Exploring Apple Vision Pro: A Breakthrough in Immersive Reality
The Apple Vision Pro transports you to vivid, photorealistic landscapes or lets you blend real and virtual worlds at will. Using a digital crown, you can adjust the level of immersion, while passthrough video allows you to view the real world on ultra-clear displays that are sharp enough for reading, without needing to remove the headset.
Content appears as floating windows in 3D space, anchored in place as you move around. Simply look at what you want and make a pinching gesture to select it. You can interact with virtual keyboards or scroll through content as if using a massive iPad.
You can dive deeper with fully immersive experiences, such as walking among dinosaurs, exploring the solar system, or racing through a neon highway in a rhythm game.
Advanced Tech Powering the Vision Pro
The Vision Pro sets a new standard for headset technology, powered by the M2 chip, the same as the MacBook Air, alongside an R1 chip managing input from 12 cameras, 5 sensors, and 6 microphones. Together, these provide a smooth experience of both real and virtual worlds on two high-resolution micro-OLED displays.
Exterior cameras track your surroundings, including furniture and walls, and internal cameras follow your eye movements, focusing on what you’re looking at. It also features “Optic ID,” an iris scan, to unlock the device and make payments.
The device is significantly heavier than other headsets at around 650g, not including the 353g battery, which connects by cable and can be placed in a pocket or on a desk. Custom fitting, enabled by an iPhone scan during ordering, makes it more comfortable than others, but neck strain may still be an issue during long sessions.
The battery lasts 2-3 hours and can be charged while in use. However, sharing the headset is tricky, as each new user must complete the eye-tracking setup.
Productivity Meets Immersive Reality
Unlike other headsets, the Vision Pro integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem, feeling more like a Mac than an iPhone. It offers Apple apps like Mail, Messages, Keynote, and Photos, along with Microsoft Office apps, making it an adaptable workspace without needing multiple monitors. While some Google apps are absent, certain web versions work in Safari.
The headset supports both 2D and 3D apps, from viewing a movie on a virtual screen to exploring fully immersive environments. Disney+ lets you sit in Avengers Tower, and Apple TV offers a virtual cinema experience. Combining real and virtual elements, you can, for instance, play chess on a virtual board on your real table.
Reliving Memories with a New Depth
The Vision Pro brings new life to memories. Viewing panoramas, you can feel as if you’re standing back in a past scene. Photos or videos shot with the Vision Pro or an iPhone 15 Pro appear with depth, like miniature holograms, capturing the moment’s essence.
Social and Interactive Features
Despite being a solitary device, passthrough video allows you to see and interact with others around you. Immersive experiences alert you to someone’s approach as a faint, ghostly image. Video calls are realistic, creating an avatar animated by your movements, adding a new level to virtual meetings. FaceTime with other Vision Pro users lets you see each other in 3D space.
Sustainability and Repairs
Apple’s Vision Pro contains at least 14% recycled materials, including aluminum and rare earth elements. The battery lasts 500 charge cycles, retaining 80% of capacity, with replacements available for £199. Repair costs include £749 for cover glass and up to £2,259 for other out-of-warranty damages. Apple provides recycling programs and trade-ins for various devices.