1. What's the Apple Vision Pro
Apple officially released its first apple glasses landmark XR headset product - Apple Vision Pro. The forthcoming Apple Vision Pro headset by Apple is slated for an early 2024 launch, with a staggering starting price of $3,499.
“Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.” +(Timothy Donald Cook ). Apple Vision Pro is a new interactive device focusing on "mixed reality". We really want to convey the charm of Apple Vision Pro clearly in this article, but this new product is too special, powerful and novel, and there is too much to say.
As a "product that defines a new category" (in Apple's words), each function and feature of Apple Vision Pro jumps out of the framework of the mature consumer electronics category and seems to have opened up a new magical field full of surprises.
Therefore, even Apple itself was unable to show a clear and mature introduction sequence when introducing Apple Vision Pro apple glasses at the press conference. Only the amazing core new technologies of apple glasses were laid out one by one. Let’s take a look at the commendable charms of Apple Vision Pro and the value that makes it worth spending such a huge amount of money to buy.
Apple Vision Pro is a Mix Realty smart glasses device that is not limited by space. It uses a lightweight metal frame and is equipped with a 23-megapixel ultra-high-resolution display that can project a variety of information and interactions in the field of view; Equipped with a high-sensitivity microphone and audio system, users can use it through voice control or gesture operation.
Apple Vision Pro runs Vision OS, which is specially designed for glasses. It can be seamlessly connected with Apple products such as iPhone or iPad, and supports a variety of applications and services, allowing you to enjoy a richer experience at work, entertainment or study.
The Apple Vision Pro has the remarkable ability to metamorphose any space into your private cinema. It magnifies your cinematic experiences, TV series, and gaming sessions to an optimal scale, while its Spatial Audio feature immerses you in the heart of the action. Boasting a pixel count surpassing that of a 4K television for each eye, it offers breathtaking visuals no matter your location.
The Vision Pro marks Apple's inaugural venture into the realm of Virtual Reality, with a sole model currently on offer. Considering Apple's history of offering customization options across its product range, encompassing MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch, and iMac, we can anticipate enhanced personalization features for the Vision Pro in the upcoming times.
It would be exciting to witness a spectrum of color choices for the headset, along with diversified specifications that could pave the way for a more budget-friendly version or an ultra-high-performance variant tailored for tech enthusiasts.
2. Conclusion of Apple Vision Pro's Keyword, Advantages and Disadvantages
Let’s first summarize the features of Apple XR glasses Vision Pro.
2.1 Apple Vision Pro's advantages:
- New XR operating system——visionOS
- Really achieve the integration of virtual reality, XR = VR + AR (augmented reality)
- Symbolizing the revolution in human-computer interaction technology
- Functions as its own computer, opening a new era of spatial computing
- Innovative technologies with more than 5,000 patents
- 4K micro OLED displays with 23 million pixels combined, Ultra-high resolution visual feedback
- Equipped with Apple’s most advanced spatial audio system
- Ultra-immersive movies and interactive effects
- 3D photo and video capture to record real realistic memories
- Eye and gesture tracking for navigation and control
- Support multi-device interconnection
- Lightweight design, long-lasting and comfortable to wear
2.2 Apple Vision Pro shortcoming:
- High selling price
- Only 2 hours of battery life
- Not friendly to people who are nearsighted or farsighted
3. Apple Vision Pro's Professor and Hardware
3.1 Apple M2 and Apple R1 chips
In terms of hardware configuration, Apple provides the most powerful hardware for Vision Pro to achieve powerful functions. At the core performance level, Apple Vision Pro has an Apple-developed M2 chip (yes, the same CPU used in MacBook Air), and an R1 chip specially developed for Vision Pro. It uses a dual-chip design, including Apple M2 and Apple R1 chips. This newly launched Apple Vision Pro is powered by Apple Networking Chip’s unique M2+R1 dual-chip design.
The M2 chip has unique and excellent independent performance. Apple M2 is similar to the processor in mobile phones and computers, responsible for general computing, such as app running, image rendering, etc.
The new chip Apple R1 is a dedicated chip responsible for processing data from cameras, sensors, microphones, etc. With the help of this chip, Apple Vision Pro achieves real-time image transmission as low as 12ms, which can effectively reduce discomfort caused by delays. .
