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Step into the future with Apple’s groundbreaking creation, the Vision Pro – a mixed reality headset that shatters preconceptions. Unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2023, and officially launched in the United States on February 2, 2024, the Vision Pro is Apple’s first major product venture since the Apple Watch in 2015.
Marketed as a “spatial computer,” this device seamlessly integrates digital media with the physical world, ushering in a new era of interaction. With features like motion gestures, eye tracking, and speech recognition, the Vision Pro provides a revolutionary interface without aligning itself strictly with virtual or augmented reality, as emphasized by Apple’s deliberate choice of language in presentations and marketing.
At its core, the Vision Pro runs on visionOS, a mixed-reality operating system derived from iOS frameworks. The 3D user interface supports multitasking through floating windows, visible through the headset’s integrated cameras. A unique dial enhances immersion by masking the camera feed with virtual surroundings.
Notably, the device introduces avatars or “Personas,” generated by facial scanning, displayed on the front-facing screen as “EyeSight.” This not only serves as a visual representation but also communicates the user’s level of immersion and aids in seamless interaction. Apple Vision Pro is more than just a device; it’s a transformative journey into the uncharted realms of mixed reality.
Now, let’s dive in and explore the final judgment on the Apple Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro Review: Weight and Size
The Vision Pro headset is lighter than some competitors, weighing between 600 and 650 grams, providing relief during prolonged mixed reality sessions. When folded, the visor measures 114 x 196 x 132 mm, maintaining a compact size that is easily portable. The soft carry case facilitates effortless transportation and storage.
In summary, Apple has achieved a reasonably lightweight and portable AR/VR headset, considering the onboard processing power and displays. The headset’s size and weight are designed to suit various head shapes, ensuring comfortable use throughout the day.
Design And Comfort:
The Apple Vision Pro stands out as a sleek and customizable headset featuring a curved glass front panel and a modular design. It offers two bands – the Solo Knit Band for easy on/off with a built-in knob and the Dual Loop Band for added stability during longer sessions.
Despite its weight, wearing the Vision Pro for several hours was generally comfortable, prompting occasional breaks. The right side houses a digital crown for navigation and volume control, while the left side button serves multiple functions, including capturing photos and videos.
The modular design allows easy attachment of the Light Seal and Cushion, but some users note that the magnetic connection could be stronger, recommending holding it by the metal and glass frame.
Color Options:
The Apple Vision Pro comes in one color – a cool matte black. This sleek black look helps the device blend well in mixed reality surroundings, giving it a polished and high-tech appearance.
The black finish covers the visor, headband, and magnetic battery pack, with small silver Apple logos providing only bits of color on each side of the visor.
While some people might like different color choices, Apple’s choice of black aligns with its simple style and avoids distraction from virtual content by keeping real-world elements understated.
Display: Micro OLED technology and EyeSight
The Apple Vision Pro redefines visual excellence with its dual micro-OLED displays, boasting an impressive 23 million pixels across both screens – surpassing even Apple’s highest-resolution monitors.
These displays support HDR and a remarkable 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring ultra-smooth visuals devoid of motion blur, with local dimming for deep blacks and bright highlights. Apple’s custom silicon frame buffer guarantees lag-free switching between virtual environments, eliminating delays and artifacts for a seamless experience.
The ultra-high-resolution micro-OLED displays, each packing 23 million pixels, create true perceptual realism. Accurate head and eye tracking bring objects in your field of view to life in full 3D, delivering an incredibly immersive experience.
Transforming any space into a home theater with a screen that feels 30 meters wide, the Apple Vision Pro employs special catadioptric lenses for outstanding image sharpness. While glasses cannot be worn underneath the Apple Vision Pro, users with vision correction needs can opt for ZEISS optical inserts, magnetically attached to the display’s interior (sold separately).
The innovative EyeSight feature enhances user interaction, making the device appear transparent when someone approaches, revealing both the person and a realistic projection of the user’s eyes. This groundbreaking technology marks Apple’s stride toward redefining the visual landscape of augmented reality.
How is Performance Hardware:
At the heart of the groundbreaking Apple Vision Pro lies a dual-chip design powered by Apple’s cutting-edge silicon technology. The M2 chip takes center stage, delivering unparalleled standalone performance and managing critical tasks such as vision processing, rendering, and audio with console-grade precision. Utilizing a 5nm process, the M2 chip ensures optimal power efficiency for extended use.
Complementing the M2 chip is the brand-new R1 chip, a reality processor that processes inputs from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones. This powerhouse ensures that virtual content seamlessly integrates into the user’s real-world surroundings in real time. Impressively, the R1 chip streams new images to the displays within a mere 12 milliseconds – a remarkable 8 times faster than the blink of an eye.
The collaboration of these chips empowers the Apple Vision Pro with advanced graphics, physics simulations, and spatial audio, creating a mixed-reality experience of unparalleled stability even in complex virtual environments. Engineered for longevity, Apple guarantees at least three generations of OS support before requiring an upgrade, ensuring your investment stays relevant for years to come.
