Meet Apple Vision Pro

Meet Apple Vision Pro: A Guide to Understanding this Innovative Headset

It’s been a decade filled with rumors, speculation, and leaks but the wait is finally over after Apple unveiled its highly anticipated AR/VR headset just a few days ago. 

Dubbed Vision Pro, this is a device the company boldly claims far exceeds the capabilities of other AR/VR headsets, promising it will seamlessly merge our digital and physical realities into a unified experience. 

Similar to how the Mac revolutionized personal computing and the iPhone propelled us into the era of mobile computing, Apple positions Vision Pro as the next groundbreaking technology that will steer society into the age of “spatial computing.”

But what does this mean?

In this article, we’ll get you caught up with Apple Vision Pro by answering 11 key questions and providing readers with everything you need to know about the headset Apple is calling its most ambitious product yet.

What is Apple Vision Pro?

Vision Pro is the latest product from Apple. It’s something they’re calling a “spatial computer”. They say this is because Vision Pro is much more than a simple AR/VR accessory but rather a wearable computing platform that may one day replace your laptop and smartphone altogether.

Vision Pro takes the digital world and places it into our physical reality. This untethers the computing experience from the confines of a screen, opening up a whole new dimension of interaction and immersion with everything from games and movies to information and content.

Is Vision Pro virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR)?

Officially speaking, Vision Pro is an augmented reality product. Unofficially though, many are putting it into the “XR” or mixed reality box because it toes the line between AR and VR. 

Let us explain.

Depending on the app, surroundings, and social setting, users can control their level of immersion ranging from being fully aware of the real world to being fully engulfed within a virtual environment. This functionality is controlled in on-the-fly by the user.

When friends and family are around, you can tone down the level of immersion to have normal conversions while still wearing the headsets because they can see you, and you can see them.  However, when you want to escape reality, you can turn up the dial to drown out your physical surroundings.

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What are the top Vision Pro tech specs to know?

Vision Pro boasts a cornucopia of wow-inspiring tech specs. CEO Tim Cook says the headset is packed with thousands of innovations and custom technologies. 

For example, the micro OLED displays, each the size of a postage stamp, share a whopping 23 million pixels together. Each panel is capable of greater than 4K resolution because engineers were able to stuff 64 pixels into the same amount of space required for just one iPhone pixel!

Next, when it comes to chips, you get not one but two bleeding-edge processors. Most readers are probably already familiar with the M2, which has been in use since 2022, but the R1 is an entirely fresh development, tailor-made exclusively for Vision Pro’s distinct needs and requirements.

Whereas the M2 handles routine CPU operations, the R1 is there to ensure a lag-free user experience. More specifically, it processes user input, spatial information, and sensor data in real-time to keep everything working in sync. This helps to avoid delay and blur which can cause users of AR/VR products to become physically ill. 

Lastly, there are dozens of highly sophisticated sensors and cameras dotted throughout the headset’s interior and exterior. There’s a pair of cameras facing outward, another pair facing downward, and another pair on the sides. Also, you find two “TrueDepth” cameras and four infrared cams, and a LiDAR scanner that all work in conjunction with an advanced microphone array and high-tech gyroscopes and accelerometers for precision motion capturing.

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What operating system does Vision Pro use?

Being an Apple product powered by the M2 chipset, you might guess that Vision Pro uses a version of macOS modified for headsets. However, instead of macOS, iOS, or watchOS, you’ll find a new operating system called visionOS, which Apple is touting as the world’s first-ever OS designed for spatial computing.

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At the UI level, visionOS looks and feels a lot like the other operating systems in the Apple family. But beneath the surface, the company had to develop a completely new system that features novel software architectures for things like real-time processing of virtual interactions and three-dimensional user interfaces.

How do users control Vision Pro?

Whereas most headsets on the market include motion controllers or other input accessories, Vision Pro is controlled primarily through your eyes, hands, and voice. 

