What Is The Vision Pro Used For?
The Apple Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset, 100% autonomous (no need to connect it to the computer or use a smartphone to act as a screen). By wearing it, we can immerse ourselves 360 degrees in a virtual world in VR or superimpose the interface with our environment in augmented reality. Thanks to the Digital Crown installed on the mount, it is possible to make apps more or less transparent, hence the “mixed” reality. With the Vision Pro, Apple offers three distinct and primary uses:
- Replace your computer and external monitors, generating as many virtual desktops and screens as you want and launching the same apps accessible on Mac.
- Games: many studios offer VR titles via Apple Arcade.
- The Vision Pro can also transform your living room into a cinema room with 4K films, which allows you to do without a video projector.
Unfortunately, the Vision Pro does not yet have what it takes to replace the iPhone: this will require Apple to market much lighter connected glasses. But still, for a next-generation workstation, the headset announced during the Worldwide Developer Conference 2023 does the job very well.
Technical Sheet
Vision Pro Screens
The Vision Pro has two 4K micro-OLED screens, apparently made by Sony. There is a screen for each eye. The brightness reaches five thousand nits to make the apps completely opaque when it is a question of distinguishing them from our environment. The refresh rate, for its part, reaches ninety frames per second. This is enough for gaming; the human eye doesn’t see the difference with more anyway.
A 96 Hz mode is also available for more demanding content.
Performances
Apple has chosen to power its Vision Pro with an M2 chip; the one also found on many MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs these days. But that’s not all, since, as a bonus, the headset also has a brand new chip: the R1. This is dedicated to managing the flow captured by the on-board cameras.
Sensors Galore
And in fact, sensors are not what is missing on the Vision Pro. In total, the helmet is entitled to:
- Six microphones
- Twelve cameras
- Five sensors to track hand movements
The Vision Pro also scans the iris to authenticate payments and models the user’s environment in three dimensions to deliver spatial audio sound adapted to the user. Music comes directly from two speakers installed on the temples of the frame.
Also Read: The Advantages Of The Refurbished Phone
Apps Available At Launch
Many apps will be available when the Vision Pro launches. Most are native, but the App Store is also open to third-party developers. Here is a selection of platforms that we advise you to test first.
At Apple
To begin with, as the Vision Pro is mainly intended for entertainment, Apple has thought of including Apple Music, Apple TV, and paid games with Apple Arcade. But the device is also intended for professionals, hence the integration of Freeform, Keynote, Final Cut Pro, and Numbers. And for voice control, the proprietary voice assistant is there, too.
Third-Party Apps
On the App Store, you can find several apps like Disney+ for streaming films and series, Microsoft’s Office suite for productivity, and many games.
How To Control The Vision Pro?
With Your Eyes
The Vision Pro has eye tracking, which more or less replaces your mouse pointer. The associated movements are transcribed in a secure, encrypted, and confidential manner on the sites visited. So, site editors can’t know where your eyes are landing like Hotjar would.
By Voice
Voice dictation is offered with the Vision Pro if you want to do it without a keyboard. Otherwise, Siri can do the trick.
With Your Hands
To finish with the controls, you should know that the Vision Pro can also be controlled with a very natural instrument: your hands. So, mid-air pinch gestures replace the click of your Magic Mouse, and you can rotate the Digital Crown in one direction or the other, depending on your VR needs. With this, another dial is available on the side to tighten the headband that holds the device on the head. And it is still possible to slide on a Trackpad, choose a controller, or type on a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse if necessary: the accessories are compatible. Nothing is left out.
Design
The Vision Pro is designed in a unique format: the battery is not integrated into the visor. The battery is connected to the headset by a proprietary cable; you just have to put it in your pocket to carry it. As a result, the Vision Pro is much lighter and, therefore, more comfortable daily than a Meta Quest Pro or a second-generation PlayStation VR. With this, know that fans are installed all along the frame to prevent overheating and that the chassis is exceptionally high quality. Its fragility is unknown, but it will be possible to invest in an additional headband to better hold the helmet on the skull, to be installed above the latter.
Vision Pro Autonomy
The Vision Pro’s external battery lasts up to two hours straight without recharging. But it would be enough to buy more batteries to replace it when we run out of energy. Unfortunately, the information has not yet been confirmed by Apple at this time.
Price And Release Date
The Vision Pro release date is early 2024 for the United States. However, we do not yet know the French release date, but it could occur a little later. The price is currently 3,499 euros across the Atlantic and could reach almost 4,000 euros in France.
Our Opinion
Apple’s Vision Pro has kept its promise and revolutionized the genre. Lighter than the competition, it also has a much better screen, and the integration with the Apple ecosystem offers possibilities previously impossible with other headsets. The App Store is doing the same.
We will simply regret the weight, still too heavy for prolonged use, and the price, far too expensive for most potential customers. But in any case, Apple is currently targeting a wealthy audience, which is confirmed when we know that a more affordable VR headset is being prepared internally.
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