The year is barely a week old but the tech news keeps on coming. Apple has announced its brand new headset, the Vision Pro, will launch in the US on Friday 2 February after the company unveiled the new product at an event last year, but UK fans have longer to wait.
The Apple Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset, which means it can show content in both virtual reality (VR), where you are put in a fully virtual world, or augmented reality (AR), which lays information and imagery over your view of the real world.
Applications can include immersive cinema, video calls, or blowing up your Mac’s screen so it appears as though it is towering in front of you, like a virtual monitor.
Vision Pro will be available to pre-order from Friday 19 January, but UK tech fans will have to wait – the release of Apple’s latest venture into an entirely new product category is a US-only launch for now, with no UK release date announced.
Expect streets on the other side of the pond to soon fill with people walking around with the somewhat imposing headset on, as it can run on battery power – though that apparently only lasts two hours.
“The era of spatial computing has arrived,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO. “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine how we connect, create, and explore.”
You would hope it will be the most advanced device ever considering it will cost buyers a whopping $3,499 – that could buy you four new iPhone 15s and leave you with change.
Unlike other VR and AR headsets, the Vision Pro does not rely on a traditional remote control. Instead, everything is controlled with your eyes, voice, and gestures, even when it comes to selecting apps on the virtual home screen – you look at them or tap where the icon appears.
The Vision Pro can run FaceTime in a virtual environment, and Apple has even though of how people you call won’t be able to see you, as you’re wearing the headset rather than holding a phone with a camera in front of you. When you set up FaceTime on it, the device can use its cameras to map a 3D model of your face, which can then be used when you are on FaceTime to someone else. That’s clever, but whether or not it’s a massive, expensive faff remains to be seen (it probably is).
The glass that covers your eyes is not see through, but when you walk up to someone wearing the Vision Pro, their eyes will appear thanks to a feature called EyeSight – akin to looking like you’re wearing a scuba mask – that Apple says will help indicate to others where your attention is. It’s a clear sign that Apple understands the Vision Pro is likely to make people socially uncomfortable to some degree.
Vision Pro has 256GB on-board storage and Apple gives you the option of adding $99 reader lenses or Zeiss prescription lenses for $149, as you are unable to wear it while also wearing glasses.