Apple unveiled its highly anticipated mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro, during its annual WWDC keynote. The company describes the Vision Pro as the "most advanced personal electronics device ever." The cutting-edge features of the headset, which includes Apple's own "EyeSight" technology and a 12-camera array, enable wearers to seamlessly perceive their surroundings.
Competing with Meta's Oculus Quest line of headsets, the Vision Pro positions itself as a premium offering with a starting price of $3,499 when it launches early next year. Meta's recently announced Quest 3 offers similar mixed-reality capabilities at a price of $499, while the more advanced Quest Pro starts at $999 and boasts enhanced body tracking.
Nonetheless, the Vision Pro embodies Apple's vision for the future of personal computing. The company showcased a feature-rich product that seamlessly integrates a headset computer into everyday life, catering to video calls, productivity, and more. While initially targeting early adopters and developers due to its high price, the Vision Pro aligns with Apple's history of introducing groundbreaking products that eventually become mainstream, much like the iPhone.
As with any new product, the true test lies in its real-world performance and whether users will find prolonged headset usage appealing. The market demand for goggles remains uncertain. However, with its signature Apple build quality and seamless integration with iOS, the Vision Pro may be the catalyst the AR/VR industry needs to reach wider audiences. For now, the ultimate judgment remains undecided.
Features of Apple Vision Pro
The Apple Vision Pro sets itself apart from other MR headsets with its immersive UI and integration with Apple apps. It blends the digital world with your real environment, displaying a lifelike design that seamlessly fits into any setting. The UI elements have 3D layering, adding depth and realism, and they respond to light by casting shadows. You have the freedom to place apps wherever you want, even making them larger for comfortable viewing.
Similar to the Meta Quest Pro, the Apple Vision Pro allows you to open multiple apps simultaneously, adjusting them to the environment. This provides endless possibilities for multitasking and entertainment, as apps can appear side by side in various sizes and spaces. The headset also introduces Environments, dynamic landscapes that help eliminate distractions from the real world, offering a more immersive experience.
Environments and Immersive Entertainment
With Vision Pro, you can enjoy enhanced entertainment options. Apps, movies, and TV shows can be scaled up to create a screen that feels as large as 100 feet. Additionally, the headset supports Apple's Immersive Video, featuring high-resolution recordings with spatial audio, and provides access to 100 Apple Arcade games. The visionOS app store offers a wide range of experiences, including familiar iPhone and iPad apps adapted for the headset.
A Full Controller-Less System
One notable feature of the Apple Vision Pro is its lack of controllers. The headset relies on hand gestures, voice commands, and eye tracking for navigation. You can effortlessly browse through apps by looking at them, using your wrists and fingers to select and interact, and even dictate commands with your voice. This innovative approach sets the Vision Pro apart from other headsets that primarily rely on handheld controllers.
Apple Vision Pro: Eyesight
The Vision Pro introduces a feature called "Eyesight" that keeps users connected to the real world. When someone approaches a Vision Pro user, the display becomes transparent, allowing both parties to see each other. Visual cues indicate the user's focus, enhancing communication and interaction.
Optical ID for Privacy
Apple prioritizes privacy and security with the Vision Pro. The headset features Optical ID, an iris authentication system that compares the user's iris data to the enrolled ID data for secure access. The technology utilizes invisible LED light exposures to analyze the iris, ensuring sophisticated authentication. Furthermore, the Vision Pro protects the user's viewing area and does not share that information with third-party apps.
visionOS Brings Apple Pro to Life
The Apple Vision Pro operates on a new software platform called visionOS. This operating system has been specifically designed to support the low latency requirements of spatial computing. It introduces a three-dimensional interface, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Apple Vision Pro: Hardware Specifications
Chipset
The Apple Vision Pro relies on the power of the M2 Chip for computational tasks and thermal management, ensuring optimal performance and comfort. Additionally, a new R1 chip is dedicated to sensor processing. With 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, the R1 chip achieves impressively low latency of 12 ms, eight times faster than the blink of an eye. The headset is powered by an external high-performance battery, offering up to two hours of use on a single charge, and can last all day when connected to a power source.
Display
Although exact specifications were not provided, the Apple Vision Pro is equipped with micro-OLED displays that pack 23 million pixels into two small screens. These displays offer wide color range, high dynamic range, and deliver a resolution surpassing that of a 4K TV for each eye. Custom catadioptric lenses enhance sharpness and clarity, ensuring an exceptional visual experience.
Audio
To create an immersive audio experience, the Vision Pro incorporates two amplified drivers in each audio pod near the ears. These drivers, in conjunction with the user's head geometry, deliver spatial audio. Apple's 'Audio Ray Tracing' technology intelligently adapts to the user's environment, providing consistent and captivating audio.