Apple Vision Pro Is The Company’s AR Headset, Featuring Two SoCs And microLED Panels With 23 Million Pixels, But Poor Battery Life And An Expensive Price Tag

A few years passed, and we continued to hear about Apple’s highly rumored AR headset, but the product never went through a launch. Well, it had to be the WWDC 2023 keynote, of all events, where a revolutionary device had to be unveiled, and it is called the Apple Vision Pro. The company incorporates the latest microLED panel technology to create an immersive experience for the user, even if it means you will get poor battery life and will have a gaping hole in your wallet after paying for it.
Apple states that the Vision Pro will not start shipping until 2024, and it costs a whopping $3,499
The Apple Vision Pro is referred to by the firm as the ‘first spatial computer’ as it blends digital content into the real world. Running visionOS, the AR headset creates an interactive three-dimensional user interface, with Apple claiming that intuitive inputs are in place so that you naturally interact with the digital content. Thanks to the 23 million pixels resonating from the microLED screens, it should feel like you are physically present in both worlds.



The Vision Pro’s processing capabilities come from using two chipsets, the M2 and the R1. Apple ensures that the inclusion of two SoCs will allow for a lag-free experience. As for the apps, users can connect with others using FaceTime and have practically infinite screen real estate in front of them if and when they want to multitask. Apart from firing up entertainment apps for watching TV shows and movies, the Vision Pro can also open up work-related programs. By using a Magic Keyboard or Magic Mouse, they can interact with whatever is in front of them.
The two microLED panels can expand a digital screen that feels 100 feet side and supports an advanced Spatial Audio system and Immersive Video with 180-degree high-resolution recordings. Apple Arcade games are also coming to the Vision Pro, with 100 titles arriving to be played on a limitless display and support for game controllers.



Design
Apple says that the Vision Pro was made to be used with comfort in mind. The glass of the AR headset flows into the aluminum alloy frame, and the Light Seal and Head Band allow for a tight but comfortable fit. The band can also be changed if you want to personalize the headset with the colors of your other Apple products. One other thing that the Vision Pro does is that when a person approaches the wearer, a technology called EyeSight lets you remain connected, as the glass area will make the user’s eyes clearly visible on the subject that they focus on.



Battery life
Apple says that the Vision Pro is designed for ‘all-day’ use but then proceeds to say that the battery life will only last for two hours on a single charge. It appears that the company will sell batteries separately, but sadly, pricing was not discussed during the official announcement.
Security
The Vision Pro enhances security with a feature that Apple likes to call Optic ID. This technology authenticates a person’s iris under various invisible LEDs, then compares it to the Optic ID data that the Security Enclave protects to unlock the AR headset. With Optic ID enabled, anyone who is not the actual owner of the Apple Vision Pro cannot access any apps.



Price and Launch
Where rumors clamored that the Apple Vision Pro would cost $3,000, the company has priced the product at a whopping $3,499. Though Apple has not mentioned a solid release timeline, it does state that the mixed-reality headset will be available to purchase in the U.S. and other countries next year. Customers will also be able to learn more about the product while experiencing Vision Pro and visionOS at official Apple Store locations.
Written by Omar Sohail