Apple has officially announced the release of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Priced at $3,499, the Vision Pro promises to redefine the way users interact with digital content, blending augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
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The Vision Pro is set to be available for purchase in the United States starting February 2, with pre-orders opening on January 19 at 5 am PST.
Apple enthusiasts and tech enthusiasts alike have been anticipating this moment, following the initial unveiling at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June.
The headset’s design shows Apple’s innovation and user-centric design. Constructed as a modular system, the Vision Pro allows users to personalize their fit.
The device features a singular piece of three-dimensionally formed, laminated glass that gently curves around the user’s face, flowing into a custom aluminum alloy frame.
The inclusion of a Light Seal made of a soft textile ensures a precise fit, while flexible straps keep audio close to the user’s ears.
The package comes complete with a Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band, a light seal, two light seal cushions, an Apple Vision Pro cover, polishing cloth, battery, and a USB-C charging cable with a USB-C power adapter.
Apple is also offering Zeiss prescription lenses for users with vision correction needs, priced at $149 for prescription and $99 for readers.
At the core of the Vision Pro experience is Apple’s visionOS, a new three-dimensional operating system built on decades of engineering innovation in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
The user interface is controlled entirely by a user’s eyes, hands, and voice, offering an intuitive navigation experience.
Users can interact with apps using gestures like looking, tapping, flicking, or utilizing a virtual keyboard or dictation for typing. Siri integration allows for quick control of various functions.
One of the features of the Vision Pro is its ability to transport users to dynamics, termed Environments. These include locations like Haleakalā, Joshua Tree, Yosemite national parks, and even the surface of the moon.
Users can control their level of immersion with a twist of the Digital Crown, expanding their world beyond the dimensions of a physical room.
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The Vision Pro also introduces a new dimension to powerful, personal computing by allowing apps to appear side by side at any scale, providing the workspace.
The device supports over 1 million familiar apps across iOS and iPadOS, providing an expansive platform for multitasking.
For productivity, the Vision Pro supports apps like Fantastical, Freeform, JigSpace, Microsoft 365 apps, and Slack. With support for the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, users can create the perfect workspace.
The Mac Virtual Display feature enables users to bring the powerful capabilities of their Mac into Vision Pro, creating a massive, private, and portable 4K display.
The Vision Pro has ultra high resolution displays that surpass a 4K TV for each eye. Users can enjoy movies and TV shows from Apple TV+, Disney+, Max, and other services on a screen that feels 100 feet wide, with support for HDR content.
The Apple TV app provides access to more than 150 3D titles, delivering an immersive entertainment experience.
Gaming enthusiasts will find a array of options on the App Store, including more than 250 titles on Apple Arcade.
Spatial games like Game Room, What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja leverage the powerful capabilities of the Vision Pro, offering engaging gameplay experiences.
The Vision Pro transforms how users capture and relive memories. Spatial photos and videos provide an immersive experience, transporting users back to special moments in time.
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Spatial Audio enhances the immersion, creating an experience. FaceTime on the Vision Pro takes advantage of spatial computing, making participants on a call appear life size, with Spatial Audio enhancing the sense of presence.
The introduction of “Persona,” an authentic spatial representation of a Vision Pro user, allows others on a call to see facial expressions and hand movements in real-time. This feature extends to third-party videoconferencing apps like Zoom, Cisco Webex, and Microsoft Teams.
The device packs a huge amount of technology into a beautiful, compact design, utilizing advanced materials for performance, mobility, and wearability.
The ultra high-resolution display system, powered by Apple silicon, features micro-OLED technology, packing 23 million pixels into two displays.
The device incorporates an eye tracking system using high-speed cameras and a ring of LEDs to ensure responsive input.
The EyeSight feature makes the device transparent when a person approaches, allowing users to maintain connections with those around them.
Privacy and security are paramount, with the Optic ID authentication system analyzing a user’s iris for unlocking, password autofill, and Apple Pay.
Apple has accessibility in visionOS, incorporating features like VoiceOver, Zoom, Switch Control, Guided Access, and more, reimagined for spatial computing. Users can interact with their eyes, hands, or voice, with flexible options for input methods.
Apple Vision Pro is designed with sustainability in mind. The device includes 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets, 100% recycled tin soldering and gold plating in multiple printed circuit boards, and 100% recycled aluminum in the frame and battery enclosure. The packaging is 100% fiber-based, aligning with Apple reducing plastics in packaging by 2025.
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