On June 5th, Apple finally presented the AR/VR headset that had been in the rumor mill for years. The Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset that will be launched in the US in early 2024 at a price of around $3,500. After the presentation, the first American media had the opportunity to try out the spatial computer.
Impress image quality and control
In the hands-on test, the quality of the image display is particularly positive. There is a 4K image for each eye. Some of the 12 built-in cameras are responsible for tracking the hands and fingers. Finally, the Vision Pro is operated without a controller. You only have to press the rotating button on the headset to call up the home page. The rest of the control is done as with the Microsoft HoloLens via finger and line of sight. According to the testers, the controls are intuitive and reliable. There are lenses from Zeiss that can be plugged into the Vision Pro especially for people who wear glasses.
There is no manual correction of the lenses, as other VR headsets offer, with the Vision Pro. On site at Apple, a 3D image of the wearer was first created using an iPhone and then the strength of the glasses was measured before the Vision Pro was fitted with the necessary lenses. The degree of immersion can be adjusted with the rotary knob to turn the AR headset into a VR headset and immerse yourself in a virtual world. As noted by The Verge, the field of view on the Apple Vision Pro is limited, so the marketing videos that have been released over-promise. Testers have already seen black fringes in the peripheral vision.
Another point of criticism is the comparatively high weight of the headset, for which Apple has not announced any official values. To be able to use the Apple Vision Pro, a wired battery or an external power supply is required. If you’re on the go and using the battery, you can use the Vision Pro for a maximum of two hours. It remains unclear for what purpose the Apple Vision Pro provides added value. Although there are specially adapted versions of Microsoft Excel and Co., it is an open question whether oversized spreadsheets are an advantage.
While it’s impressive for home cinema viewing, such as Avatar: The Way of Water, only one person can watch the film at a time and the heavy weight means you don’t want to wear the mixed reality headset for hours. Another general problem with VR headsets can be that you feel excluded from the real world. The eyes of the wearer are projected onto an external display of the Vision Pro using Eyesight, but according to the testers this seems unnatural. With the early presentation of Apple Vision Pro, the group hopes to get app developers to prepare their iOS apps for the new App Store in visionOS and thus ensure there is enough content for the market launch.
Also worth reading: Apple Vision Pro: Mixed reality headset is said to set completely new standards for $3,499
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Apple Vision Pro hands-on reviews collection:
With the Apple Vision Pro, there will be a mixed reality headset for around 3,500 US dollars from 2024. In the hands-on test, the image quality and the intuitive control were particularly positive. As with the Microsoft Hololens, for example, control is carried out without a controller using the hands and line of sight. Some testers criticize the limited field of view. The comparatively high weight of the headset is also annoying. In addition, the battery life is only two hours. The eyes of the wearer shown on an external display feel strange.
Sources: Engadget, The Verge, Spiegel Online
