Apple’s augmented reality (AR) headset, known as Vision Pro, was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference in 2023. Since its unveiling, it has become a hot topic in the tech world. Despite its ability to provide immersive mixed reality and VR experiences, Vision Pro is designed to enhance rather than replace reality.
In WWDC 2024, Apple announced that Vision Pro would be available outside of the U.S., starting from June 28th. The AR headsets will be shipped to mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore on June 28th and then to the U.K., France, Germany Australia and Canada on July 12th.
This article provides an in-depth look at Apple’s Vision Pro including pricing details and key features of this AR headset.
How much does Apple’s Vision Pro cost?
The base model of Apple’s Vision Pro with a storage capacity of 256GB starts at $3,499 – more than triple the price tag of Meta’s Quest Pro VR headset which starts at $999.99.
Vision Pros with larger storage capacities are also available for purchase: The models with storage capacities of512GB or1TB start from $3699 or$3899 respectively
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The UK price for a model with246BG is £3499
.When was Apple’s Vision Pro released?
As per reports,theVisionPro has been availableintheU.S.since February02nd ,2024.Pre-ordersfortheAppleVisionProopened in mainlandChina,HongKong,JapanandSingaporeonJune13th at6p.m.PT,withavailabilitybeginning June28th.
Customers in Australia, Canada, France Germany and the U.K. will be able to pre-order Apple Vision Pro starting from June 28th at 5 a.m. PT with availability beginning July 12.
What are the key features of Vision Pro?
Vision Pro (Figure A) offers a plethora of features ranging from virtual meetings and highly rendered avatars to 3D images AR computing and film viewing on a big screen. The design of Vision Pro is such that it seamlessly integrates digital content with the user’s physical space.
Figure A
“It’s the first Apple product you look through, not at,” said CEO Tim Cook during the product presentation. He added that Vision Pro would introduce spatial computing in a similar way to how iPhone introduced mobile computing.
User Interface
The user interface of Vision Pro is similar to that of a Mac or an iPhone but in 3D. Users wearing the headset see icons, graphics websites photos and movies as floating screens at a distance from their eyes. The displays are small – about the size of postage stamp – but they deliver more pixels than a 4K TV to each eye.The custom micro-OLED display system features23 million pixels providing excellent resolution and real-life colors.
A New Computer Apps and Camera
During WWDC23’s keynote, Apple demonstrated how users can seamlessly connect keyboard and use Vision Pro as traditional computer offering multiple large displays (Figure B)
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Figure B
With Vision Pro, users can customize how they see their apps. For instance, apps can be arranged and scaled in size and workspaces can be designed for personal needs. While using apps browsing on Safari chatting on Messages or working users can switch between apps quickly always staying present in the real world.
Vision Pro also allows users to use a three-dimensional camera and a microphone system to capture videos and pictures in 3D. This is the first 3D camera that Apple has ever built. It includes panoramas that wrap around the user.
The R1 Chip
The VisionPro experience is made possible by two chips:the powerful M2andR1,a new chip developed exclusively for real-time processing.R1is responsible for processing all data from sensors cameras at lightning speed along with providing real-time 3D mapping eye-tracking (Figure C)
.Figure C
Navigation in Vision Pro: Hand Gestures and Digital Crown
The R1 chip processes all the data from sensors, cameras and microphones embedded in Vision Pro to create head, eye and hand tracking. Users can select content inside the goggles with their eyes tap their fingers together to click gently flick to scroll. Using the digital crown users can bring up Home View or control level of immersion while using Environments a feature that creates virtual backgrounds.
Product Design
The design for enclosure is a singular piece of 3D-formed laminated glass that morphs into an aluminum alloy frame gently curves wrap around user’s face.The headset’s exterior display also reveal user’s eye people outside world fully darken when user is submerged in virtual reality (Figure D)
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Figure D
Spatial Audio
Vision Pro analyzes an environment’s acoustic properties including physical materials to adapt match sound space. This is used create ambient Spatial Audio where sounds feel like they are coming from surroundings.
Apple assures that the Spatial Audio system of Vision Pro is the most advanced it has ever created. Dual-driver audio pods are placed close to users’ ears blending sound generated by headset with sounds of real world.
AR FaceTime
VisionPro takes virtual meetings next level life-size FaceTime video tiles.The call expands into room headset allows users use apps collaborate colleagues work same documents while in meeting.
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