The new R1 chip is compatible with processing inputs from 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 microphones, and can generate low-latency display streams within 12ms, ensuring the smoothest possible picture. , maintaining the authenticity of the sound effects and a super immersive experience.
The Apple R1 chip is a chip specially designed by Apple for XR headsets. It is responsible for functions such as positioning, collaboration, and visual image processing or transmission.
M2 is responsible for executing tasks, instantaneous interactions, running calculations, and allowing users to access applications through the head-mounted display device.
3.2 Equied with 12 cameras, 5 sensors, 6 microphones
In addition, Vision Pro also has 12 cameras, 5 sensors, 6 microphones, and is equipped with two Micro OLED panels with 23 million pixels. But Apple did not design any special handle or controller for Vision Pro. Just as Steve Jobs said that human fingers are the best interaction tools, on Vision Pro, your voice, perspective and gestures constitute the way this device is operated.
With a total of 12 cameras with different functions and 5 different sensors to restore the real environment around the wearer into the virtual world in real time, there is no doubt that Apple Vision Pro, as a newly developed XR product by Apple's dedicated research team that has been working hard for ten years, will bring users the clearest effect of combining virtuality and reality, and the deepest and most shocking experience.
And just collecting environmental data is not enough. Apple also uses two micro-OLED displays, an Apple-developed M2 chip (yes, the same CPU used in MacBook Air), and a chip specially designed for Vision. The R1 chip developed by Pro can restore the real world infinitely close to the real scene with an update speed faster than the blink of an eye, giving people the illusion of penetrating the screen.
4. Apple Vision Pro's Design
Vision Pro is equipped with professional sensors, including optical tracking technology, posture tracking technology and facial tracking technology, which can accurately capture the user's head and body movements, achieve rapid response, intuitive eye tracking, and is equipped with a high-speed camera Capture hand movements. This provides a smoother and more realistic virtual reality and augmented reality experience.
Structurally, Vision Pro is composed of a front panel and an aluminum frame, which contains sensors, cameras, displays and a fan-cooled computer. It is powered by a cable and an external battery can achieve 2 hours of battery life.
The overall design is lightweight, weighing only about 200 grams, and it will not feel heavy even if worn for a long time. The earphone mask and strap are cloth-lined and modular in design, with easily adjustable nose pads and threaded headband, which can be bent and replaced with different sizes and styles to suit various face and head shapes. Overall, the wearing experience is cozy.
But, it is not friendly to people who are nearsighted or farsighted. You cannot use Apple Vision Pro with glasses. Instead, you need to purchase customized Zeiss additional lenses with different powers.
5. Apple Vision Pro's Specs and Function
A complete set of high-performance eye tracking system is embedded inside the glasses part of the fuselage, which can capture the position of the eyeballs in real time and allow the icon design to follow the movement of the eyeballs. At the same time, the icon is also designed in layers. When the user triggers the icon through eye movement, its three-dimensional effect can be enhanced in the form of layering + projection, giving the user a 3D sense of scene. The interactive design of the interface zoom is also very subtle, making it convenient for users to operate.
Moreover, the multi-window, FaceTime, and multi-terminal interoperability functions are also very practical, allowing you to achieve an immersive experience in life scenes, allowing you to meet your convenient life and work needs without using many monitors.
In addition, the combination of VR and AR is also a highlight of the design of this glasses. Users can freely switch modes between virtual and reality, or set the proportions of AR and VR, that is, the reality and virtual world, to achieve free and smooth switching between virtual and reality.
In terms of immersion, Apple's design is very powerful. The 3D video and adaptive movie theme design will make you feel like you are immersed in the scene in 3D when watching 2D movies or watching football games and live broadcasts experience.
The most amazing thing is that Vision Pro also realize the interactive effect of movies, that is, the scenes and props in the movie can be realized directly on you. The virtual world, the movie world and the real world can interact at any time, and you can also draw them in the real world at 3D virtual objects fully satisfy your whims.
On the outside of the Vision Pro part of the fuselage, a large number of cameras and sensors are installed for detecting the surrounding environment, such as cameras, microphones, ambient light sensors, etc. Through these sensors, Apple Vision Pro can capture the surrounding environment in real time and send it to the eyes.
It can also detect hand movements and the dynamics of others, allowing users to directly move their hands to issue commands, realizing basic interaction, external communication and other features.
