vision Pro may be limited initially, Apple aims to bridge the gap by allowing users to run iPad apps on the headset, expanding its capabilities. The Vision Pro’s high-performance M2 chip ensures a seamless experience comparable to an iPad Pro.
With its mixed reality view, the Vision Pro provides a nearly indistinguishable representation of users’ surroundings. The inclusion of higher-quality cameras and powerful processing enables a smooth transition between the immersive view and the real world. Apple’s implementation of mixed reality aims to render virtual objects with substantial realism, enhancing the overall experience.
Gaming is an essential aspect of the Vision Pro, and Apple has focused on providing great performance through its Apple Metal 3 technology and M2 chip. However, building a substantial library of games takes time, and Apple Arcade will initially provide a collection of over 100 apps drawn from the iPad library. Apple has also formed partnerships, including one with Disney, to further enhance the gaming experience on the Vision Pro.
Controversially, Apple placed a display on the outside of the Vision Pro headset, allowing the wearer’s eyes to remain visible even while using the device. The implementation, reminiscent of wearing ski goggles, offers a convincing experience.
The Vision Pro is packed with cutting-edge technology, making it an expensive device aimed at early adopters, developers, and corporations. With an M2 chip and a new R1 processor onboard, the Vision Pro boasts computing power equivalent to that of a MacBook Air. However, battery life is a limitation, with only about 2 hours of usage. To extend the battery life, an external battery pack is included, requiring a cable connection to use the headset.
The Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 and is set to be available early next year. While it may not be accessible to everyone, Apple has plans to develop a lower-cost XR headset in the future to advance its vision of augmented reality. As more information becomes available, including full specifications and additional app details, it will be exciting to see how the Apple Vision Pro evolves and shapes the XR headset landscape.
