A lot of Apple enthusiasts have predicted that the tech giant will be revealing its first AR/VR headset at its WWDC 2023 event, and they were all right. Although based on the presentation, the mixed-reality headset appears to be much better than rumors say.
Apple Vision Pro: How It Works
Unlike the other AR/VR headsets available on the market, you won't be using a remote or controller to navigate through the apps. All you have to use are your eyes, your hands to gesture movements, and your voice.
Access familiar Apple apps such as Safari, Photos, Music, and Messages. Although rumors say that the operating system is called xrOS, Apple revealed that it will launch a new app store with apps compatible with visionOS.
You can open apps on several virtual screens that can be laid out like individual tabs. If you don't want to see your actual background, you can change your surroundings with a different landscape of your choosing like rocky mountains at dawn.
You can also pull a 3D object out of an app and lay it on a real-life surface to examine it on all sides. It comes with the convenience of Bluetooth as well so you'll be able to connect accessories like Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad to type.
Forget going to theaters. With the Apple Vision Pro, you can watch a movie in any room where you can adjust the size of the screen and choose the background you'll watch it in. The lens for each eye displays in 4K so you can expect a quality display.
The headset is also capable of Spatial Audio output through the dusk-drive audio pods next to each ear. This will make the sound feel like it's coming from around you. It can analyze the room's acoustics as well, using audio raytracing to adapt the sound to your space.
FaceTime will function the same way except for the part where you will see the person on the other end of the call on a life-size tile. If you choose to video call more than one person, then multiple tiles will appear in their own spaces.
Read also: Apple VR, AR Headset Release Date, Specs, Features: When Will It Be Released After Fall Production?
Features
The AR/VR headset uses a powerful M2 chip to run visionOS. It uses a different chip called the R1 chip to process input from cameras, sensors, and microphones, and to steam images within 12 milliseconds. You can have all that at the price of $3,499.
Yes, the price tag is a bit heavy on this one compared to the base estimation of $2,000. But, the headset turned out to be more advanced than it was made out to be in rumors, so Apple's price is somewhat justifiable.
The design looks like the most sophisticated and expensive ski goggles you can find. Its enclosure is made up of an aluminum alloy frame that holds the laminated glass the user will look through. The curves are designed to fit comfortably around the face.
There's proper cushioning, stretch, and breathability with the device to make it comfortable to wear for long periods of use. If you choose to use it wirelessly, you can get two hours of uninterrupted use. But, you can use it all day if you plug the device in.
