Apple has unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, marking its most significant new product since the Apple Watch. This powerful and futuristic device combines virtual and augmented reality, offering a groundbreaking experience in mixed reality. But what exactly is the Apple Vision Pro, and what can it do? Let’s delve into everything you need to know about this innovative product.
What is the Apple Vision Pro?
Presented at WWDC on June 5, 2023, the Apple Vision Pro is now available for pre-order in the United States and will hit stores on February 2. It immerses users in a virtual world while also allowing them to see the real world with a virtual overlay, providing a unique augmented reality experience. This mixed reality capability lets users see menus, screens, and objects in their living room, blending the virtual with the real.
Introduction of the Apple Vision Pro
Designed for both work and entertainment, the Apple Vision Pro is a versatile device. It offers Mac users additional screen space, allows movie watching on a life-size cinema screen, and supports gaming. Equipped with a 3D camera, it enables users to take photos and videos that wrap around them, offering an immersive experience. This feature is also compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max for creating suitable 3D photos.
Apple Vision Pro Overview
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Display | 23 million pixels, Micro‑OLED, 92% DCI‑P3, 7.5‑micron pixel pitch |
| Video Mirroring | Up to 720p AirPlay support |
| Chips | M2 Chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB unified memory), R1 Chip |
| Camera | Stereoscopic 3D, Spatial photo/video capture, 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture |
| Sensors | Eye-tracking cameras, LiDAR Scanner, IMUs, Flicker sensor |
| Optic ID | Iris-based biometric authentication |
| Audio Technology | Spatial Audio, Six-mic array, Supports AirPods Pro (2nd gen) |
| Battery | Up to 2.5 hours for video, 2 hours general use |
| Connectivity | Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Operating System | visionOS |
| Input Methods | Hands, Eyes, Voice |
| Weight | 21.2–22.9 ounces (600–650 g), Battery: 353g |
Apple Vision Pro: Ski Goggle-Like Design
The Apple Vision Pro boasts a lightweight design with ultra-thin lenses. Its battery is not housed within the headset but is instead worn separately, connected via a magnetic connector. This design reduces head pressure and heat production during use. Unlike all-in-one VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 3, which often require counterweights to balance their weight, the Apple Vision Pro requires no such adjustments.
The front of the headset features a 3D-curved plate of layered glass that contours around the user’s face. It includes a single button, a Digital Crown (similar to the one on the Apple Watch), and ventilation openings for cooling. The Light Seal and headband come in various shapes and sizes for a precise fit.
Screen Technology
The Apple Vision Pro offers the most advanced VR screen to date, with a resolution of 23 million pixels across two postage stamp-sized screens. According to Apple, this translates to a resolution higher than a 4K television for each eye.
Interestingly, the headset also has a third screen on the outside, an OLED panel designed to show the user’s eyes to people in the camera view, a feature Apple calls EyeSight. This screen becomes opaque in fully virtual environments or transparent to show the user’s eyes when someone nearby engages in conversation, making the interaction feel more natural.
Fast Apple Silicon Processor
The Apple Vision Pro is a high-end device with ultra-sharp displays, twelve cameras, five sensors, and six microphones. It is powered by two chips: the M2 (known from the MacBook Air) and a new R1 chip. The R1 chip ensures real-time responsiveness, with all computing done directly on the headset, eliminating the need for a Mac or other devices.
Guided tour Apple Vision Pro
Eye and Hand Tracking
A standout feature of the Apple Vision Pro is eye tracking, which enables navigation through eye movements. It also tracks facial expressions for virtual conversations, creating avatars that mimic the user’s expressions. The headset includes an iris scanner for user identification, termed ‘Optic ID,’ similar to Face ID and Touch ID.
Hand tracking is another crucial aspect. Using special sensors, the headset recognizes hand movements, allowing users to interact with virtual objects like menus and a virtual keyboard. Simple actions like looking at a button and squeezing your fingers can activate it, even when your hands are resting.
visionOS
Running on visionOS, a specialized operating system for virtual reality, the Apple Vision Pro provides access to a dedicated App Store. This includes apps and games specifically made for the headset, along with hundreds of thousands of existing iPhone and iPad apps.
visionOS introduces a new interface, displaying apps floating in the room or immersive 3D environments like a tropical island or cockpit. Users switch between VR and AR using a Digital Crown, similar to those on the Apple Watch and AirPods Max, to control the level of immersion. Control is achieved through eye, hand, and voice commands, with options for typing via voice or a virtual keyboard.
Integration with Mac
For Mac users, the Apple Vision Pro serves as an excellent companion, allowing wireless streaming of macOS content. Merely looking at a MacBook screen can transfer the display to visionOS. The device also functions as an external screen, surrounding the Mac with multiple virtual Mac screens. It can connect to a Magic Keyboard or Trackpad, offering a complete macOS experience.
The headset also supports FaceTime calls, using eye-tracking technology to create a 3D avatar of the user, visible to others on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Additional Features and Environmental Impact
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Audio & Video Playback | Supports AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, HEVC, H.264, HDR10 |
| Accessibility | VoiceOver, Zoom, Color Filters, Hearing Device Support |
| Built-in Apps | Wide range including App Store, Mail, Music, Safari, Maps |
| Box Contents | Apple Vision Pro, Accessories, Dual Loop Band, Battery, 30W USB‑C Adapter |
| Environmental Impact | Recycled materials, Arsenic-free glass, Mercury-free, Green manufacturing, Responsible packaging |
Price and Availability
The Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 for 256 GB storage, making it significantly more expensive than competitors. The price increases with additional storage. With its twelve cameras, two superior processors, and ultra-sharp display, the Vision Pro is arguably the most high-tech VR headset available, not directly comparable to cheaper models like the Meta Quest 3.
The price in the Netherlands and Belgium is not yet known, but it is expected to be around 4,000 euros, inclusive of taxes. The Vision Pro is currently not available in these countries, with initial availability limited to the United States. It will launch in other countries later in 2024, with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom often being among Apple’s first international markets.
