No one alive today has witnessed the invention of the printing press, telegraph, and telephone – innovative technologies, Apple Vision that revolutionized communications. In the last century, few inventions have reached such a revolutionary level. This shortcoming aside, Apple Vision Pro is a unique integrated hardware and software experience that can stand the test of time.
Apple Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag is too high and will be out of reach for most consumers despite its cool and useful features. While I couldn’t stop using it after a week, it’s still not an “open” product for everyone, following in the footsteps of Apple’s iPhone and iPad. However, the product does provide an important glimpse, albeit early, of what the future will look like. This vision may take a decade or more to reach the mainstream, but from that perspective, Apple’s Vision Pro is a success.
Weight, utility, and comfort are very high-level issues that cannot be addressed for many potential casual users. I admit that many users who are not yet familiar with the Vision Pro headset—perhaps more than Apple would like to admit—may find it heavy or uncomfortable. It’s the right size for me, and its weight, slightly lighter than the Meta Quest 3, wasn’t an issue.
While Apple’s initial launch of Vision Pro went more or less without problems, Vision Pro may not be an unqualified success until more original software comes out. This will be an important test for Apple if it wants to realize its Vision Pro ambitions.
Many Viewpoints, Some Conflicting
As of this writing, I’ve been using Vision Pro for about a week, and my mind is full of different visions. While some fellow analysts may disagree, I wanted to take a positive stance on Vision Pro’s appeal.
Simply put, Vision Pro is Apple’s first spatial computing device. Apple came up with the marketing slogan “Spatial Computing” when it announced the Vision Pro last June, and it became clear why after spending some time with it.
While the Vision Pro’s technology and design are amazing (easily justifying the high price tag), the best AR glasses have always been limited by physics laws and modern components’ availability. Today, from the very beginning, Vision Pro has unlimited possibilities. However, it will take time for the right usage patterns to emerge and gain traction among mainstream users.
The R1 CPU integrates external cameras and sensors to reproduce the user’s position in three dimensions on displays. Sometimes, it feels like you’re not wearing headphones and looking at small displays, but the illusion is ruined if the room is too dark. Also, paradoxically, the quieter the place you use the Vision Pro, the noisier it is. However, this is the real reason why the product is so deep.
True headset fans will confirm that the screen door occurs when the display resolution is insufficient to remove visible pixels when your retina is close to the monitor.
To minimize this, Vision Pro differentiates between compression and removal effects. Due to the high pixel density, windows, text, and UI elements appear sharpest on iPhone. It has to be seen to be believed, as it’s like installing two full-size monitors in your head to provide an immersive VisionOS experience.
Field of Vision Not Completely Blocked Out
Even though wearing the Vision Pro provides excellent visibility, users will always notice that the room becomes brighter when you remove it. The immersive settings I used due to the low light levels in my office sometimes made everything dark. I have found that good lighting solves this situation. Therefore, many Vision Pro users may want to reconsider the existing ambient lighting in their home offices if they plan to use the product regularly.
Plus, the shows you’re watching still don’t fill the headset, leaving you with a black border around your field of view and no surround view. Currently, no dialogue can reproduce full peripheral vision due to technological limitations.
When a strange object enters our field of vision, the human brain is very good at concentrating on that object and forgetting about everything else. Remember that although your nose is constantly visible, the brain tries to prevent the user from noticing it.
Vision Pro Is a Powerful Computer in Its Own Right
The processing power of Apple Vision Pro allows you to run powerful applications. It’s unlikely that the M2 will power most apps in the near future as VisionOS developers create their apps or port them to the iPad.
The computing environment would be more complex and unpredictable if Apple allowed Vision Pro to run on Mac software. As such, Apple has wisely limited the Vision Pro to work primarily with iOS and iPadOS apps, which have advantages in battery life and performance.
While my testing is not exhaustive, I found no apps that affected the M2. I was happy that my favorite iPad apps, such as Xfinity Streaming, the OneCast streaming app for Xbox, and Plex, ran smoothly.
VisionOS is not flawless, as has happened to me several times, although this will be less so with future software and firmware updates. Here’s a short video of some exciting demos of what I was able to do with Vision Pro in a few hours:
If I had to highlight one area where Apple beats the Vision Pro, it is, without a doubt, the product’s user interface.
