News

Jan 16, 2024

Apple Vision Pro: Features, specs, price, release date

Apple has announced the long-rumored headset, which will be called Vision Pro.

Apple has announced the long-rumored headset, which will be called Vision Pro. That suggests that one day in the not-so-distant future we will see a cheaper Vision headset, rumored to arrive in 2025.

Apple isn't calling Vision Pro a VR headset. Rather it's referring to the headset as its "first spatial computer" with a big emphasis on how a user will be able to stay present in the physical world while wearing it. Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke about how the Vision Pro ushers in "the beginning of a new era for computing." Here's everything we know about the Vision Pro headset so far.

Want to know what it's like to wear a Vision Pro? Macworld's Roman Loyola has and he describes the experience here: I entered Apple's thrilling Vision Pro world and didn't want to leave!

Updated on June 7 with information about how Vision Pro can be used if you require prescription lenses.

Apple has said that the Vision Pro headset will be available "early next year" so a spring 2024 release date looks likely. The headset will initially only be available in the U.S., with other countries having to wait until "later next year". There will likely be a dedicated event to launch the headset, much like the Apple Watch event in 2015.

Apple has confirmed that the Vision Pro will start at $3,499, Apple hasn't confirmed the price outside the U.S. yet. There will be an additional cost associated with any prescription lenses that are required, but we don't yet know what that will be. We also don't know whether there will be additional options.

Apple

Apple has picked the materials that the Apple Vision Pro is made from to make it as "wearable" as possible. A custom aluminum alloy frame curves around the user's face and a modular design means it can be "perfectly" tailored to fit the each user.

The Light Seal is made of a soft textile that comes in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit the user's face for a precise fit. There are flexible straps that can be adjusted to fit the head and ensure that the Audio Pods are positioned near the ears. The cushioned Head Band is available in multiple sizes and can be changed for another size or style.

Those who need glasses will be able to purchase custom optical inserts to correct their vision. These ZEISS Optical Inserts are sold separately and magnetically attach to the headset's lenses. The additional lenses are not included in the price of the headset, so there is an additional cost associated with them.

When Macworld's Roman Loyola tried out the Vision Pro at Apple's hands on an optometrist measured his prescription and Apple fitted the headset with the appropriate lenses. He then removed his glasses when he put the headset on. He said he was able to see, but thought that maybe the prescription wasn't exact, because he noticed fuzziness with text.

Apple confirmed to Loyola that Apple when you order Vision Pro you will have to submit a prescription from your optometrist. It's unclear as to how that will work when buying at an Apple Store. Possibly a customer will have to submit a prescription at the retail store.

The Vision Pro will, according to Apple, "deliver phenomenal compute performance." It is powered by both an M2 processor and a new R1 chip used to process input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones, it also eliminates lag to avoid latency. Apple says it can update images at eight times faster than the blink of an eye. The headset "runs virtually silent", according to Apple.

There are two ultra-high-resolution displays that combine to produce 23 million pixels and create a 4K display for each that could generate a display that appears to be 100 feet wide. Video can be rendered at 4K resolution and text appears sharp from any angle.

There are two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pod that can deliver Personalized Spatial Audio based on the user's own head and ear geometry. As a result, the sound feels like it is coming from the space around you. Vision Pro also matches the sound to the room using audio raytracing. There's also an advanced sensor array.

Inside the lenses, a high-performance eye-tracking system uses cameras and a ring of LEDs to project invisible light patterns on the user's eyes. As a result, the Apple headset is able to tell what way the user is looking and use high-performance eye tracking to control the interface. There are no external accessories other than controllers for playing games.

The Vision Pro also recognizes the user's iris via a new method to unlock the device and authenticate passwords and purchases called Optic ID. Like the iPhone and Mac, all data is stored on a dedicated Secure Enclave processor.

There's also a nifty feature alled EyeSight that projects the correct perspective of your eyes to the people looking at you. EyeSight also includes a visual indicator that makes it clear to others when a user is capturing a spatial photo or video.

Appel says the Vision Pro's external battery pack provides up to two hours of use. It can also be used plugged in.

Apple

With a Vision Pro headset users will be able to watch a movie, listen to music, browse photos, look at 3D objects, and even collaborate on a presentation.

