The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first entry into the mixed-reality headset market. It combines both augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities into a sleek, futuristic design. Apple first unveiled the Vision Pro at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023 and has now confirmed that it is about to launch in the US on February 2, 2024, with pre-orders began on January 19.
Price
The Apple Vision Pro is priced starting at $3,499 in the US for the base 256GB storage variant. There is also a 512GB model for $3,999 and a top-end 1TB option for $4,499.
In India, direct conversion would put the pricing between Rs 2.5-3.5 lakh. However, Apple has not officially announced Indian pricing or retail availability as of yet. The Vision Pro is likely to launch in India within the first half of 2024, potentially by April or May.
Key Features and Specifications
Here are some of the standout features and specifications of the Apple Vision Pro:
- Two micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 3414×3414 pixels per eye, adding up to over 23 million pixels in total. This is higher than 4K resolution.
- Powerful Apple M2 chip with a secondary R1 chip to handle all sensor processing without latency.
- Hand and eye-tracking capabilities for intuitive control without any external controllers needed.
- Passthrough AR mode with 12MP cameras to blend virtual elements into the real environment.
- LiDAR scanner and other sensors for precise tracking and mapping.
- Spatial audio with head tracking for deeply immersive sound.
- Up to 2 hours of battery life for continuous use. The charging case provides additional power.
Apps and Content
The Vision Pro will support over 1 million iOS apps at launch, with many popular apps updated with enhanced VR modes. There will also be made-for-VR apps that leverage the headset’s capabilities, like spatial computing and passthrough AR.
Apple is making its own apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Xcode available. Third-party developers like Adobe, Microsoft, and Unity are also building VR apps.
For media, the Vision Pro will offer immersive 3D movie watching with spatial audio. The Apple TV app is being updated with over 150 titles in 3D at launch.
Use Cases
Apple is positioning the Vision Pro as a device for both consumers and professionals. Key use cases include:
- Next-generation entertainment through immersive 3D/spatial movies, concerts, and sports
- Enhanced productivity through virtual multi-display setups and VR workspaces
- Advanced 3D creative tools for developers, designers, etc.
- Blending virtual elements into real environments through passthrough AR
- Spatial communication via VR spaces and avatars
While the pricing is premium for now, Apple is expected to eventually release more affordable versions to target mainstream adoption in the coming years. But for early adopters, the Vision Pro offers a glimpse into the future of computing.
Conclusion
The Apple Vision Pro ushers in a new era of spatial computing and mixed reality, combining the capabilities of AR and VR headsets into a singular device. With its high-resolution displays, powerful processing, and intuitive inputs, the Vision Pro promises to take immersive experiences to the next level.
Indian pricing is expected to be on the higher side between Rs 2.5-3.5 lakh. The headset is set for a US launch on February 2, 2024, with global market expansion to follow in phases. As Apple’s most revolutionary product since the original iPhone, the Vision Pro has the potential to do for mixed reality what the iPhone did for multi-touch mobile computing.