Apple unveils the revolutionary (and expensive) Vision Pro

As expected, the keynote of Apple’s WWDC conference was entitled to a famous “One more thing” taken up by Tim Cook to introduce a brand new product. After recalling once again the great potential he gives to augmented reality, the boss of Apple announced a so-called revolutionary product. Apple does not redo.

Drum roll… here comes theApple Vision Pro. Rather than an augmented reality and virtual reality headset, Apple has found its positioning by evoking a space computer and a suitable platform embodied by the operating system visionOS. A way to stand out.

Still, the Apple Vision Pro, with its false air of a ski mask, is above all an augmented reality device which allows you to switch to a complete virtual reality environment thanks to a Digital Crown. Even if Apple never mentions virtual reality.

Apple M2 chips and new R1 chip

The headset uses micro-OLED technology to 23 million pixels on two screens and one definition 4K for each eye. It includes the trifle of 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 microphones. In addition, dual-driver speakers are integrated and allow you to create ambient spatial audio. Knowing that the Vision Pro also adapts the sound to the room by analyzing its characteristics.

Promised to be silent and not to heat up with appropriate ventilation, the system works thanks to a Apple M2 chip paired with a new R1 chip which operates in parallel. The M2 chip provides high autonomous performance and Apple does not hesitate to speak of a real computer… space (necessarily). The R1 chip was specifically designed for the real-time data processing and allows images to be broadcast on screens with a latency of 12 ms.

The Apple Vision Pro needs to be plugged into a nearby outlet for all-day use, or can accommodate a battery external to give it up to 2 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Productivity and entertainment, without isolation

The headset does not isolate nearby people. A system called EyeSight displays the eyes of the wearer of the device when a person approaches. In an immersive environment, EyeSight gives visual indications on what the user is concentrating on. A realistic and dynamic digital avatar is also created and will be used in particular with FaceTime. The device allows you to see the real world in color and project 3D objects onto it.

No need for joysticks, control is done with eyes (gaze tracking), hands and voice, for example to navigate between applications or speak commands. For productivity, Bluetooth accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad are supported.

On the uses, the productivity and collaboration – including remotely – are rightly cited by Apple in a complete three-dimensional interface, as is the entertainment with an immersive cinematic experience and gameplay with Apple Arcade. Further emphasizing that Apple will be working with Unity and that hundreds of thousands of iPhone and iPad apps will be available on Vision Pro from launch, although it will have a new App Store.

For security and privacy, an Optic ID secure authentication system relies on scanning the iris of the eye. Data is protected by the Secure Enclave.

An annoying price and availability

Apple Vision Pro sera available early 2024but only in the United States where its price will start at $3,499. More countries will be added later and later next year. The Cupertino company highlights the work of several years to achieve the Vision Pro and the filing of some 5,000 technological patents.

Behind the concept of spatial computing that Apple wants to push and the usual superlatives of the group, it will be necessary to convince with this type of device, which will probably take time. In any case, Apple is finally embarking on a big novelty. Will the Apple Vision Pro be Tim Cook’s success or failure?