Apple recently unveiled its first foray into the world of spatial computing and extended reality with the Apple Vision Pro. This futuristic head-mounted display blends virtual and augmented reality capabilities into one sleek device. With a sky-high price tag of $3,499, is the Vision Pro worth the investment? Let’s take a closer look at what this cutting-edge gadget has to offer.
Is the Apple Vision Pro Worth It?
Is the Apple Vision Pro worth it? If you’re an early adopter hungry for a sneak peek at the future of spatial computing, yes. The Vision Pro offers an incredibly polished and immersive experience that convincingly blends real and virtual worlds. Read on to learn more about the standout features that make this futuristic device so compelling.
About Apple Vision Pro
The Vision Pro features an ultra-high resolution display system with two micro-OLED 4K displays, one for each eye. This allows for crisp, realistic visuals whether you’re diving into a virtual world or overlaying digital content onto the real one. The displays boast a wide field of view and variable refresh rates up to 100Hz for smooth visuals.
Advanced eye tracking cameras follow your pupils and irises precisely, enabling you to navigate menus and select options just by looking at them. Hand tracking is equally advanced, letting you interact with virtual objects and interfaces using natural gestures and movements. Voice control rounds out the input options.
On the outside, six world-facing cameras give the Vision Pro spatial awareness. A LiDAR scanner maps your environment in 3D, while a TrueDepth camera captures facial expressions and mimics. Sleek yet sturdy, the Vision Pro weighs just over 1 pound.
Immersive Experiences
The Vision Pro shines when it comes to immersion. With a snug fit that blocks out light, high fidelity visuals, and realistic 3D audio, it’s easy to get sucked into virtual worlds and forget about real life. Games and adventures come alive all around you, especially with the ability to explore using natural movements.
Augmented reality modes embed digital content into your actual surroundings in a tangible way. Play games on your kitchen table, watch a movie on a virtual big screen TV hanging on your living room wall, or fill your yard with interactive sculptures. The Vision Pro convincingly blends real and digital.
Intuitive Controls
Controlling the Vision Pro feels organic thanks to precise hand and eye tracking. Scrolling through menus by looking around is quick and intuitive. You can grab and examine virtual objects with your hands. Drawing, painting, and interacting with interfaces involves familiar gestures.
Voice commands let you switch modes, open apps, adjust settings, and more without removing the headset. The controls support accessibility needs as well, with options like switch control. It’s clear Apple prioritized natural interactions.
Powerful Hardware
An Apple silicon processor gives the Vision Pro speed and efficiency. There’s more than enough processing power for advanced graphics and AI. The battery lasts 2-3 hours for active use, or up to nine hours in low power mode. The Vision Pro recharges via a USB-C port that still allows you to use the headset while charging.
There are two models to choose from. The standard Vision Pro comes with 256GB of storage. The Vision Pro Max doubles the storage and adds LiDAR capabilities for improved AR experiences.
Expanding Ecosystem
The Vision Pro doesn’t have the largest app ecosystem compared to some competitors, but it’s growing. Apple is working closely with developers to populate VisionOS with diverse apps and experiences. Early standouts include immersive games, educational experiences, travel apps, fitness applications, and more.
Major streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and Twitch plan to launch Vision Pro apps soon. Apple Arcade offers exclusive games, while Apple Music provides a dazzling music visualizer. Expect the catalog to expand quickly as developers dive in.
Limitations
At nearly $3,500, the Vision Pro is clearly a premium product, and it’s overkill for users who just want to dip their toes into VR and AR. The onboarding and setup process takes some time as well. Motion sickness from extended use may also be a concern.
More significantly, it’s an isolated experience. There’s no multiplayer or social integration yet. You’re cut off from others while immersed in the Vision Pro. The novelty could wear off if there aren’t more shared experiences to be had down the line.
Apple Vision Pro
From $3499 or $291.58/mo.per month for 12 moThe Vision Pro convincingly delivers next-generation mixed reality experiences in a polished package. If you want the absolute cutting edge in spatial computing and can stomach the steep price, it’s hard to top what Apple offers here. That said, more social features and apps could make the ecosystem stickier over time.
Verdict
The Vision Pro convincingly delivers next-generation mixed reality experiences in a polished package. If you want the absolute cutting edge in spatial computing and can stomach the steep price, it’s hard to top what Apple offers here. That said, more social features and apps could make the ecosystem stickier over time.
For most mainstream consumers though, it may be better to wait for the technology to mature and prices to drop before taking the plunge. But there’s no denying the Vision Pro marks an exciting milestone in the evolution of extended reality. Apple has once again set the bar incredibly high.