Apple has spent more than ten years developing the augmented and virtual reality headgear known as Apple Vision Pro. With the device’s June WWDC 2023 introduction. Vision Pro is the company’s first foray into a significant new product category since the 2015 Apple Watch. Pre-orders for the Vision Pro were opened by Apple on January 19 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time and the device was released on February 2.
Although Apple does not refer to the Apple Vision Pro as a headset, it is undoubtedly one. Rather, because of its capacity to integrate digital content with the real environment, Apple refers to it as a spatial computer. The Vision Pro is referred to by Apple as the original device for spatial computing.
It’s important to note that the Apple Vision Pro is not see-through. It is a mixed reality headset that shows immersive fully virtual content and augmented reality content placed on your surroundings. All of what you see is digital. Apple employs cameras to map out your surroundings and convert them into a digital image enhanced with virtual features for augmented reality entertainment that doesn’t make your surroundings disappear.
For a virtual reality experience, Apple turns off those cameras, which may give you the sense that everything has stopped around you, freeing your attention to focus just on the content displayed on the headset’s screens. The “real” and “immersive” can be switched between using an on-device Digital Crown.
The Apple Vision Pro’s design looks similar to that of a set of ski goggles. Its front is made of a single piece of laminated glass that blends into an aluminum alloy frame. To filter out light, a fitting, soft Light Seal fits over your face and magnetically connects to the frame.
Table of Contents
Features Of Apple Vision Pro
- 4K tiny OLED screens with 23 million pixels
- Tracking eyes and gestures for control and navigation
- Over a dozen cameras
- 3D image and video recording
- Integrated spatial audio
- Operating system: VisionOS; Optic ID iris scanning
- External battery with a two-hour capacity
How to Purchase Apple Vision Pro
Pre-orders for the Apple Vision Pro began on January 19 and the device was released on Friday, February 2, 2024. For individuals who would like to test out the headset before buying it, demo sessions at Apple retail shops opened on February 2. While the Vision Pro is indicating shipping dates beyond March, pre-orders have mostly sold out, and there seems to be some walk-in stock available at Apple retail outlets. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company has already sold up to 180,000 Vision Pro headsets.
Shopping centers in the United States and the United States online stores sell the Vision Pro. In every Apple store location, Apple is conducting tutorials.
According to rumors, the Vision Pro will go on sale in China “no later than May,” and then in other nations before the year is up.
The starting price for 256GB of storage is $3,500. Customers must scan their Face ID throughout the buying process to determine the proper fit of the headband and Light Seal.
Custom prescription lens inserts are $149, and Zeiss reading lenses for the Vision Pro are an extra $99 in cost. To receive personalized prescription lens inserts, a current, unexpired prescription from a U.S. eye care provider must be submitted after the purchase.
What’s Within the Box
The Solo Knit Band and the Dual Loop Band are the two bands that come with the Vision Pro. Additionally, it includes a battery, a USB-C charging cable, a USB-C power adapter, a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions in different sizes, an Apple Vision Pro Cover to use when the headset is not in use, and a polishing cloth.
Reviews of Apple Vision Pro
Overall opinions of Vision Pro are divided. Although the hardware and technology of the Vision Pro have generally impressed critics, there are still concerns regarding the gadget’s actual functionality, the ease of use of the gesture-based control, the weight and comfort of the device, and virtual reality in general.
One of the greatest overviews of Vision Pro is provided by Nilay Patel of The Verge. Although he acknowledged that Apple has undoubtedly released the greatest VR headset hardware to date, he warned there are still significant compromises to be made. Patel disliked the fit of the Vision Pro due to its effect on makeup and hair, and he found it unpleasant to wear for extended periods.
Working in the actual world with external devices such as the Mac gives you an “out there” feel. “You’re in there as well having experiences all by yourself that no one person can take part in,” Patel penned. “I’ve come to agree with what the Apple CEO has been saying for so long: headsets are essentially isolating.”
According to Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal, the hand motions recorded by the headset’s cameras were logical, and the navigation made sense. However, Patel claimed he found it annoying to have to gaze at the object he wanted to manipulate because that’s not how it works with a Mac or an iPhone, and occasionally the eye tracking didn’t react to movement.
Stern claims that using the virtual in-the-air keyboard for anything more than a brief message “will drive you mad.” To perform any “real work,” users will require a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard.
Reviewers generally disapproved of the EyeSight external display, describing it as artificial, hazy, and difficult to observe at best, and spooky at worst.
How It works
Because Apple Vision Pro is a “mixed reality” headset, it can show content from both augmented and virtual reality. But unlike augmented reality glasses, it is made to completely cover your eyes and obscure everything around you.
Apple’s augmented reality feature makes use of both internal and external cameras. With the use of see-through glasses, you can view an accurate representation of your real-world surroundings even though you are not looking around you since the cameras can map the space around you and display the real world back to you.
Apple can display 3D windows, stuff, and content in your actual space using this functionality. As an alternative, you can turn off the cameras to make the scene entirely virtual. Apple is emphasizing how the Apple Vision Pro headset enables users to work, consume content, play games, communicate, and engage in other “anywhere” activities.
