Did you get a VR headset for Christmas? Maybe a Meta Quest? If you missed out, don’t worry, because in early next year Apple will be launching its very own mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro — this also means that the tech titan will officially be joining the AR/VR race.
Apple’s Vision Pro headset is years in the making, and months of rumours have attracted much anticipation from fans. Here’s what we know about Vision Pro so far, and what to expect as consumers.
1. It’s an MR headset
Apple’s Vision Pro headset is a mixed reality (“MR”) headset. This means that it’s going to be a combination of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, and it will run on visionOS, its own operating system.
The Vision Pro is not a pair of glasses, nor will it be a pair of see-through goggles. Instead, as Apple revealed at WWDC 2023, it will be a headset that obscures the wearer’s vision. Apple describes the headset as a “spatial computing” device.
Per Apple Insider, the headset will have 12 cameras, five censors, and six microphones. There will be a fan keeping the Vision Pro’s processors cool during use, and “small vent holes” at the bottom of the headset.
Inside the headset, there will also be a battery pack that’s connected to power cord. To charge the device, the headset has to connect to a charger via a USB-C port.
2. It’s coming around Q1, 2024
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is currently gearing up for a January launch for Vision Pro, with the device available in retail stores in February.
Don’t get too excited yet, though, because the initial launch will be US only. But it is expected to be rolled out to other countries all around the world throughout the first half of next year.
3. It’s not cheap
And finally, what we’re all itching to know is: how much?
Apple’s Vision Pro will have a starting price of US$3,499, which converts to around AU$5,130. So, it’s definitely a product designed for wealthier consumers who can afford it. We made a short list of what else you could purchase with that money here.
