- Bryan Tan
WWDC 2023: The Apple Vision Pro Is One Sleek Looking AR Headset!
It's that time of the year again and Apple is making 'big' announcements at their annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
In contrast to the American Tech company's way of saving their most significant announcement for last during the two-hour-long live stream, we'll get right to the meat of it with Apple's latest venture into the world of mixed reality, the Apple Vision Pro.
The Vision Pro mixed reality headset promises immersive experiences through the seamless blending of digital elements within the real world. With all the visuals and demos shown, there are quite a bit of exciting and new things to look at here, both of Apple's making and already existing AR/VR features, so let's get to it.
Design & Specifications
The Vision Pro headset features a sleek design resembling a pair of oversized goggles with an array of cameras built into it; it also sports a lightweight aluminium frame and a single glass cover over the lens. A single button on the top left side enables video capture, while the digital crown-looking dial on the top right allows users to control the level of immersion.
An external battery attaches to the headset via a cable so users won't have to be tethered to a specific area; it also keeps the headset light. A modular system of textile materials also allows the central part of the headset to mould to the user's face shape. At the same time, the flexible band that goes around your head also has built-in speakers. For people with glasses, custom inserts from Zeiss are also available.
The lenses are fitted with MicroOLED Apple silicon backplane technology in two postage stamp-sized panels that pack a whopping 23 million pixels across both panels. A three-element lens also ensures accurate depth perception, delivering true 4K HDR video that remains sharp from any angle.
Under the hood, the Vision Pro is powered by the M2 chip while being complemented by Apple's new R1 chip, dedicated to processing the feed coming in from the camera array, sensors and microphone, which Apple claims will drastically reduce lag and enables a smooth visual experience with a response time of just 12ms!
VisionOS
The Vision Pro's visionOS operating system employs a fully 3D interface that is fully controllable without the need for a physical controller. Instead, users interact with the system using hand gestures, voice and eye tracking, similar to the PSVR2.
The user can interact with floating apps that populate the user's field of view through the semi-transparent display; these elements also seem to cast shadows and respond to lighting conditions which is a nice touch. Apple also demonstrated how you could adjust the sizing of windows, especially for videos, to give that immersive and cinematic feel.
During the stream, Apple also showcased how users interact with their surroundings while wearing the Vision Pro. For example, EyeSight displays the users' eyes on the glass display when another person approaches them; of course, being an AR headset means you'll constantly be aware of your surroundings so you'll know when your friend or family is trying to sneak up on you.
In a productivity setting, the Vision Pro can also integrate your MacBook displays with literally just a glance at your MacBook; you'll then be able to control and interact with your Mac with a virtual or physical keyboard.
On the entertainment front, the headset will have a customised experience and support for Disney+ alongside a plethora of Apple Arcade titles on day one, so you can enjoy the latest season of Mandolorian in a speeder or even have virtual characters, like Mickey Mouse, wander through around the virtual space.
Apple has also updated existing iOS developer frameworks to support 'spatial computing' within the visionOS environment. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of iPad and iOS apps will be compatible with the Vision Pro at launch. In addition, the headset utilises an encrypted, on-device "Optic ID" for authentication, enabling features like Apple Pay and password autofill; camera data and eye input information remain separate from apps and websites to protect user privacy.
Lastly, you can create your own digital persona as well.
Pricing & Availability
The Apple Vision Pro is priced at US$3,499 and will hit shelves in early 2024.
Apple announces the Apple Vision Pro, an mixed reality headset promising immersive experiences through the blending of digital elements with the real world.
The Vision Pro features a sleek design with an array of cameras, a lightweight aluminium frame, a modular system for customisation and MicroOLED Apple silicon backplane technology for sharp visuals.
The headset is powered by the M2 chip and the new R1 chip for reduced lag, has a fully 3D interface controlled through hand gestures, voice, and eye tracking, and supports a wide range of apps and entertainment experiences.
It is priced at US$3,499 and will be available in early 2024.