Apple says “It’s like magic”.

By relying on the dozens of tracking sensors, mics, and camera arrays discussed earlier, Vision Pro doesn’t require input devices. However, it does support Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad in addition to third-party controllers for users who prefer tactical interactions when playing certain games or for accessibility reasons.

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  • True-to-Life Colors, Crisp and Vivid: Each pair of glasses undergoes precise color calibration to ensure exceptional color accuracy with no distortion. Witness stunningly accurate and vibrant colors as if they were right in front of you.
  • Personal Cinema, Anywhere, Anytime: With 3 adjustable dimming levels, the one-touch Immersion Control button makes it easy to use the glasses in any lighting condition, whether indoors or outdoors.
  • Cinematic Sound: Directional Audio technology minimizes sound dispersion, ensuring privacy and reducing disturbances while delivering clear, immersive sound.
  • Unlock Spatial Display with XREAL Beam Pro: Pair your XREAL Air 2 Pro with XREAL Beam Pro to enjoy millions of 2D apps in a 3D space, expanding your spatial experience like never before.

Can Vision Pro function as a computer monitor?

Is Vision Pro made for entertainment purposes or professional applications?

Both!

In terms of entertainment, Vision Pro provides an immersive and captivating experience like no other headset. You can dive into a world of virtual entertainment to play games, envelope yourself in movies that appear on 100-foot screens, interact with virtual objects, worlds, and characters, and create unforgettable experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination.

Beyond entertainment, its applications in the professional realm are equally impressive. For creative professionals such as designers, architects, and artists, Vision Pro is a powerful tool for visualizing and manipulating 3D models or designs in real space. It enables professionals to collaborate, showcase their work, and gain new perspectives on their creations. 

In fields such as education, healthcare, and engineering, it can provide immersive learning experiences, empowering students to explore historical sites, engage in interactive simulations, or dissect virtual objects, assist in medical training, surgical planning, and patient care, and aid in structural design, prototyping, and project planning.

Is Vision Pro a wireless headset?

Sort of. You’re free to roam without being tethered to a computer or docking station, but it still incorporates a wire that connects to a detachable battery pack. Unlike Meta Quest Pro, HTC Vive Pro 2, and other headsets on the market that integrate the battery directly into the device, the Vision Pro prioritizes compactness and weight. Since it’s detachable, one key advantage is owners will likely be able to purchase additional battery packs to swap them out when one runs out of power. And we expect this to happen quite frequently because Vision Pro requires recharging about every two hours, which puts it on par with other top-of-the-line headsets.

Is it possible to wear prescription glasses when using Vision Pro?

No. 

Vision Pro headset doesn’t allow users to wear glasses underneath due to interference with fit, fidelity, and eye-tracking. However, Apple has collaborated with German manufacturer ZEISS, to produce interchangeable magnetic lenses they call “Optical Inserts” as separate accessories.

Users are required to have a valid prescription, and certain lens types and measurements may not be available at launch.

What is the starting price of Vision Pro?

Apple Vision Pro starts at $3499.

While this price point makes Vision Pro one of the most expensive headsets available, it reflects the build quality, cutting-edge technology, and exceptional user experience that it offers. 

It also takes into account the extensive research and development that went into creating a state-of-the-art headset capable of delivering unmatched augmented reality and virtual reality experiences. 

To put it simply, if you’re looking for a headset that sets a new standard and caters to those who seek the highest level of AR/VR performance possible, it’s not going to be cheap.

When will Vision Pro be available for purchase?

The much anticipated Vision Pro headset from Apple is set to become available in early 2024 on apple.com and at Apple Store locations across the US. The company plans to expand availability to more countries later in the year.

 

Customers eager to try out the Vision Pro can learn more about its features and experience its capabilities firsthand at select Apple Store locations. Staff will be on hand to guide customers through the selection process, assisting in personalizing the fit and ensuring a comfortable and tailored experience with the headset.

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