During Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the tech giant introduced its groundbreaking Vision Pro, marking its entry into the AR/VR headset market. The innovative mixed reality device boasts high-resolution displays with EyeSight technology, enabling users to maintain awareness of their surroundings. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, the headset supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences. The Vision Pro features intuitive eye and voice control capabilities, making it an immersive and user-friendly device.
Resembling a pair of ski goggles, the Vision Pro sports an aluminum frame, a glass display, and a fabric-lined mask and strap that securely attach to the wearer’s face. The device is powered by a separate battery pack connected via a cable on the left side. Apple emphasizes the device’s eye-tracking feature, allowing users to interact with graphical elements simply by looking at them. Additionally, users can use finger taps and voice commands to control objects and input text displayed before their eyes.
One notable feature of the Apple Vision Pro is EyeSight, which utilizes camera sensors placed around the device to enable users to view their surroundings while in AR mode. In terms of switching between AR and VR, a dial is conveniently located on the right edge of the headset. The device provides access to a range of specific apps for an enhanced mixed reality experience.
Apple has set the price of the Vision Pro at $3,499 and plans to release it early next year through Apple.com and Apple retail stores in the US. Availability details for other markets, including India, have not been disclosed.
Highlighting the specifications, the Vision Pro boasts dual Micro OLED displays with a combined total of 23 million pixels. The headset incorporates a custom 3D lens, enabling wearers to view AR content across their entire field of vision. Foveated rendering technology ensures the highest resolution image is displayed in the viewer’s line of sight.
Equipped with a comprehensive array of sensors, including main cameras, downward cameras for hand tracking, IR illuminators, side cameras, LiDAR scanner, and TrueDepth cameras, the Vision Pro offers advanced tracking and spatial understanding capabilities. It also features two individually amplified drivers that deliver personalized Spatial Audio.
The Vision Pro is powered by Apple’s powerful M2 chip, alongside a new chip called R1, based on M2 architecture. Boasting 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, the device can deliver images with an impressive latency of just 12 milliseconds. Apple has partnered with Zeiss to provide optical inserts for wearers who require glasses.
Running on the visionOS operating system, the headset includes a real-time subsystem, a spatial audio engine, a multi-app 3D engine, and a foveated renderer for optimized performance. The operating system is compatible with iOS and spatial frameworks, ensuring seamless integration.
Apple has announced partnerships with Disney and Unity, offering AR-enhanced content and native app support, respectively. Notable app collaborations include Zoom, Cisco WebEx, Adobe Lightroom, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Teams. Additionally, the Vision Pro introduces a new Optic ID feature for user authentication, scanning the user’s iris and verifying it within the secure enclave of the headset processor. During FaceTime calls, the device utilizes its sensors to create a life-size representation of the user’s face, excluding the headset.
With the Vision Pro, Apple delivers a state-of-the-art AR/VR headset that pushes the boundaries of mixed reality technology, backed by its renowned ecosystem and strategic partnerships.