News about Apple’s first virtual reality headset has been floating around for years, but now, the tech heavyweight has finally introduced the revolutionary Vision Pro at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this week.
Apple calls the Vision Pro a “spatial computer” as it certainly does much more than a standard VR headset. While most VR headsets are designed for gaming, the Vision Pro focuses on personal computing and provides new ways to work on numerous tasks, enjoy movies and TV shows, FaceTime with friends, and more. Featuring an ultra-high-resolution display system with a total of 23 million pixels, meaning over 4K for each eye, the Vision Pro is equipped with 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, and is powered by M2 and the brand-new R1 chip, while the new VisionOS’s 3D interface is controlled by the user’s eyes, hands, and voice for a seamless, real-time experience.
The impressive displays are able to offer a screen that feels like 100 feet wide, so in addition to watching movies and TV shows, other apps can appear side by side at any scale. Pairing the device with Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, it can be used to tackle work tasks too, with or without a Mac.
Using a headset when having people around you in real life can be awkward, as others just don’t know whether they should interact with you or not. The EyeSight feature on the Vision Pro solves this problem by giving visual cues when the user is using an app. What’s even more amazing is that when someone approaches the user, the exterior can display the user’s eyes, while the user is able to see the person in front of them, offering a more connected interaction. Wearing Vision Pro during FaceTime doesn’t prevent the person on the other end from seeing the user, either, as the user can create an ultra-realistic digital avatar called ‘Persona’ via machine learning, which can reflect face and hand movements in real-time.
There is also a new secure authentication system with Optic ID, which uses the user’s iris to unlock the device. The comfort level of wearing the device is also taken care of, as the Light Seal is made of a soft textile and available in different shapes and sizes, and the breathable Head Band is 3D knitted and also comes in multiple sizes. While the external battery only offers 2 hours of battery life, the device can be used all day when plugged in.
Priced at US$ 3,499, the Apple Vision Pro will be available in early 2024 in the U.S. first, then in more countries later in the year.
