Ever found yourself excitedly waiting for a tech gadget so much that you couldn’t wait to share your experiences? That’s me with the Apple Vision Pro. A high-tech device touted to be the future of augmented and virtual reality, and believe me when I say, it’s like nothing else out there.
The Vision Pro is a behemoth, intended more for tech enthusiasts and developers, rather than the average consumer. Apple’s ambitions here are long-term, they’re looking to inspire the creation of groundbreaking applications that will redefine the VR/AR landscape over the next five years.
Straight Out of Sci-Fi
Honestly, this headset looks as though it’s been pulled straight from a science fiction movie. If you’ve watched Ready Player One, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The Vision Pro has an “outward display” – not exactly a clear screen, but a video representation of your virtual self that is captured by the 3D cameras in the device. A classic Apple twist, wouldn’t you agree?
I was particularly impressed with the micro LED displays inside the headset. With more pixels than a 4K TV in each eye, the visual experience is beyond anything you’d expect. And for my fellow glasses-wearers out there, Apple has partnered with Zeiss to create custom lenses that can be installed inside the headset. No need to worry about the discomfort of wearing glasses beneath the device.
Interacting with the Vision Pro
The control mechanisms of this device are where things get even more interesting. You use your eyes to navigate and select apps, and even flick your fingers to scroll. There are no physical controllers, just your body, a testament to the impressive tech packed into this headset.
The Power Pack, though, is a controversial point. It’s a separate component connected by a cable, and you’re expected to carry it in your pocket or attach it to a belt loop. The Power Pack provides a battery life of only about two hours, so for extended use, you’re going to want to keep it plugged in.
A Blend of Virtual and Real Worlds
Apple’s Vision Pro stands apart from other VR headsets (like Meta’s Quest 3) because of the priority it gives to integrating your virtual world with the real one. However, in practical terms, I can’t really imagine using the Vision Pro on an airplane or for recording 3D videos of my children – that demo was, to be honest, a little terrifying.
Still, my personal reservations aside, the Vision Pro certainly does provide an impressive and immersive VR/AR experience.
The Apple Ecosystem Advantage
The real strength of Vision Pro lies in its integration with the larger Apple ecosystem. The device runs on Vision OS, and navigating its interface feels like second nature to anyone familiar with iOS. Messaging, FaceTiming, and web browsing are all incredibly intuitive. That’s a distinct edge over the competition. With other VR devices, like my Quest, just logging in and hopping in and out of apps can be a chore.
Now, before you get overly excited, let’s get one thing clear – this device is heavy. Really heavy. It’s clear why Apple chose to have the battery pack separate from the headset itself. I suspect wearing this on your face for more than an hour would become uncomfortable, despite all its fancy tech.
Firsthand Experience
The real test of any tech is in using it, and I was lucky enough to try the Vision Pro myself. The experience was nothing short of surreal. The eye-tracking setup took just a couple of minutes and worked flawlessly Interacting with apps felt so natural, just looking and pinching to select.
Even the clarity of reading an article in Safari was astounding – every word was crisp and clear. The ability to move and resize windows, like Messages, FaceTime, and Safari, was incredibly intuitive and surprisingly easy to use. And FaceTiming with a friend, who had set up their virtual persona, was a surreal experience. I felt like I was talking to a real human, which was… well, it was cool.
Sure, it might be heavy and clunky in its current form, and I doubt many people will be bringing this on an airplane, but the Vision Pro certainly offers a glimpse into the future. And as this technology continues to improve and become more refined, I can’t help but be excited about what’s to come.