Virtual reality is an ever-expanding industry, with heavy hitters like Valve and Meta setting new standards on what we can achieve with updated products and exciting software launching year after year. It’s no surprise then that Apple finally announced its own unique foray into the platform during the World Wide Developer Conference earlier this year.
Combining Apple’s sleek approach to aesthetics with some fascinating technology under the hood, the Vision Pro headset promises a deluxe mixed-reality setup that can augment your leisure time and assist with your workflow. Instead of being a hub for novelty experiences, Apple wants consumers to slip on the headset as part of their daily routine.
It’s easy to assume Apple’s technological pedigree will mean the Vision Pro can easily find a place among the best VR headsets, but there’s plenty to consider before you double down and take an expensive leap.
Apple Vision Pro Release Date
While the Vision Pro doesn’t have an official release date, Apple’s website does suggest the device will launch early next year. This information seemingly only applies to the US store, so those shopping internationally may find the product availability limited depending on their particular region, which is par for the course when it comes to Apple products.
International buyers will have access to the Vision Pro from late next year, though no solid date is attached, nor are there any particular regions mentioned.
We’ll be sure to update this article as soon as we know more about when you can get your hands on this new technology.
It’s worth mentioning that it’s not guaranteed that all Apple stores will always have access to ‘try-on’ stations if you want to try it out in person before purchasing. The best place to check for these details when Vision Pro comes out is with your local Apple Store.
Apple Vision Pro Price
Virtual reality headsets are not cheap, and the Vision Pro is perhaps the most luxurious option coming to market. Coming in at $3,499, this headset sits on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, beating out the comparatively affordable Meta Quest Pro and even the high-end Valve Index. One bonus with the Vision Pro is that it functions as its own computer, so you won’t need any additional kit like PCs or consoles to use the headset.
Apple Vision Pro Models
The Vision Pro is the first entry into Apple’s VR product line, with only one model available as of writing. However, given Apple’s penchant for customizability across its MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch and iMac lines, there will hopefully be more customizability coming to the Vision Pro in the future. It would be great to see alternative colourways for the headset, as well as potential variety in specs to create a more affordable option or a super high-spec unit for power users.
Apple Vision Pro Features
Apple loves to fill its products with features that mask the technical nitty-gritty in order to make them approachable to all manner of users, focusing on easy-to-use UI and functional systems. As such, the Vision Pro has seemingly inherited many notable features from Apple’s current product lines, like Siri.
The Vision Pro has its own custom OS called visionOS. This new ‘spacial software system’ blends assets from Apple’s other tried and tested operating systems, like macOS and iPadOS, creating a bespoke software setup the Vision Pro headset will harness to deliver a smooth experience.
Users will be able to manipulate the size of the in-headset ‘screen’ in the room, with certain apps creating a 3D impression by casting shadows. For deeper immersion, the Vision Pro also has a Digital Crown you can rotate to fully envelop yourself in the OS at will or reduce it to provide transparency and presence in the real world.
The Vision Pro also features built-in headphones that are located on the wearable strap of the device, which will offer spatial audio. By using audio ray tracing, the Vision Pro is said to create a picture of your environment’s acoustics, tweaking your playback from moment to moment.
You can interact with the Vision Pro’s UI in various ways, from voice control to eye tracking and hand gestures, depending on your needs. Unlike the Valve Index, which uses Lighthouses (external mapping devices to get a picture of the room), the Vision Pro has a series of sophisticated inside-out cameras that map the space at large. The cameras can also be used in tandem with specific gestures to select and manipulate parts of theOS to achieve what you want in real-time.
If you are working on something more long-form, the Vision Pro is Bluetooth enabled so you can connect a mouse or keyboard at will, and create a little office space. The Vision Pro also has FaceTime built-in, so you’ll be able to host all kinds of meetings and catch ups while you work in VR. VisionOSs rendition of Facetime will resize those on the call to fit the space, meaning you can co-work on calls while utilizing your whole environment.
The Vision Pro also houses a 3D camera, which you can use to record and capture pictures and images in 3D, which you can replay later, like digital memories.
Finally, OpticID is Apple's security solution for the device, which uses an imprint of your iris to create a unique biometric signature for the user. An evolution of the Touch ID and Face ID Apple users have come to know, Optic ID will use light to map your eye, storing that information on the Vision Pro headset itself. Once set up, your iris will be used to unlock the headset but authorize payments, too. As Bo Burnham says… we’re living in the future.
Apple Vision Pro Specs
The Vision Pro uses a dual-chip system, pairing the M2 seen in Apple’s Mac line with a new invention for the product called the R1 chip. This joint system shares the load, with the M2 bearing the weight of the computing portion running the device's OS. The R1, on the other hand, is responsible for input processing and handling the cameras, microphones and sensors.
From what we can see in product videos and Apple’s official run down, the Vision Pro will offer a mix of both wired and wireless play. Touting approximately two hours of wireless use, users can switch between free movement and a static set-up. For longer mixed reality working sessions, Apple has announced a separate battery pack, giving users extra wire-free playtime. From what we can see in Apple’s promotional videos and images, the external battery will connect to the device through a port on the headset via a braided wire with the pocket-sized battery at the other end.
As we mentioned in our features section, the Vision Pro will not use lighthouses to map the room but rather a collection of cameras in the front and side of the headset that scans the room in real-time, similar to PSVR2 or Meta Quest 2. When in use, you’ll see the Vision Pro’s augmented world through Apple’s ‘custom micro‑OLED display system’, which purports to offer more pixels than a 4K TV in each eye. So, ostensibly, you can use it like an immersive theater room for watching your favorite content, creating a cinematic scene.
Apple Vision Pro Design
Comfort and fit are key features to consider when shopping for headsets. If the Vision Pro is going to become a part of your daily routine, you’re going to want it to feel like a natural extension rather than a heavy unit hanging off your face. Apple’s Vision Pro appears to harness many of the brand's existing stylistic choices and materials to create something that looks and feels like it's a part of the Apple ecosystem.
The external display on the Vision Pro is one complete glass piece that’s kept in place with an aluminum frame that covers your eyes. A flexible ‘Light Seal’ then connects the display to your face while blocking out immersion-ruining light.
The external glass protects the internal components of the headset but is also used as a display for the EyeSight tool, which projects a generative image of your eyes onto the external display, allowing a facsimile of presence and a face for other people to look at while you use the Vision Pro. You can toggle the amount of transparency with the Digital Crown, too.
The headband that keeps it all in place is also made of a woven, textured fabric reminiscent of what we’ve seen across Apple’s Watch bands and the Airpods Max, which should allow for some breathability and flexibility.
