The era of spatial computing has arrived” Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, on X (formerly Twitter)as they announced the release date for Apple Vision Pro, their mixed reality headset, which was highly anticipated ever since its introduction last year in WWDC.
The era of spatial computing has arrived! Apple Vision Pro is available in the US on February 2. pic.twitter.com/5BK1jyEnZN
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) January 8, 2024
Release Date
The device will be up for sale in the US 2nd February onwards priced at $3,499, with pre-orders starting on January 19, at 5 a.m. PST.
Base Model and Accessories
The front of the Apple Vision pro is a singular piece of three-dimensionally formed laminated glass flows into an aluminum alloy frame that curves to wrap around the user’s face.
The base model of the Apple Vision Pro will be shipped with 256GB of storage and an array of accessories:
- The Solo Knit Band which is 3D knitted, creating a unique rib structure that provides cushioning, breathability, and stretch.
- The Dual Loop Band features a pair of adjustable upper and lower straps for a personalized fit.
- Light seal with two cushions attaches to the aluminum alloy frame. It gently flexes to conform to individual face shapes.
- Apple Vision Pro cover
- Polishing cloth
- The aluminum‑encased battery which can be slipped into a pocket for portable power and will last between 2 to 2.5 hours. It connects using a woven braided cable.
- USB-C charging cable
- USB-C power adapter
Notably, the device boasts impressive navigation capabilities, supporting eye, head, and hand tracking, eliminating the need for a separate controller.
Alongside the headset, Apple revealed the pricing for Zeiss prescription lenses as an optional addition. Readers will be available for an extra $99, while prescription lenses will cost $149, catering to users’ individual needs.
Hardware
Apple Vision Pro includes:
- Custom micro‑OLED display system featuring 23 million pixels, more pixels than 4K for each eye
- Dual-driver audio pods positioned next to each ear to deliver spatial audio
- An user-friendly dial allowing seamless transition between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
- A high‑performance eye‑tracking system of LEDs and infrared cameras projects invisible light patterns onto each eye.
- A pair of high-resolution cameras transmit over one billion pixels per second to the displays so you can see the world around you clearly. The system also helps deliver precise head and hand tracking and real‑time 3D mapping, all while understanding your hand gestures from a wide range of positions.
- A dual-chip setup integrating Apple’s M2 chip and the new R1 chip, dedicated to processing data from the device’s numerous sensors, cameras, and microphones
- 256 GB of storage.
- Rumored to be shipped with 16 GB of RAM.
Software
The device will use an operating system named visionOS which is built on the foundation of macOS, iOS, and iPadOS,
It features a brand-new three-dimensional user interface and input system controlled entirely by a user’s eyes, hands, and voice, navigation feels magical. Intuitive gestures allow users to interact with apps by simply looking at them, tapping their fingers to select, flicking their wrist to scroll, or using a virtual keyboard or dictation to type. With Siri, users can quickly open or close apps, play media, and more.
Features
- Immersive Entertainment
- 3D Photos and Videos
- Virtual Avatars
- 3D Meetings with Apple Vision Pro
- ‘EyeSight’ to Display the User’s Eyes
Available Countries
Apple is considering the UK and Canada as possible launch markets after the US. Asia and Europe will follow shortly after. According to Bloomberg, Apple engineers are working on localizing the headset for France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.
Spatial Computing
In a blog post for developers, who plan on making apps for the Apple Vision Pro, Apple urged:
“Refer to your app as a spatial computing app. Don’t describe your app experience as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or mixed reality (MR)”.
Elon Musk’s Reaction:
Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, has recently tweeted regarding his interest to use the Apple Vision Pro headset.
I look forward to trying it out
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 8, 2024