Apple took advantage of WWDC 2023 to launch a brand new product: Vision Pro. Apple has put a lot into this mixed reality headset that you can control with your eyes, hands, and even your voice.
Vision pro combines virtual reality and augmented reality
Apple’s headset uses what’s called “transitive” augmented reality. It has high definition screens and can run full VR applications, but is also equipped with cameras that can accurately capture your surroundings. This means it can offer the illusion of a real world with superimposed virtual objects. You may also be transported to another universe while still keeping an eye on what’s going on around you.
Apple has designed a brand new “VisionOS” interface in 3D that you can navigate with your eyes, hands and voice. Follow an icon to enlarge, tap your fingers to select and start speaking to search.
All your apps are displayed in front of you and you can move them freely in your field of view. New apps don’t need to replace old ones, they just appear in a new space.
Apple promises over 100 compatible Apple Arcades games, but you can use the headphones just fine for work, reading articles, relaxing in a quiet environment, or even watching a movie on the giant screen. The possibilities are as wide as when using a computer or your smartphone.
Vision Pro solves one of the biggest flaws in VR headsets
If most VR headsets tend to isolate you, the Vision Pro is different. Indeed, Apple has announced that the headset will display a video stream of your eyes so that your loved ones will still see you, and you can also get a glimpse of what’s going on in the room on demand thanks to the external cameras.
Apple also highlights a digital crown on the top of the helmet that can rotate enough to customize the level of immersion.
What features for Vision Pro?
At the tech sheet level, the Apple helmet relies on 5 sensors, 6 microphones, and 12 photo sensors oriented inwards and outwards to track the movement of your eyes and capture your surroundings. Inside the helmet are two small MicroLED displays with a resolution greater than 4K, one for each eye. Therefore, wherever you look, everything promises to be very clear.
The helmet itself has an aluminum frame and is intended to be modular in different shapes and sizes to accommodate faces. Audio Spatial-compatible speakers are integrated into the side, as with most competitors’ headphones.
The headband is ribbed and sits on the back of your head. You can change the headband size and style. Zeiss has created special optical parts for eyeglass wearers that magnetically attach to the lenses.
It has an external battery with two hours of autonomy and can be connected via a “flexible woven cable” to fit in a pocket. When it comes to pure performance, there’s an Apple M2 chip accompanied by a brand new R1 chip.
Price and availability
Apple says its earbuds will start at $3,499 and will launch in early 2024. The exact date hasn’t been announced yet, but we’ll keep you posted as soon as we know more.
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