First, VisionOS has a unique iOS/iPadOS look and feel, which greatly reduces the learning curve for Vision Pro. Additionally, the ability to reliably and accurately use human eye vision to select a button with a simple click of the fingers is an improvement over using weight using a mouse or touch screen in a conventional operating system. It’s not perfect, but it’s excellent and will only improve.
Future Iterations of Vision Pro
There are rumors that Apple plans to wait until 2026 to release the Apple Vision Pro 2 or a non-Pro version. This probably doesn’t make a big difference when launching the release on a significant platform.
Manufacturers never shy away from improving performance, and I don’t think the Vision Pro will be exempt from that fact.
In this regard, Qualcomm may have a price advantage with the new Snapdragon XR1, as its processing power could have similar performance. It will undoubtedly appear in much cheaper headsets than the Vision Pro.
Apple Vision Pro and VisionOS have unlimited possibilities from an open platform perspective. Now that VisionOS beta has officially launched predicting the technology’s location in a month will be easy. Long-term forecasting will be more difficult.
The Vision Pro is Apple’s first all-new computer since the iPad. The information Apple gains from monitoring customers’ daily use of Vision Pro will undoubtedly influence future VisionOS releases.
The Inevitable Mainstreaming of Augmented Reality
Most Apple products are not the first of their kind; this is it. Vision Pro is not a “quick start” product, as there is no product in this class’s market to follow.
It also strengthens Apple’s belief that augmented reality (AR) will eventually win over mainstream users with compelling and engaging usage models.
I must stress that the software needs to keep up with the new era that Apple Vision Pro heralds. Now that the device offers intelligent screen technology, hand and eye tracking, and end-to-end capabilities, developers can spend time developing apps. First of all, there are no hardware limitations in this product category.
Vision Pro Pioneers a New Era of Computing
Vision Pro’s computing work represents a groundbreaking introduction to human-computer interaction as the seamless integration of digital content into our physical environment changes how we see and experience information.
Traditional screens and interfaces no longer bind users; they can now immerse themselves in a rich, cooperative environment where the digital and physical worlds congregate. This combination increases productivity and efficiency and opens new opportunities for creativity and innovation.
In essence, Vision Pro’s computing capabilities herald a new era of computing, where the boundaries between virtual chaos and the digital realm become part of our daily lives. As this technology develops and spreads, it will impact industries ranging from education to healthcare to entertainment and beyond.
Finally, Vision Pro spatial computing has the potential to transform computing as we know it, opening up endless possibilities and changing the way we work, learn, and play.
Although Apple Vision Pro is just version 1.0, it has the potential to join the ranks of printers and phones as major technological innovations like the Apple II and the original IBM personal computer. It will be interesting to see where Apple goes from here.
FAQ
What are the notable features of the Apple Vision Pro?
The Vision Pro is praised for its industry-leading AR/VR interface, eye and hand tracking for navigation (eliminating the need for controllers), and an ultra-high-resolution display with 22 million pixels. It also offers immersive spatial computing capabilities through VisionOS apps and features like video streaming for augmented reality.
How does the Vision Pro compare to other AR/VR headsets?
The Vision Pro is considered the most advanced AR/VR headset, offering greater screen clarity, tracking, and computing power than competitors like the Meta Quest Pro. However, the $3,499 price tag makes it significantly more expensive than most headsets.
Is the Apple Vision Pro easy to use?
Yes, early adopters have found the interface intuitive thanks to eye tracking and gesture-based controls. The device allows users to interact with content simply by looking at it and making subtle hand movements, making it easy to master quickly.
What are the downsides of the Apple Vision Pro?
One of the main complaints is the device’s weight, which can cause discomfort during prolonged use. In addition, users note the high price, short battery life, and limited compatibility with some iPad apps.
Who is the Apple Vision Pro best suited for?
Due to its high price, the Vision Pro is currently aimed at tech enthusiasts, developers, and professionals in design, film, and video games. It is not a mass-market device, but could lay the foundation for future AR/VR adoption.
