After seven years of meticulous development, Apple has finally unveiled its Vision Pro AR headset. Priced at $3,499, this innovative device is primarily targeted at enterprise buyers, offering a new paradigm that Apple refers to as “spatial computing.”
Design and Features
Resembling ski goggles, the Vision Pro is designed for indoor use at home or in the office. It boasts an aluminum frame, curved glass at the front, a physical button for image capture, a digital crown for adjustments, and built-in “audio pods” for immersive sound.
The Vision Pro is more than just an AR headset; it’s a leap into the future of augmented reality. It runs on Apple’s standard M2 chip and a new R1 chip for video streaming. The micro-OLED displays are impressively dense, packing 64 pixels into the space of a standard iPhone pixel.
Customization and Interaction
In partnership with Zeiss, Apple offers custom prescription glass inserts for the headset, ensuring a comfortable and personalized user experience. A unique feature called “EyeSight” uses a front-facing display to reveal your eyes to others in the room, creating an “authentic representation of you” on the curved front glass.
Work-First Device
The Vision Pro is primarily a work-first device, focusing on applications like email. Users can project a version of their Mac desktop in front of them, transforming any space into a productive workspace.
Entertainment and Content
The headset includes a 3D camera for capturing “Spatial” photos and videos and offers a movie theater option for large-screen projection. Disney is the first content partner for the headset, with Disney+ available at launch.
VisionOS and Security
Apple introduced VisionOS, a new operating system designed for spatial computing. It is compatible with Microsoft Office apps and teleconferencing services like WebEx and Zoom. For security, a new version of FaceID called OpticId is included, enabling secure transactions through Apple Pay.
The Apple Vision Pro AR headset is expected to be available early next year, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of spatial computing.