At the WWDC 2023, Apple dropped a bombshell of announcements, including their first-ever mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Brace yourself for a unique immersive experience that will definitely empty your wallet. But what exactly is this headset and what can it do? Let's dive into everything you need to know about the Apple Vision Pro in this dedicated guide.
Apple Vision Pro: Everything you need to know
Prepare those kidneys
1. What is the Apple Vision Pro Headset?
Apple Vision Pro is Apple's answer to mixed reality, combining the real world with the virtual in a new way. Dubbed a Spatial Computer that strives to transport you to another dimension, no controllers are needed here—just your hands, voice, and eyes will do the trick. It's like magic, powered by top-notch hardware and the high-tech wizardry of Apple Silicon. On the more technical side of things, the Vision Pro uses micro-OLED technology with two displays, packing a total of 23 million pixels. Each display is the size of a postage stamp and offers wide color and high dynamic range. It provides a resolution that surpasses a 4K TV display for each eye. It even features custom catadioptric lenses that contribute to the sharpness and clarity of the visuals
2. Price tag and when to sell your kidney
Prepare yourself, folks. The Apple Vision Pro doesn't come cheap. It's priced at a jaw-dropping $3,499 (Rs. 2.8 lakh). That's right, it costs more than your annual coffee budget. And the release date? Well, the lucky folks in the U.S. can get their hands on it in early 2024, while the rest of the world will have to exercise their patience until late 2024.
3. A High-Tech Fashion Statement?
When it comes to design, Apple strives for minimalism. The Vision Pro is a blend of glass, steel and fabric. The front of the headset features a fancy lens made from meticulously polished glass. It's connected to an aluminum frame that wraps comfortably around your face. Oh, and did we mention the click-like enclosure that ensures a custom fit? Talk about attention to detail. Packing all that heat on your face can be a warm affair. To keep you cool, there are even vents for air intake. Fashion and function!
4. Feature-fiesta
Something like Aladin’s carpet, these glasses will allow you to experience a whole new world. The Apple Vision Pro boasts a fully immersive user interface, seamlessly blending the digital realm with reality. The UI elements have depth and respond to light, casting shadows just like real objects. You can customize your app placement, making them as big as you want. Need to multitask? No problem! Open multiple apps simultaneously and enjoy the infinite canvas of possibilities. On the audio front, the Vision Pro incorporates two amplified drivers inside each audio pod next to each ear, providing a spatial audio experience. The audio drivers work in conjunction with the user's head geometry to create an immersive audio environment. Apple uses "Audio Ray Tracing" technology to deliver high-quality and consistent audio.
5. Escapism at its finest
Not in the mood for reality? No worries, Apple's got you covered. With the Vision Pro, you can escape to dynamic and stunning landscapes, leaving the cluttered real world behind. Just twist the crown, and poof! The augmented reality disappears, leaving only what you want to see. If you want to watch a movie or show, make the screen feel as big as 100 feet. It's like having a personal IMAX theater wherever you go. Plus, there are 100 Apple Arcade games to keep you entertained.
6. No controllers? No problem!
Who needs controllers when you've got hands, voice, and eyes? The Apple Vision Pro takes a bold step by ditching traditional controllers and relying on your natural abilities. Simply look at an app, and the headset understands your intent. Use your wrists and fingers to navigate and your voice to dictate. It's like having a personal assistant in your head—minus the mildly creepy factor.
7. The eyes have it
Apple brings a touch of transparency to the Vision Pro with its "Eyesight" feature. When someone approaches you, the display becomes transparent, allowing both of you to see each other. It's like having X-ray vision, but without the awkwardness. The Eyesight feature even gives visual cues to others about what you're focusing on.
8. visionOS: more than just a fancy name
The Apple Vision Pro is powered by visionOS, an operating system specifically designed for spatial computing. It's low latency, which means no annoying lags. And the best part? It comes with a three-dimensional interface that will make you feel like you're living in the future. Buckle up, folks, because this is where the magic happens.
9. Privacy, because your secrets matter
Apple takes privacy seriously, even in the world of mixed reality. The Vision Pro features Optical ID, an authentication system that analyzes your iris to ensure security. It's like having a high-tech eye scanner protecting your personal realm. And fear not, your secret browsing habits are safe. Apple won't share where your eyes are wandering with third-party apps.
10. Specs that make it all happen
While Apple didn't spill all the details about the display, we know it's powered by micro-OLED technology, packing a whopping 23 million pixels into two postage stamp-sized displays. That's more pixels than you can count on your fingers and toes! The clarity is top-notch, thanks to those fancy catadioptric lenses. Let's not forget the powerful duo of the M2 Chip and the R1 chip, ensuring your experience is lag-free and faster than the blink of an eye. The M2 chip handles computational tasks and ensures the headset remains cool and comfortable. The R1 chip is dedicated to sensor processing, receiving input from the headset's 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones. The R1 chip enables a low latency of 12 ms, which is 8x faster than the blink of an eye. Plus, there's a battery pack that keeps you going for hours, so you can escape reality as long as you want.
Get ready to enter a new dimension with the Apple Vision Pro. It's an expensive luxury, but hey, who needs to pay rent when you can have a mind-blowing mixed-reality experience?