Last week, we saw the announcement of Meta as they unveiled their latest Quest 3 VR headset. It’s said that the latest Quest 3 has been a big step up over their last generation headset and there will be many games coming to the devices as it is said to bring VR gaming to the next level.
Read: Meta Announces Their Quest 3 VR: A Step-Up From The Last Generation Headset
As we did mention that 2023 is looking to be a good year for gaming, Meta also acknowledged that it’s also going to be tough in terms of competition. That’s exactly what we’ll be looking at as Apple is stepping into the VR scene with their very own headset.
Introducing the Apple Vision Pro
Rumours of the Apple Vision Pro have been circulating for quite some time, and it appears that they are finally coming to an end as Apple has unveiled its first-ever VR headset. The headset is claimed to be the world's most advanced personal electronic device, running on visionOS, which is touted as the world's first spatial operating system.
Unlike the Quest 3, the Apple Vision Pro closely resembles its early speculated renders. The headset incorporates several design elements from the 'Apple Watch,' such as a digital crown and a physical button. These features enable users to capture spatial photos and videos using the built-in 3D camera.
One of the key features of the Vision Pro headset is its ability to provide a mixed-reality experience, combining augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). With its intelligent cameras and sensors, users can control the headset without the need for any additional accessories.
Apple has incorporated a 3D camera into the headset, allowing users to interact with it using just their eyes, hand gestures, and voice commands. Want to browse through an app? Simply look at an object, tap your finger to select the app, and flick your wrist to scroll up.
As for the screen quality, Apple has once again exceeded expectations by equipping the Vision Pro with a micro-LED display. This display boasts a resolution surpassing 4K for each eye, delivering crystal-clear visuals and transforming the user's surroundings into their own personal movie theatre.
If you’re a glasses user, we all know that having to wear a VR headset can be quite a struggle and sometimes the display will not be as sharp for us. With the Vision Pro, that problem will now be eliminated thanks to the attachable ZEISS optical inserts which provide greater clarity and eye-tracking accuracy. To cut down the bulky feeling of a VR headset, users will be given the option to use its very own in-built speakers or to use their AirPods for audio.
More Than Just Entertainment
When one was to say VR headset, the first thing that comes to mind is gaming and knowing Apple, they don’t hold the best reputation when it comes to gaming performance. The Vision Pro was designed and focused on individuals who have productivity in mind. Users can use the headset to launch apps in a virtual environment whether it's you having a video call or simply if you’re working on spreadsheets or browsing the web.
In case you might get distracted, the EyeSight feature will kick in and help users to be more aware of their surroundings. When approached by someone, the display will become transparent and will provide you with a pass-thru to see them. The cooler bit of this is that those talking to you will also be able to see your eyes while talking making the conversation feel more natural.
Sometimes when we are too emersed and busy with work, EyeSight will also give a queue that you’re in the middle of something and the transparency can be adjusted via the digital crown.
You may be wondering if the Vision Pro headset can enable users to join video calls, how do they set up their cameras to see their faces? Well, the thing is you don’t need to set up a camera as there’s an interesting feature where the Vision Pro can create your very own virtual persona that utilizes machine learning to reflect your face and movement in real time.
How Much & When Can We Get The Vision Pro Headset?
Before revealing the price, the Vision Pro will run on a dual-chip design using the M2 chip and a new R1 chip to handle the 12 cameras, 5 sensors and six microphones without it lagging. Additionally, the new R1 chip can stream images to the display of the Vision Pro within 12 milliseconds.
In terms of battery performance, Apple is optimized for full-day usage when the headset is connected, providing "up to two hours of usage" with the external battery for the Vision Pro.
Now for the shocking bit, during the WDCC23, Apple says that the Vision Pro will be priced at USD3,499 (~RM16,100) and will go on sale in early 2024 but there’s no news for its availability for the Malaysian market just yet. As for app support, Disney has also announced that their Disney+ streaming services will be available on the Vision Pro on Day 1 of the availability of the product.
Now while the headset does seem very cool, it’s already attracted quite a number of memes on the internet. Since it’s meant to help promote productivity, here’s some of the internet’s best memes for it right now:
interviewer "are you reading from a script?"
— gaut (@0xgaut) June 5, 2023
me: "no why" pic.twitter.com/uLFD9krUsO
POV: you just had a long day at work in 2035 pic.twitter.com/zeXY0BKvBE
— gaut (@0xgaut) June 5, 2023
— gaut (@0xgaut) June 5, 2023
— gaut (@0xgaut) June 5, 2023
For the price tag, it's certainly something to really think about as it could really put a dent in our bank accounts. Despite of it, the features are pretty cool too so it won’t be a shock to see people use the headset despite of its hefty price tag.
Do we see this as Quest 3’s competition? No, we don’t since the focus is pretty different compared to it as it’s more focused on the lifestyle productivity instead of gaming. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media, Apple, IGN, The Verge & various cross-references for context.
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