Apple reveal its long - wait AR / VR headset nickname Apple Vision Pro at WWDC 2023 , looking to take the AR and VR markets by storm with a ludicrously premium plan , top - end hardware and Apple ’s signature software experience .
The headset is design to bring your favouriteiPhoneapps to the real world , overlaying digital content into your milieu and boast a few echt showtime like EyeSight , a refreshing way for people to see the drug user ’s eyes even when wearing the headset , and controller - less input using voice , center and bridge player gesture .
It was an exciting announcement , but then the company read practically nothing about the headset for six calendar month . However , fast forward to January 2024 , the company has confirmed that the Vision Pro will be relinquish in the US in the come weeks – though there ’s still no word yet on a wide of the mark release .
Here ’s everything there is to bed about the Apple Vision Pro , from release date and pricing to the key feature film of Apple ’s AR headset .
When will Apple Vision Pro be released?
Apple teased at the Vision Pro ’s WWDC 2023 reveal that it ’d be uncommitted to bribe first in the US in early 2024 . orchard apple tree thenconfirmedthat the Vision Pro will be uncommitted topre - order from 19 January 2024at 8 am ET , with sacking set for2 February 2024 .
There ’s no word yet on when or if the headset will get along to other territories , but it will likely make its way to the UK , Europe and other state in due course .
How much will Apple Vision Pro cost?
This one ’s the kicker , specially if you were trust for something that be a similar amount to Meta ’s affordableQuest 2 headset , with Apple ’s realism Pro headset priced at an eye - tearing $ 3499 making it the most expensive consumer - focused standalone VR / AR headset on the market in 2023 , beating even the pricey £ 999/$999 Meta Quest Pro and £ 1299/$1099 HTC Vive Elite XR headset .
Apple Vision Pro design & features
Apple ’s Vision Pro has one end in mind : to put in you to the globe of spatial computing , basically immingle the real and practical world into one . It leave you to hightail it your favourite iOS apps on huge floating screens in the substantial cosmos , consummate with shadows to help them appear more literal , as well as immerse yourself in 3D capacity , pic and your preferent game , all without the need for a personal computer or Mac .
Lightweight design
Apple Vision Pro looks to be a true next - gen AR / VR headset with not only a much more slimline design than many compete all - in - one headsets like the Meta Quest Pro and Vive Elite XR but with a well presentation , more processing business leader and Apple ’s signature software design .
First off , the Vision Pro is the most lightweight , slimline VR / AR headset we ’ve get a line so far , rollick a rather alone look that look more like ski goggles than the the likes of of the Quest 2 .
As well as romp a tone designed to fit the curvature of your face naturally , there ’s mess of swappable cushioning to perfect the experience . There are also flexible straps that conform to the shape of your head , as well as a 3D - knitted headband that Apple claims to provide outstanding movableness and stint compared to more rigid headsets on the grocery .
Along with a fashionable , lightweight invention , the Vision Pro has two micro OLED panel that are barely the sizing of a postage postage stamp while still managing to deliver 23 million pixels between them – more than 4 K for each eye . That ’s backed by a custom three - constituent lense that Apple claims to deliver a wide FOV and telling uncloudedness , with exploiter capable to view unfeigned 4 K footage in - headset .
Apple rest tight - lipped on glasses like refresh rate and FOV at the reveal , so there ’s still plenty more to see out about the headset .
EyeSight technology
While the general intention is impressive , it ’s the front of the headset that steals the show ; it sports a milled looking glass surface with a wide array of camera and sensors found within , with that chalk front vanish into the curved aluminum frame . Not that you ’d be able to tell by looking at it , but there ’s also a elastic OLED panel within the headset with a specific purpose : EyeSight .
Apple ’s proprietary tech fundamentally look to bring back the human connective , even when wearing a headset , by figure your eye onto the outside of the gadget . This allows people in the room to see your eye as they chat to you as you wear upon the headset , with the user also able-bodied to see the face of others in the room appear within the practical land – no more purloin up on VR gamers as they flail their arms around !
Eyes, hands and voice control
Unlike most other VR headsets on the market right now , Apple is going all in on eye - trailing , mitt - tracking and voice ascendence for the Vision Pro headset . sensor within the headset can detect where you ’re looking and can use that information to select UI elements , while a spry hydrant of the fingers allows you to choose and receptive apps .
you’re able to also habituate the power of Siri to perform actions like open apps , pop out FaceTime calls and even dictate response to message .
If you feel a little uncomfortable with the melodic theme of prescribe longsighted personal text messages or electronic mail , you ’ll be glad to know that it also tolerate Bluetooth accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse – ideal for productiveness .
M2 and R1 chipsets
The Apple Vision Pro headset is power not by one but two chipsets : Apple M2 and the new Apple R1 chipset . The former is what allows the headset to extradite such a high - caliber , high-pitched - reticuloendothelial system experience while the latter is fundamentally designed to abbreviate the amount of lag between the various detector and what you see in the headset .
Apple claim that the R1 chipset handles input from 12 camera , 5 sensors and 6 microphones at the same time for a speedy 12ms response sentence – 8x faster than the blink of an centre , grant to the troupe .
iPhone apps in the real world
One of the fundamental features of the Vision Pro headset is to fly the coop your favourite iOS apps in the real world , with Apple confirming the existence of several apps including Messages , Safari , Mail and FaceTime , as well as the ability to act as Apple Arcade titles in AR .
We take up there will be a healthy dose of third - party apps usable next year once the headset in conclusion ships .
You ’ll also be able to wirelessly mirror your Mac display to the headset , allow you to do more complex tasks like edit in Final Cut Pro on a large virtual display , or possibly even several displays , depending on your work flow .
Digital Crown to control immersion
Apple ’s Digital Crown is rather versatile ; as well as being a key feature of speech of the Apple Watch , it has made its way to theAirPods Maxand , now , the Vision Pro headset – though it has a slenderly different function here .
While you’re able to still use the digital crown to control audio output of the headset , it ’s also designed to be used as a slider to adapt the level of submersion within the headset . By default option , the headset will display a color passthrough view of your surroundings , allowing you to run iPhone apps in your forcible space .
That ’s passably cool , especially for study and productivity , but what if you want to check a movie on Disney Plus ? The companionship confirmed that the stream giant would be available from day one , after all .
Apple ’s alternative is for users to bend the telephone dial and correct the balance between the real and virtual human race , help you recover the right balance for your need , be it concluded virtual immersion or a real - mankind border to keep you orient in the physical space .
Two-hour battery life
The Apple Reality Pro headset vocalize like a capable ( and extremely expensive ) AR / VR headset , but there is one grab ; battery .
You see , to keep the headset as lightweight as possible , Apple remove the battery from the headset itself , alternatively choose for a small battery pack that connects to the side of the headset with magnets . That ’s fine – it ’s only a comparatively thin cable system – but the issue is that the connected battery pack only provides two hours of use . That ’s not great if you were planning on using the headset as a laptop computer refilling as Apple hint .
There are a couple of alternatives – you could buy a 2nd battery pack and swap it out once the first atomic number 66 , or you could connect directly to a paries courser – but neither are ideal for a headset that comfortably be triple the amount of some of the most premium AR / VR headsets around right now .