Is Apple’s spatial computing headset worth the price? Can you try it before buying? ZDNET answers all your burning questions.
An Apple AR/VR headset — rumored for more than six years — finally became available this year. Eight months after Apple announced the Vision Pro at WWDC, the headset began shipping to customers.
The highly anticipated headset was designed to take mixed-reality experiences to the next level. Apple has even gone as far as claiming that the Vision Pro is the „most advanced personal electronic device ever.“
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How does the Vision Pro look and feel?
The design of the Vision Pro differs from many existing AR/VR headsets. For example, the device has an external battery pack that resembles the size of an iPhone and connects to the headset via a cable.
When you’re using the Vision Pro, therefore, you must be mindful of the battery (you can put it in your pocket) and the dangling cable.
By relying on a tethered battery system, Apple was able to reduce the headset’s weight. Apple claims this setup solves one of the biggest issues with AR/VR headsets: discomfort after extended use.
The Vision Pro itself resembles ski goggles. Its curved front includes an external screen for EyeSight, a feature that allows your eyes to be seen when others approach you.
The device features two OLED displays that together pack a total of 23 million pixels, Apple’s M2 chip, 12 cameras, five sensors, six microphones, and Siri. The headset also features Apple’s new R1 chip, which runs in parallel with the M2 chip to reduce lag.
The headset has two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pad to power its Personalized Spatial Audio, which personalizes sound for a user based on their head and geometry.
To switch between AR and VR, the headset has a crown similar to the one on the Apple Watch. There is also a knob that lets users customize the fit and a button on top of the headset to take photos.
Users can control the headset with eye and hand tracking, a feature that’s slowly being adopted by other headsets on the market, as well as voice commands. For example, users can pinch to select and flick to scroll.
Vision Pro runs on a new Apple operating system, VisionOS, which resembles the iPadOS interface, bringing Apple’s apps and services ecosystem to the headset. VisionOS was created specifically for spatial computing.
What can you do with the Vision Pro headset?
The headset is capable of running popular Apple apps, including Books, Camera, Contacts, FaceTime, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos, Safari, and more in mixed reality — a blend of both AR and VR.