Designed for all-day use when plugged in, the Apple Vision Pro offers up to two hours of uninterrupted usage with its external high-performance battery, providing users with a seamless and powerful mixed-reality experience. Apple’s commitment to innovation and longevity positions the Vision Pro as a trailblazer in the realm of AR/VR hardware performance.
Battery Life:
The aluminum battery accompanying the Apple Vision Pro adds a touch of inconvenience, needing to be carried while using the headset. Weighing 12.4 ounces, it’s heftier than an iPhone 15 Pro Max, requiring careful placement to avoid accidental tugs during immersive experiences. While generally sufficient, the cord can occasionally become tangled, necessitating a disconnection to straighten it out.
Endurance-wise, the Vision Pro’s external battery provides 2 hours of general use and 2.5 hours of video playback. In real-world testing, the battery dipped to around 60% after 2 hours of on-and-off use, followed by a further decline to 40% over the next couple of hours. Continuous usage can be achieved by plugging in the battery with the included USB-C power adapter, a departure from competitors with built-in batteries.
While Apple offers a quick hot-swapping feature for seamless battery changes, additional batteries come at a cost of $129, providing users the flexibility for extended use. Although not the longest-lasting, the Vision Pro’s optimized design ensures comfortable full-day usage, and quick USB-C charging allows a rapid return to full power in under an hour. Apple’s approach, while requiring a bit of management, strikes a balance between power and convenience in the competitive landscape of mixed-reality headsets.
Security System of the Apple Vision Pro:
The Apple Vision Pro prioritizes user privacy and security with its Optic ID authentication system. Optic ID analyzes the user’s iris under invisible LED light exposures, ensuring a secure and instant unlock protected by the Secure Enclave. Crucially, the Optic ID data is fully encrypted, remains on the device, and is inaccessible to apps or Apple servers.
User gaze and eye-tracking information stay private during navigation and are not shared with Apple or third-party apps. System-level processing of camera and sensor data ensures spatial experiences without exposing user surroundings to individual apps.
EyeSight includes a visual indicator for transparency when users capture spatial photos or videos. Apple Vision Pro upholds a robust foundation of privacy, giving users control over their data at every interaction.
Exploring the Apple Vision Pro App Ecosystem:
As the Apple Vision Pro takes its initial steps into the market, the question of its app ecosystem remains a pivotal one. At present, Vision Pro-optimized apps are visible on the App Store, though options are somewhat limited. Games like Synth Riders and Game Room offer immersive experiences, yet the absence of VR game controllers raises questions about the platform’s gaming potential compared to rivals like the Quest 3.
However, the Vision Pro’s allure lies beyond gaming. iOS apps such as Slack, Microsoft’s suite, Paramount Plus, and more make the headset an intriguing extension of the workspace. While immersive apps are still a minority, promising glimpses emerge. Apps like Lowe’s Design showcase virtual demos, while DJay brings 3D turntables to life. Apple’s own offerings vary in optimization, with apps like Freeform and Keynote leading the way.
The potential is evident in standout experiences like djay, which offers a realistic mixer and turntable interaction, and SkyGuide, which is a captivating planetarium experience. Despite the modest native app count, the Vision Pro demonstrates its immersive capabilities with apps like JigSpace, which provides 3D models, and Voyager by ForeFlight, which simulates air traffic control.
However, challenges persist, with notable apps like Maps, GarageBand, and iMovie awaiting VisionOS optimization. The Vision Pro’s million-compatible apps at launch offer versatility, but the focus on truly native Vision Pro experiences remains essential. While the app selection may seem limited, the quality shines through in mind-blowing experiences, such as the Encounter Dinosaurs app, showcasing the platform’s potential for awe-inspiring moments.
Apple Vision Pro: RAM, Storage, Price and Accessories
The Apple Vision Pro is a cutting-edge device that offers unparalleled eye-tracking precision. It comes with a substantial price tag, starting at $3,499 for the 256GB entry-level model. If you need more storage, the 512GB option is priced at $3,699, while the 1TB variant is priced at $3,899. The device also offers additional accessories, such as ZEISS optical inserts for $99 and prescription lenses for $149, which ensures a customized and comfortable experience for glasses wearers.
If you want added protection and peace of mind, Apple Care+ is available for $499, providing 2 years of unlimited repairs and damage protection. For travel enthusiasts, the $199 travel case is indispensable for safeguarding the Vision Pro during flights or daily commutes.
Although the Vision Pro’s cost may raise eyebrows, its cutting-edge hardware and value proposition for early adopters make it a formidable contender in the immersive technology realm. As components mature over subsequent generations, the price is expected to witness a decline. Developers can also opt for the Vision Pro edition at $1,299, offering full tech specs with a focus on comfort-related hardware adjustments.
