Apple Vision Pro Revealed at WWDC

Updated January 11, 2024

Apple’s 2023 Worldwide Developer’s Conference took place in the first week of June and saw the announcement of numerous new pieces of hardware – 15″ Macbook Air, new Mac Studio, and M2 Ultra Mac Pro among them – as well as a plethora of software developments soon to be made available. Then, as always, there was “one more thing.” This year, that thing was the long awaited and hotly anticipated Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Vision Pro incorporates both VR and MR capabilities and is being referred to as a “spatial computer” by the Cupertino tech giant. After much conjecture and numerous leaks, confirmed official information concerning Apple’s very first VR/MR device has finally been delivered. The apparent targeted use of Vision Pro is general computing, which includes everything from video communications, content viewing, and document creation to multitrack audio recording, video editing, and gaming. Vision Pro will have its own dedicated app store but will also be capable of running “hundreds of thousands” of iPhone and iPad apps that will automatically work with Vision Pro’s unique input system.

Under the Hood

Dubbed “visionOS,” the operating system making the Vision Pro work is clearly focused on broad general productivity uses. And Vision Pro’s hardware supports that goal. Long established as a leader in hardware innovation, Apple has crafted a distinct and adventurous XR headset. One key component that sets Vision Pro apart from competitors is its unique display system. An exterior display shows a digital view of the user’s eyes for when they wish to communicate with other people in the room without removing their headset. This system, called EyeSight, will let others know when a user is capturing photos or video, reinforcing Apple’s commitment to privacy and security.

Vision Pro will include spatial audio, a 4K-plus-resolution display for each eye, 3D footage recording, Apple’s M2 and R1 chips, and a design that showcases Apple’s famous dedication to sleek form and breakthrough manufacturing. A connected battery pack will presumably make the headset as light as possible and is said to support 2 hours of continuous use before requiring recharging. Vision Pro can also be connected directly to the main power for longer use. For VR (and hopefully MR) porn use, this high-end device may not be the most sensible option. It is highly likely that Apple now participating in VR and MR will mean a boom, whether modest or enormous, to content creation, porn included.

A Weighty Concern

There’s no doubt Apple Vision Pro is an impressive device heavily loaded with advanced MR technologies, but that may not be an entirely good thing. It’s one thing to engage in a brief and enjoyable MR experience. It’s another to wear it for sustained periods of time. With some testers and early users, Vision Pro is proving to be quite a heavy load.

Weighing approximately 1lb (450g), Vision Pro was found to cause neck strain after a few hours of use. Considering Apple is pushing the device as a spatial computing system meant for longer use periods than more traditional VR headsets, weight and any physical strain it causes can be a major concern.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is already working on a next generation design of its yet-to-be-released Vision Pro. Reportedly aiming for a smaller, lighter design – or at least improved weight distribution – Apple must be extremely conscious of how device weight can hinder a longer MR experience.

A January Arrival

A Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple is aiming for a January 2024 launch for Apple Vision Pro. Apple has scheduled training for retail employees for that same month and, according to internal reports relayed by Gurman, expects Apple Vision Pro to hit stores around the same time, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Training is expected to be complex as Vision Pro will require significant customization for each user. Physically fitting the headset to an individual unique head shape and neck strength and adjusting the display to best deliver its ambitious content could require more time with customers than any Apple device thus far.

Launching February 2, ’24

Apple has announced a US release date for Apple Vision Pro: February 2nd, 2024. Preorders open January 19 for the device, which will be available at all US Apple retail stores and from the online US Apple store. While not quite as early in 2024 as predicted by Gurman and others, the first week of February is still sooner than many other pundits had posited.

Launch dates for other regional markets have not yet been revealed.

Watch This Space

More information about Apple Vision Pro will come before it begins shipping  but anticipation is already very high. With a retail price of $3,499, Apple Vision Pro will certainly not be on every VR or MR fan’s shopping list, but those who generally tend to purchase premium products with an expectation of higher quality and a longer lifespan may very well opt for this device over any other.

Other products, hardware, and software both, also revealed at WWDC 2023, will undoubtedly bolster the spatial computing arena under Apple’s direction, but just how remains to be seen.