The Vision Pro headset will run visionOS, an operating system that Apple has designed from the ground up for visual computing. Developers will be able to use familiar tools to create apps for this platform, according to Apple.

There will be an App Store via which users will be able to download familiar iPhone and iPad apps as well as new apps designed for Vision Pro. Apple says that there will be lots of apps available at launch, including Microsoft Office Apps, third-party video conferencing apps, and Adobe Lightroom. Apple also previewed a SkyGuide app that can "transfer" you to space.

Apple says that Vision Pro "Makes new types of games possible". Apparently, users will be able to play over 100 Apple Arcade games on a screen as large as they want with support for popular game controllers.

There will also be a number of well-known Apple apps available at launch, such as Safari, Messages, and FaceTime. Here are some of the apps you can expect to see:

FaceTime will be available for the Vision Pro and will be able to take advantage of the room around you so that you can see everyone you are talking to in life-size tiles. The participant's voice will also come from the direction of their tile thanks to Spatial Audio. Users wearing Vision Pro during a FaceTime call are reflected as a Persona — a digital representation of themselves created using Apple's most advanced machine-learning techniques. reflects face and hand movements in real-time.

Apple has created a novel solution to the fact that you have a mask on and don't have a camera in front of you. It can show a "persona"–a digital representation of you–that is based on your appearance. It can even show your hand movements.

Apple

Entertainment was a major part of the WWDC presentation, with Apple showing off an immersive experience when watching movies and TV shows. With the new Cinema Environment, you’ll be able to watch shows and movies "at the frame rate and aspect ratio the filmmaker intended with immersive Spatial Audio" and watch movies on what feels like a 100-feet screen. Vision Pro will also support 3D movies including Avatar: Way of the Water.

You’ll be able to take spatial photos and spatial videos in 3D with Vision Pro, and then "relive those cherished moments like never before with immersive Spatial Audio." And of course, you’ll be able to view your plain 2D photos and videos as well. or example, Panoramas shot on iPhone expands and wraps around the user.

Disney CEO Bob Iger joined Apple on stage to demonstrate his excitement about the new technology. In a video demo, he showed movies, TV shows, and sports on Vision Pro that brings entertainment to new levels, including special movie presentations, courtside views, and interactive experiences. Iger said Disney content will be available on day one.

Right now we can only repeat what Apple has said about the experience of using a Vision Pro, but as soon as we get our hands on one we will update this section!

Apple says that the Vision Pro input system is controlled by a person's eyes, hands, and voice. But it seems that the real control happens with your eyes. The Vision Pro is able to detect exactly where you are looking. As a result, users can browse through apps by simply looking at them, tapping their fingers to select, flicking their wrist to scroll, or using voice to dictate. You can just look at a text input and begin dictating, for example.

When you first put on Vision Pro you see your surroundings. You can freely move apps to fill the space around you and they can expand into your space. Apple says you can control how immersed you are in Vision Pro with a twist of the Digital Crown.

Apple described one design goal of Vision Pro as being to be "Never isolated from the people around you". It achieves this in various ways, one is by displaying your eyes when there is someone near you. This is called EyeSight and it is designed to send a clear signal to people that you can't see them when that is the case.

Similarly, if someone is near by they will appear in your view. This way it should still be easy to interact with the world around you while wearing the headset.

A user can bring Mac wirelessly into Apple Vision Pro just by looking at it. The contents of the Mac screen are then brought on to the 4K display you see through the Vision Pro.

An advanced Spatial Audio system is core to the Apple Vision Pro experience, creating the feeling that sounds are coming from the environment around the user and matching the sound to the space, according to Apple. The Vision Pro will also work seamlessly with familiar Bluetooth accessories, according to Apple.

Apple

If you have any of the following conditions you may not be able to use an Apple headset.

If you’re prone to inner ear infections, have ADHD/ADD, anxiety disorders, a pacemaker, epilepsy, blackouts/seizures or are pregnant, you may be warned against using the headset. In addition to Meniere's disease, past traumatic brain injuries, post-concussion syndrome, migraines. https://t.co/fuasZ1Cy8F

Those are all standard limitations for VR headsets, but nonetheless it illustrates the fact that this headset won't be for everyone.

Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld almost two decades ago.

Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.