Spatial Audio System of the Apple Vision Pro:
The Apple Vision Pro has an advanced spatial audio system that provides an immersive sound experience. It works by scanning the user’s ears in advance (HRTF) to customize the audio based on individual head and ear shapes. This feature was introduced in iOS 16. With two amplified drivers in each audio pod placed near the user’s ears, personalized 3D audio is generated and transmitted directly.
Audio ray tracing sensors detect room materials and objects, which creates the illusion that sound comes from the surrounding environment. This innovative spatial audio system adapts to the user’s surroundings, providing a truly dynamic audio experience.
Photos And Spatial Video:
The Apple Vision Pro stands out prominently for its exceptional spatial photography and videography capabilities. Whether capturing 3D stills and videos directly with the headset or recording spatial videos via the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the device offers a cutting-edge experience.
Initiating a spatial video with the Vision Pro involves using the top button on the left side of the headset, a process that may evoke a sense of geekiness, sure to attract good-natured banter from friends and family.
The Vision Pro takes panoramic photos to a new level by enveloping the viewer in a unique immersive experience, creating the sensation of standing at the center of the frame.
Owners of the Vision Pro are likely to find renewed inspiration for capturing panoramic photos and rediscovering their entire photo gallery. Even standard photos gain a new lease of life when viewed through the Vision Pro, delivering an engaging stroll down memory lane.
In personal experience, revisiting photos from a trip to witness the Buffalo Bills game and Niagara Falls proved to be a delightful blast, with the device amplifying the emotional impact, particularly capturing the priceless smile of my son during the game. The Apple Vision Pro seamlessly integrates advanced spatial photography features, offering users an unparalleled and emotionally resonant visual experience.
Personas:
Apple Vision Pro is a headset that promises to connect people in a more immersive and interactive way. However, concerns have been raised about its bulky design, which may lead to isolation. The headset features enhance FaceTime calls by creating life-size tiles and making conversations feel natural with Spatial Audio.
When wearing the Vision Pro, you can become a digital Persona that mimics real-time face and hand movements. This feature allows for shared experiences during FaceTime calls, such as watching movies or collaborating on presentations. Despite the encasing design, the Vision Pro aims to bring people together in a more engaging way.
Apple Vision Pro – Specs at a Glance
| Specs | Details |
| Capacity |
|
| Display |
Up to 720p AirPlay for mirroring your view in Apple Vision Pro to any AirPlay‑enabled device, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV (2nd generation or later), or AirPlay‑enabled smart TV |
| Chips | R1: 12‑millisecond photon‑to‑photon latency 256GB/s memory bandwidth
R2: 8‑core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 10‑core GPU 16‑core Neural Engine 16GB unified memory |
| Camera | Stereoscopic 3D main camera system
Spatial photo and video capture 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture 6.5 stereo megapixels |
| Sensors | Two high‑resolution main cameras
Six world‑facing tracking cameras Four eye‑tracking cameras TrueDepth camera LiDAR Scanner Four inertial measurement units (IMUs) Flicker sensor Ambient light sensor |
| Optic ID | Iris‑based biometric authentication
Optic ID data is encrypted and accessible only to the Secure Enclave processor Secures personal data within apps Make purchases from the iTunes Store and App Store |
| Audio Technology | Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking
Personalized Spatial Audio and Audio Ray Tracing Six‑Mic Array with Directional Beamforming Supports H2‑to‑H2 Ultra‑Low‑Latency Connection to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) Audio Playback: AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos Video Playback: HEVC, MV‑HEVC, H.264, HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG |
| Battery | Up to 2 hours of general use
Video watching up to 2.5 hours Apple Vision Pro can be used while charging the battery |
| Connectivity and Wireless | Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Operating System |
|
| Interpupillary Distance (IPD) | 21.2–22.9 ounces (600–650 g) |
| Input | Hands
Eyes Voice Supported Input Accessories Keyboards Trackpads Game controllers |
| Price | 3,499 US dollars, price in euros not yet announced |
| Release date | Feb 2, 2024, in the U.S., later that year in other countries |
| General | Singular piece of 3D formed glass that acts as a lens, aluminum alloy frame, light seal, 3D knitted headband
Shutter button for photo/video recording Digital Crown for Immersion Control |
Conclusion:
The Apple Vision Pro, though steeply priced at $3,500, proves to be a groundbreaking innovation comparable to the original iPhone. Its microOLED displays, realistic video pass-through, and intuitive eye and hand-tracking interface showcase remarkable ingenuity. The spatial computing experience elevates multitasking, especially when paired with a Mac.
In terms of entertainment, the unmatched 3D video experience and Immersive Video feature have transformative potential for concerts and sporting events. The Vision Pro’s 3D spatial photos and videos redefine memory recall.
While the app situation is evolving, with some notable absences at launch, promising AR apps hint at the headset’s potential. However, the high cost and a tethered battery may limit initial appeal. The beta-stage Personas, though admirable, might need refinement. The Vision Pro is undeniably revolutionary, but its evolution is a work in progress.
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