Design
Although Apple does not call its wearable “spatial computing” device Apple Vision Pro a headset, that is precisely what it is. The Apple Vision Pro is a head-mounted virtual/augmented reality ear that resembles Meta Quest or the PlayStation VR.
In terms of design, the Apple Vision Pro resembles a premium set of ski goggles. According to Apple, its front is made of laminated glass that was “three-dimensionally formed.” A curved frame made of aluminum alloy encircles the face and is fixed to which is the glass. The headset is currently only offered in silver with bands and Light Seals that complement grey.
The Light Seal lies on the face and is magnetically attached to the frame. Apple sells it in a range of sizes and forms to fit different facial features. For the headset to function properly and to filter out light, the Light Seal must fit snugly. Apple made the Light Seal flexible to fit different face shapes. A poorly fitted Light Seal lets light seep in and makes the Apple Vision Pro display hazy.
The side of the caps has two audio straps that have speakers that provide spatial sounds. The audio straps link to a Solo Knit Band, a 3D braided band of cloth with an adjustable dial for a bespoke fit, which fastens the headset to the back of the head. Wearers will be able to swap out the main braided headband for one that better suits them in terms of size or, should Apple choose to produce more designs in the future, style, as it is detachable.
Display
Apple claims that the 23 million pixels available on the two specially designed micro-OLED panels in the Apple Vision Pro are “more pixels than a 4K TV.” Although the headset displays have a 90Hz refresh rate by default, 24 frames per second movies can activate a 96Hz refresh rate.
Although the display’s size has been compared to a postage stamp, its hardware details are currently unknown.
Additionally, there is an exterior “EyeSight” display that allows others in the room to see the wearer’s eyes. People can use this function to determine if the wearer of the headset is in a completely immersive virtual reality mode or a less immersive augmented reality mode.
An internal camera that records the wearer’s eye movements provides the eye display that is displayed on the external display. Additionally, it can notify others when you use the external camera to shoot video.
Lens Inserts
Zeiss Optical inserts with their specification can be ordered by Apple Vision Pro users who wear glasses. Zeiss lenses cost $149 for readers or $99 for a custom prescription. The lenses can have their edges etched and are attached magnetically to the displays inside the headset.
Prescriptions for Zeiss lenses can be obtained between -11.00D and +6.75D; prism prescriptions are not supported at this time. Hard contact lenses are incompatible with Apple Vision Pro; it is only suitable for usage with soft contacts.
Cameras and Sensors
12 cameras and five sensors are used in Apple Vision Pro to map the surrounding area and track hand movements.
Two of the cameras are used for augmented reality mode, sending over a billion pixels per second to the display to depict the real world around the wearer; Real-time 3D mapping, hand tracking, and head tracking can be done with the help of the other cameras.
In low light, infrared flood illuminators improve hand tracking, while LiDAR depth sensors let you locate and measure things in the room.
The headset has four infrared cameras and LED lights within it for eye tracking. The Apple Vision Pro can determine the precise location of the wearer’s gaze for navigational reasons thanks to its technology.
Navigation
The Vision Pro is not fitted with any physical controls. Voice-activated instructions, hand gestures, and eye movements are used for navigation. For instance, in visionOS, you can use a simple hand motion to open an app by highlighting an element, such as an app icon, with your eyes.
Bluetooth keyboards, mice, trackpads, and game controllers can be connected to Vision Pro as an extra navigation method, even if their primary purpose is with an Apple Arcade game connection and a Mac.
Videos taken from the visionOS software are used to show eye and gesture-based navigation. Apple guides customers through the process of examining a system component and tapping it with their fingertips. Even with hands comfortably resting in laps, hand movements can be detected by the headset.
Optic ID
The Vision Pro’s Optic ID security feature uses its LED lights and infrared cameras. Similar to Touch ID or Face ID, Optic ID uses iris scanning rather than fingerprint or face scanning.
The headset can identify each individual’s distinct iris pattern to protect sensitive data stored on it. Similar to Face ID, Optic ID can be used as an alternative to passwords for purchases, device unlocking, and authentication.
3D Camera
With the Vision Pro, users may examine 3D photographs and videos taken with Apple’s outside camera in three dimensions. Apple claims that because of the “incredible depth” that is available, using them is similar to reliving an experience in person.
When recording is enabled, the camera indicates that it is impossible to record video covertly using the headset.
The spatial video capability of the Vision Pro has been tested by many media representatives, and reviews have said that it’s so realistic that it’s almost unsettling. It fosters intimacy in a way that two-dimensional photographs cannot, according to Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern, while CNET’s Scott Stein remarks that the movies are simple to produce with the iPhone 15 Pro models and appear “compellingly realistic.”
Audio
The speakers have been incorporated into the straps that connect them to the frame, and there are speakers on either side of the headset. The speakers include dual-driver audio pods adjacent to each ear, and they can adjust the sound to fit the acoustics of the room by analyzing its characteristics.
