On February 2, 2024, Apple Vision Pro went on sale, a headset that combines augmented and virtual reality functions. In this article we have collected several reviews about the device, as well as funny stories associated with it.
Apple Vision Pro Specifications
- Displays: 3680×3391, OLED, 90-100 Hz;
- Processor: Apple M2 10-core GPU;
- RAM memory: 16 GB;
- Camera resolution: 6.5 megapixels;
- Depth sensors: IR projector + LiDAR;
- Operating system: visionOS;
- Wi-Fi: 6 (2.4 + 5 GHz);
- Speakers that use spatial audio, such as AirPods Pro;
- Weight: 600 gr. without battery.
What is Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro is a computer designed in the shape of glasses with speakers. Instead of lenses, two MicroOLED displays with a resolution of 3680×3391 pixels and a screen refresh rate of 90 to 100 Hz are used here. Six cameras are used to scan the environment.
The main task of Apple Vision Pro is to supplement reality with various information using applications. At the same time, the screen remains transparent. Glasses can be used as a display on which you can watch movies, play games, surf the Internet or make video calls. In this case, the surrounding world will be completely hidden or displayed in a blurry form. Apple Vision Pro is fully compatible with MacBooks – it can be used as an additional monitor on which you can place and work with applications.
The glasses are autonomous, the average usage time is 2-2.5 hours. If you wish, you can connect an additional battery, but in this case, walking down the street with Apple Vision Pro will be extremely inconvenient.
At the start of sales, the device already supports more than 600 applications. For example, with the 2GIS Immersive home application you can view realistic 3D models of high-rise buildings at home.
The price of the device is $ 3,499 (317,228 rubles at the current exchange rate). However, it is not officially sold in Russia. You can buy from resellers for about half a million rubles. If you wish, you can pre-order on the MTS website, but the cost of Apple Vision Pro is not indicated there.
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Press opinion on Apple’s mixed reality headset
Journalists praise the helmet for its new movie viewing experience:
Once I chose the virtual environment, the normal living room around me disappeared. If you then open Apple TV+ and select movie mode, you will feel like you are in a movie theater. Thanks to such capabilities, Apple Vision Pro becomes a fully-fledged new platform. You don’t have to choose between virtual and augmented reality. Apple’s helmet combines both
Some people were impressed with the device’s interface:
I quickly learned two important gestures: a simple “pinch” with my fingers to select something, and a “pinch” to scroll left and right or up and down through the menu. This is sufficient to control the application interface. Once I got the hang of the controls, I felt like Tom Cruise from the movie Minority Report.
But there is one important point – the perception of a person with large glasses by other people:
I immediately remembered why Google Glass turned out to be a failure. The device was way ahead of its time, but the user has to walk around with a large camera on his face. Something similar happens with Apple Vision Pro.
If the Apple Watch expanded our capabilities, but at the same time looked natural and did not change our behavior, then the Vision Pro forces us to adapt to its capabilities:
The Vision Pro has one key difference from almost all modern Apple devices: it can’t merge with reality. The headset, on the other hand, covers your eyes and ears. To have a unique experience you have to sacrifice your natural behavior, especially on the street. Not even Apple can make invisible technology that, at a fundamental level, limits rather than enhances our capabilities.
Not everyone liked the possibilities of the metaverse and communication with other users through avatars:
Chatting via FaceTime with the headset wearer is an interesting experience. But I found the girl’s CG avatar disgusting. Her movements are stiff and robotic, giving her an uncanny valley effect. It is much more pleasant to see someone’s real face, and not his virtual copy.
But the biggest problem with the Apple Vision Pro is the price. This begs the question: will the device be popular? Will Apple be able to convince people to invest a large amount of money in a new gadget?
It’s hard to find reasons why consumers actually need this device. Yes, it is interesting to watch movies, browse photos and make calls with it. In fact, I was surprised by how comfortable it was to read text on this headset. But Apple will have to work hard to convince the general public to invest a lot of money in purchasing this device.
However, there is hope that this is just the first step in working with mixed reality, and that the next versions of Apple’s helmets will be cheaper:
This is not a mass produced product. It costs $3,500 and has a Pro prefix in the name. In my opinion, this is something like a null sequence. Maybe in the future a Vision SE will be released for $400, which will be a bestseller. But right now this helmet is a toy for the richest.
Other people who have tried Apple Vision Pro share a similar opinion:
Yesterday I tried Vision Pro. And while there was still a lot of improvement to be done before it would become a mainstream product, using it was like holding a piece of the future in your hands. My brain got used to it, I even wanted to compress the image of reality with a pinch gesture. This scares and excites me at the same time. I think the most useful technologies fit easily into our lives.
Other points:
- According to bloggers, Apple Vision Pro is not a replacement for the iPhone or MacBook, but a unique alternative to a monitor with built-in functions;
- The device as a whole is convenient, but cannot be called weightless. After prolonged use, your head and neck may ache;
- Watching 3D movies with this headset may make you feel dizzy if you are not used to it;
- When performing demanding tasks, Apple Vision Pro may become warm. In some situations, for example when it is hot outside, this will cause discomfort;
- The displays are superior to their analogues in every respect, except the viewing angle. The Oculus Quest 3 has a larger one;
- The virtual keyboard is tricky. It is better to use voice control;
- When the screen is set to transparent mode, the surrounding world is visible as clearly as possible, without distortion;
- When you turn your head quickly, background blur and performance lag are noticeable;
- The helmet not only tracks hand movements, but also the direction of view. This approach has its downside: you first have to look exactly at the object before you can communicate with it. This makes working with applications slower than on a computer or tablet;
- Apple Vision Pro lets you run multiple applications at once, but the device still lacks multitasking capabilities;
- Full support for the Apple ecosystem;
- To create a virtual avatar, the user’s face is scanned. But reviewers were not satisfied with the result;
- Image quality decreases in low light;
- Your hands must be within the camera’s line of sight, otherwise they may not recognize your actions;
- The standard carrying case for a helmet is very large. If you travel with your Apple Vision Pro, you will need a separate bag.
Funny situations associated with Apple Vision Pro
Of course, such an unusual product caused many funny situations. Let’s start with the fact that actively using an Apple helmet on the street looks very funny.
And when someone is behind the wheel of a car, working with Apple Vision Pro can distract the driver from the road. It is not surprising that the police became interested in the man.
The helmet can also be used to play board games when you are too lazy to put down the pieces and cards.
Egor Creed prefers to wear Apple Vision Pro over sunglasses. Apparently, the singer did not read the instructions, but has already rushed to show the expensive new product on social networks.
There were some initial attempts to understand the internal structure of the helmet. For example, the battery that comes with it has a small hole. If you insert an i-clip to remove the SIM card, the outdated Lightning cable with 12 contacts falls out of the battery. It’s strange to see it in such an innovative gadget.
What do you think of Apple Vision Pro? Do you consider it a new word in the development of virtual reality or a new failure? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Are you planning to buy Apple Vision Pro?
Source: VG Times