Visually, the headset looks more like ski goggles than other VR devices. Apple promises that wearers will be able to see and interact with the world around them. For instance, if someone comes into your space while wearing the Vision Pro, they’ll automatically appear in your display, and at the same time, a front-facing display will depict a real-time view of your eyes and face. Using voice, hand movements, and head movements, users can control their display and apps. That means there’s no clunky hand controllers like with other VR headsets.
Apple’s new VR device features a familiar goggle-shaped headset with twin postage-stamp sized screens that contain 23 million pixels. Each of these tiny OLED screens will deliver the equivalent of a 4K TV display to each eye, and using a new lens system, these screens will take up your entire visual field.
The front of the headset contains an outer display that’s made from a single piece of polished glass. The body is made from an aluminum alloy, which will make the headset durable but also lightweight. The strap that keeps the headset in place also contains speakers, and the back of the headset can be tightened with an adjustment dial, ensuring a secure fit. Apple says that the Vision Pro will feature all-day battery life, while an additional 2-day battery pack can be stored in your pocket.
The bad news: The release date and price
Apple’s VR headset was rumored to be expensive, and it definitely is. The Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499, which will be out of reach for the average consumer. This first iteration is definitely a luxury product. We can only hope that future models are more affordable.
As for the release date, Apple has only said that the Vision Pro will be released in “early 2024.”
How is the Vision Pro display meant to be used?
Apple is hoping that Vision Pro will finally bring virtual and augmented reality to the mainstream.
Current VR headsets like the Meta Quest 2 and the Sony Playstation VR2 headset are primarily used for gaming, although Meta invested heavily in a social metaverse called Horizon Worlds, which has largely failed to draw users. As a result, VR and AR has remained a niche gaming experience, but Apple is trying to change that.
During the WWDC23 keynote event revealing Vision Pro, Apple barely mentioned gaming at all. Instead, Vision Pro was pitched as an augmented reality tool for productivity, communication, and work. Existing Apple products like FaceTime will work with Vision Pro, and the headset can also be used to view your photos, videos, and panoramas as if they were life-size.
The Vision Pro will augment the environment around you, projecting digital content, apps, and video calls onto the world, which you’ll still be able to see in real time. Users can control this experience using head and hand movements, as if you’re a conductor for reality itself. With the turn of your head or snap of your fingers, you can bring up FaceTime or DisneyPlus. By glancing down at a MacBook, your laptop’s screen will automatically appear in your Vision Pro display.
Timothy Beck Werth
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