At its WWDC 2023 conference, Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, its long-rumored augmented reality (AR) headset. The Vision Pro is one of Apple’s most ambitious products and it is packed with technology, including a new operating system called visionOS, that might just hint at the sky-high price tag. There’s a lot to keep track of around the Vision Pro, hence this article has been created for you.
What does the Vision Pro design look like?
The design of the Vision Pro differs from many existing AR/VR headsets. For example, the device has an external battery pack that connects to the headset via a cable. That is why, a user will have to keep the battery either in their pocket or somewhere on their body and deal with a dangling cable when using the Vision Pro.
By having a tethered battery system, Apple was able to reduce the weight of the Vision Pro headset to make it noticeably lighter than the competition. This, according to Apple, should solve one of the biggest issues with VR headsets: discomfort after extended use, but does it really help? this is a wait-and-watch situation.
The look of Vision Pro resembles a ski goggle, and its curved front has an external screen that allows the user’s eyes to be seen when approached by others through a feature called EyeSight.
The front of the headset is made from laminated glass that connects to a custom aluminum alloy frame. The Light Seal, made of soft textile, and the knitted HeadBand come in a range of sizes to provide comfort.
The device features two OLED displays that together pack a total of 23 million pixels, Apple’s M2 chip, 12 cameras, five sensors, six microphones, and the popular voice assistant, Siri. It also features the brand-new R1 chip, which runs in parallel with the M2 chip to ensure that there is no lag. The headset has two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pad to power its Personalized Spatial Audio, which personalizes audio for a user based on their head and geometry.
To switch between AR and VR, the headset will have a crown similar to the one found on the Apple Watch. There is also a knob that will allow users to easily customize the fit and a button on top of the headset to take photos. Users will be able to control the headset with eye and hand tracking, a feature that’s slowly being adopted by other headsets on the market, as well as voice commands. For example, users will be able to pinch to select and flick to scroll.
Vision Pro runs on a new Apple operating system, VisionOS, This operating system was created specifically to support spatial computing.
What can be done with the Vision Pro?
The headset is capable of running popular Apple applications, including Books, Camera, Contacts, Facetime, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos, Safari, and more in mixed reality – a blend of both AR and VR. It is also launching with lots of new apps built for the headset including Zoom, Microsoft 365, Slack, and more.
According to Apple, the apps will feel like they are in your natural space and environment. As a result, moving apps is similar to moving actual items around you.
Immersive video is one of the biggest selling points of the device, allowing users to feel as if they are physically present in the space where the video is taking place. For example, with the headset, you can stream a movie and watch it as if it were playing on a giant screen in another environment.
The Vision Pro headset will also be compatible with existing third-party streaming services to ease the continuity between your favorite applications and the headset. For example, users will be able to access Disney Plus, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, IMAX, and MUBI, to name a few. You can also leverage spatial video to watch your own videos created on your iPhone.
In addition, Facetime for Vision Pro will allow for videoconferencing in a collaborative environment, which you can use to work with your coworkers on projects at the same time. The tiles of people on the call will be “life-sized” and each person’s audio will be coming from the individual’s tile position, allowing for more natural conversation.
People on the call will see the Vision Pro wearer’s “digital persona”, which uses Apple’s machine learning technology to reflect the wearer’s face and hand movements in real-time, according to Apple.
How much will the Vision Pro cost you?
The Vision Pro currently has a huge price tag of $3,499 for the base storage model, it is also offering two additional tiers of storage options: the 512GB configuration, for $3,699, and the 1TB configuration, for $3,899. The box itself includes the headset, the battery pack, a Dual Loop Band, a cover, a light seal cushion, a polishing cloth, a USB-C Power Adapter, and a USB‑C Charge Cable.
When will the Vision Pro be available?
The Apple Vision Pro is available for purchase on the Apple website and in stores. Pre-orders for the device began on 19th January 2024, and those units began arriving at people’s doorsteps and became available for pickup on 2nd February 2024.
How to try the Vision Pro without buying it?
you can try the Vision Pro before purchasing by booking a one-on-one demo experience with a Specialist at the Apple Store. You can find the booking link here. You can also purchase the Vision Pro, try it for yourself, and return it after trying it.