There are six microphones for voice commands, video calls, and phone conversations in addition to the speakers’ capabilities for spatial audio, which creates an immersive surround sound experience.
The USB-C AirPods Pro, which was released in September 2023, provides 20-bit, 48 kHz lossless music with extremely low latency when linked to the Apple Vision Pro, providing users with an enhanced listening experience.
Connectivity
The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are used by Wi-Fi 6, which is compatible with the Vision Pro. The speedier Wi-Fi 6E specification, which is compatible with the 6GHz band, is not supported by it.
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RAM and Processors
Two chips power the Apple Vision Pro. The M2 microprocessor, which debuted with the 2022 MacBook Air, serves as the primary CPU. Its duties include supplying graphical content, processing content, executing computer vision algorithms, and operating the visionOS operating system. An 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU are features of the M2 chip found in the Vision Pro.
Every piece of data originating from the cameras, sensors, and microphones is handled by a second R1 chip. Apple claims that it can deliver a “virtually lag-free” view of the environment by streaming images to the displays in less than 12 milliseconds.
The Vision Pro’s internal thermal system regulates heat and enhances performance by silently pushing air through the headset.
Dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, specifically engineered for use with the R1 input processing processor, will be utilized by the Vision Pro headset. Apple will receive 1-gigabit low latency DRAM chips from SK Hynix, which feature more input and output pins to reduce delays. There will be 16GB of RAM in the headset.
Storage Space
Apple offers enhanced Vision Pro models with 512GB and 1TB of storage in addition to the entry-level model’s 256GB.
Battery Life
When using an external power pack, the Vision Pro has a two-and-a-half-hour battery life; for watching 2D content, this amount of time is advised. Apple claims that the Vision Pro’s battery life is two hours for regular use. Even though the device only comes with one battery pack, it is possible to swap them out for additional power while on the go. With a power adapter put in, the Vision Pro’s battery lasts for a whole day.
visionOS
Apple Vision Pro runs on the operating system known as visionOS, which was developed specifically for the headset. The “infinite canvas” feature of visionOS allows app windows to move anywhere in the area around the user.
Apple has redesigned several apps, including FaceTime, Messages, Safari, and others, to work in a three-dimensional space. In addition, the headgear is compatible with the whole library of iPhone and iPad apps. Apps for the iPhone and iPad can be used on the virtual canvas, but they are not optimized for 3D.
With Apple TV+ and other apps, you can stream movies and TV episodes that can be resized to appear to be “100 feet wide.” Apple has developed unique immersive 3D content specifically for visionOS, and it also has its App Store.
Apple refers to visionOS as the first spatial operating system since it requires no physical controllers and can be operated only with hand and eye movements.
Mac Integration
A Mac can be used with visionOS as a display. It functions as a massive external display for Mac content and linked keyboards, mice, and trackpads provide users with familiar capabilities.
The Vision Pro only offers a single Mac display when linked to a Mac, therefore using Mac apps alone will not allow you to set up a configuration that appears to have many displays. Nonetheless, for a multi-window experience, Vision Pro programs can be utilized in conjunction with the Mac interface.
Current Version
The software was released shortly before Vision Pro was introduced, and the most recent version of visionOS is 1.0.2. Additionally, Apple is testing a version of visionOS 1.1 that enhances Personas and adds support for mobile device management, iMessage Contact Key Verification, and other features.
How-Tos for Vision Pro
- Apple Offers Advice on Improving the Appearance of Your Persona
- These Are the Motions for Operating Vision Pro
- Is Your Vision Pro Fit Poorly? Apple’s Suggestions for Enhancing It Are Below
- What You Should Know About Using Apple Vision Pro While Travelling
- These Bluetooth accessories are compatible with Apple Vision Pro Optical ID: Apple Describes the Iris Authentication System for Vision Pro
- Apple Provides a User Guide for Vision Pro and a plethora of Help Documents Including Helpful Advice
- How to Take a Screenshot or Take a View Record
Medical Warnings
According to Apple, the Vision Pro headset may make certain medical conditions worse. Before using the Vision Pro, patients with these disorders should speak with a healthcare provider because the headset may make symptoms worse.
- cardiac disorders
- Headaches that don’t go away
- wooziness or dizziness
- Conditions relating to the eyes or vision, such as binocular vision
- psychological circumstances
- ailments of the inner ear
- History of eyelid swelling, itching, or dry eyes
- Sensitivities or allergies of the skin
- Convulsions
- problems relating to balance or gait
Apple also notes that due to a higher risk of nausea or dizziness, pregnant users should use the Vision Pro with extra caution.
Additionally, Apple cautions that the Vision Pro and its battery pack may interfere with defibrillators, hearing aids, and cardiac pacemakers, among other surrounding equipment.
Timeline of Apple Vision Pro
February2024
- February 14 How to Recover Your Apple Vision Pro Passcode If You Forgot It
- Feb. 13: Apple Provides a Summary of the Security and Privacy Features in Vision Pro
- February 12: How to Force or Restart Apple Vision Pro
- February 11: It May Take Four Generations for Apple Vision Pro to Achieve “Ideal Form”
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