Furthermore, its unique innovative 3D camera can record real realistic memories. “Spatial photos and videos transport users back to a special moment in time”. Vision Pro is equipped with Apple's first 3D camera, which can capture spatial photos and videos in 3D, and combined with spatial audio, allows users to relive those precious moments like never before.
Users can access iCloud's complete photo library to view their photos and videos in true-to-life proportions, vibrant colors, and stunning detail; panoramic photos can be zoomed in and out to surround the user.
6. Apple Vision Pro's Release Date and Price
Apple has announced that its Vision Pro headset is slated for an "early next year" release, indicating a possible launch in the spring of 2024. Initially, the product will be exclusive to the U.S. market, with other regions gaining access "later next year". A launch is set for early 2024, which means January to late April.
Historically, Apple has conducted events during the spring on specific dates which might offer clues about when the Vision Pro unveiling could occur. The end of March appears to be the most plausible timeframe.
Speaking of price, the Apple Vision Pro has a shockingly high price tag and may be the most luxurious XR glasses on the market. Starting At $3,499, the XR glasses are at the top end of the pricing spectrum, well ahead of the relatively affordable Meta Quest Pro and even far ahead of the high-end Valve Index.
But its hefty price tag matches its performance, all in one step, and one of the great things about the Vision Pro is that it acts as its own computer, so you don't need any additional kit (like a PC or console) to use the headset.
As for the Apple Vision Pro model, Vision Pro is the first product of Apple’s XR product line. According to the current press conference and subsequent product information disclosed, only one model will be released. However, given Apple's penchant for customizability across its MacBook, iPhone, Apple Watch and iMac lineups, it's not ruled out that the Vision Pro will have even more customizability in the future.
7. Conclusion:Is it worth spending $3,499 on?
Vision Pro is undoubtedly the most likely to become Apple’s most revolutionary product since the iPhone. This Apple Vison pro is equipped with a lot of innovative technologies, and more than 5,000 patents have been applied for alone. VR glasses are nothing new, but this XR Apple Vison Pro glasses, which can realize the interaction between the virtual world and the real world and combine AR and VR, has redefined many new ways of playing.
In addition to combining life situations with the virtual world, it also help you to link with other users, show your user status to others, and see others penetrate your virtual world. This is actually the true integration of virtual reality.With this Apple glasses, you can colorfy your AI epuiped life. If you want to know about AI knowledge like how to get rid of my ai on snapchat, how to remove background in photoshop, etc, there are many articles preparing for you.
Spatial computing is actually not a very new concept. It was already proposed in 2003. But Apple has been sharpening its sword for ten years and has truly embarked on the path to the beginning of a new era of spatial computing. Apple has devoted many of its previously released hardware product capabilities to this new device, such as AirPods spatial audio, self-developed M2 chip, multi-device interconnection, high-definition screen, facial recognition, Apple Watch, etc.
In terms of AR/VR technology Equipped with very advanced performance and technology, it truly provides users with a more realistic, smooth and diverse virtual reality and augmented reality experience. The Apple Vision Pro represents the beginning of a new era of spatial computing, a major breakthrough based on decades of Apple innovation.
Although it does seem expensive at first glance, in summary, its functions are unprecedentedly powerful. Some people in the film industry said after trying out the glasses that cinemas will be impacted after the introduction of these glasses. In the future, watching 3D movies at home instead of going to the cinema will also be an option, because in Vision Pro, the color and depth of field of the movie will be better. The ultimate restoration, the sense of presence of sound, the three-dimensional sense of interaction and the sense of immersion have made the logic that 3D movies must be watched in the cinema collapsed.
Some industry insiders commented on this product and said, "Vision Pro is so powerful that it makes people suffocate, and it is so advanced that it makes peers despair. It will open a new era." Therefore, although Vision Pro is expensive, it is extremely powerful and provides an unprecedented experience. It comes with various hardware configurations (such as computers), which saves you the trouble of purchasing multiple devices at the same time and can be done in one step. Achieving the most profound changes in life and entertainment, the price/performance ratio is also remarkable.
If your financial situation allows, you also pursue entertainment life and spiritual enjoyment, and hope to be at the forefront of trends, this pair of glasses is a good choice. Of course, as the first product with many but messy features, its performance and functions have not yet been clearly, stably, and lastingly tested. You can also wait and see, and then consider buying it when its evaluation becomes stable.
For the latest updates on wearable technology, consider checking out our overview of the Apple Watch Series SE vs 9.