Apple has finally announced its much-anticipated mixed/augmented reality (AR) headset, with the Apple Vision Pro set to launch in the US early next year.
Billed as the company’s first “spatial computer”, Vision Pro combines 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 microphones using a new R1 processing chip (and an older M2) to capture and project the world around you, with Apple describing it as being a device you can look through, rather than just look at. The simple explanation is that it basically adds all of the usual Apple OS features as a 3D overlay onto your otherwise everyday reality, but of course there could be a lot more to it than that. And, for $3,499, you’d certainly hope so.
In terms of the tech, Vision Pro features two micro-OLED displays with a combined 23 million pixels between them, making each in excess of 4K quality. Add spatial audio to the mix (with audio ray-tracing) and you’ve got the capacity to run films and games on a virtual screen of just about any size – with one neat trick of the Vision Pro being that it can darken (or brighten) the surroundings to help immerse you in the action. Plus, it also supports 3D capture and playback to literally add another dimension to your viewing.
There are no controllers – though you can hook one up to play one of the 100+ Apple Arcade games on offer at launch and it is compatible with the likes of Magic Keyboard and Trackpad – with hand and voice controls enhanced by your eye movement. Yes, not only does the Vision Pro use your iris as a ‘fingerprint’ to unlock the device, it can also track your eye movement to use as a cursor, so can simply look at something on an app or a website and make the relevant finger-tap gesture to click on it (though Apple did offer the not-so-reassuring reassurance that content providers can only see what you click on, not what you’re looking at).
Unsurprisingly there are plenty of cool features beyond just being a 3D iPhone, with an all-new visionOS combining all of your usual apps and features with a tailor-made platform built from the ground up, including its own all-new App Store. While you’d typically be looking at the room around you (the same as you’d ‘see’ a room if taking a photo on your phone, as a real-time video with a super-fast 12 millisecond response), Vision Pro can swap that out for just about anything – so if you want to take an instant trip to the woods or the beach, then the Environments feature can do just that. As mentioned, that could include wrapping a TV screen in darkness, or perhaps drop you into a virtual cinema, for that extra layer of immersion. And there’s also the scope to surround yourself with those panoramic photos for a rich ‘2D in 3D’ experience.
The Vision Pro comes with something called EyeSight, whereby if someone walks into the room the headset will pick them out so you can keep an eye on those around you, even if you’re using a darkened or alternate backdrop. They can also see you, or at least a 3D representation of you, with your face replicated on a curved glass display meaning that others will see the correct angle relative to their location in the room (this same 3D ‘Persona’ can also be used for the likes of FaceTime and Zoom calls). The front-facing display can also provide visual hints as to what you’re doing, so if you are in the middle of a film it might show a cloudy blue light effect as a subtle ‘do not disturb’ sign.
The Vision Pro comes as a three-part modular design, meaning you can swap out the headband or strap for a more comfortable fit, and it seems a natural step for Apple (or others) to add a few stylish options to help you personalise the look a little. If you wear glasses or having other vision issues, there will be optical inserts to help out, but these will cost you extra. It comes with a battery connected via a cable, so the added weight can be kept in a pocket or on a desk, rather than on your head. Unplugged, the Vision Pro has a short two-hour lifespan, which might limit its use away from a handy power source.
As for the potential use case scenarios, for $3,499 (converting to a little over £2,800) it’s not exactly going to be a ‘fun’ purchase for most of us. However, with the OS-based set-up and visual fidelity on display, there’s scope to use Vision Pro as an interactive monitor for work or other creative uses. Film fans can enjoy the added immersion, not to mention the 3D potential, while Disney has signed up as a partner, with Disney+ set to be available at launch – so it will be interesting to see if the House of Mouse can sprinkle a little magic on its film and TV offerings (not to mention Apple TV+). With the option for multiple displays in play at any one time you can certainly add your own multi-screen viewing scenarios, from simply watching live sports with added stats and score updates, to creating a personalised 3D workspace or interactive home hub.
Considering you could buy a decent OLED TV for the same price, there may well need to be a few more ticks in the USP column to coax people into buying one – but with the likes of Unity support, and being open to third-party developers, there could certainly be plenty more interesting and creative uses for the Apple Vision Pro to come in the months before and after launch, with it set to arrive first in the US in early 2024 and “more countries coming later next year”.
Macbook Air, Mac Studio, Mac Pro and more
Elsewhere, Apple also showed off its new 15.3-inch Macbook Air – laying claim to being the “world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop” – with a more imminent launch date of next week and pre-orders now open, priced at £1,399. It boasts a new six-speaker audio system and an 18-hour battery life, with the M2 Apple Silicon processor offering speeds up to 12x that of an Intel-based Macbook Air.
Apple also added the new M2 Ultra chip to its portfolio, which is essentially two M2 Max processor combined into one, making it 20% faster than the M1, with 192GB of unified memory and the capacity to run 22 streams of 8K ProRes video. You’ll find it in the new Mac Pro, which is now running some 3x faster than its Intel-based counterpart and adds extra Thunderbolt ports and PCle expansion slots – with the tower enclosure build starting at £7,199 and the rack version at £7,699.
There’s also a new-and-improved Mac Studio using both the M2 Ultra and M2 Max, along with a higher-bandwidth HDMI for 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates, and upgraded wireless tech. Pricing for the Mac Studio starts at £2,099, with that and the new Mac Pro also now open to pre-orders and due to ship out from Tuesday 13 June.
While some may have been expecting some new AirPods, we instead saw some software updates announced for its existing AirPods Pro, due to roll out in the autumn. These will add the likes of Adaptive Audio (combining transparency with active noise-cancellation), Personalised Volume, and Conversation Awareness to drop the audio if you start talking with a friend or colleague, along with improved Automatic Switching for a more seamless transition from one Apple device to another.
There were a bunch of OS announcements as well, across Apple’s varying portfolio of operating systems. A few that caught our eye included live transcriptions of voicemail messages (so you can see if you might want to pick up an unknown number) and the StandBy mode to turn your phone into a stand-mounted clock or canvas when not in use. There’s also the new MacOS Sonoma upgrade with a keen eye on enhancing widget use and accessibility, and the new Snoopy and Woodstock animated (and reactive) face for WatchOS10 almost has us tempted to buy one. As an added bonus for gamers, industry legend Hide Kojima revealed that Death Stranding: Director’s Cut was also coming to Macs later this year, and that future titles are likely to follow.
Overall, the latest Worldwide Developers Conference keynote event might have seemed a little underwhelming before the final reveal of the Apple Vision Pro gave us a headline maker – with more details on all of the new and future arrivals over on the Apple website. The Vision Pro is sure to drive some strong (and contrasting) opinions over the coming months, so could it be a solution that people really want – or at least would be willing to spend $3,499 on? There’s been no little hype about the mixed/virtual/augmented-reality market over the years, so does it seem like Apple is creating something genuinely new and exciting, or is it just a refined version of what others have tried before (with varying degrees of success)? Consider us interested, if not yet fully sold.
SOURCE: Apple (via WWDC23 and newsroom)
IMAGES: Apple