Apple Vision Pro: Will It Work?

With the so far lackluster response users have given to AR/VR devices, one would wonder why Apple would break the bank with a $3500 device, placing it firmly out of the reach of demographically interested consumers. Some of the devices that have been released, like the Meta Quest, current top dog, have been decisively mocked by reviewers and some devices like Google Glass, weren't even out in the wild. Anyone seen Hololens lately? Magic Leap, a 2018 startup, couldn't even get off the ground. Yes some might argue if anyone could ignite the flame of AR, it would be Apple, but some are predicting this will be a slow burn, seeing only 150,000 units sold in the first year. By comparison, they sell 200 million iPhones a year. Let's dive into the good and the potentially bad of this pricey headset.

THE GOOD: Let's start with the positives: the Vision Pro is a highly sophisticated device that is relatively easy to set up and remarkably intuitive to use. The initial setup involves using an iPhone to conduct assessments of your eyes and ears automatically. If you wear prescription glasses, some additional calibration may be necessary, but Apple assures it won't be complicated. Regarding the technology itself, wearing the Vision Pro is a breeze, thanks to a side knob that ensures a comfortable fit. Unlike other headsets, it doesn't resemble awkward nerdware, although it's not exactly fashionable either. It somewhat resembles something you might see on people skiing, in a jet fighter, or at a race car event. Controlling the Vision Pro is astonishingly easy. Users simply press a button above the right goggle to access a virtual screen of apps, including familiar ones like photos, messaging, phone calls, video streaming, and web browsing. Opening an app is as simple as looking straight at it and pinching a thumb and finger together. Closing an app can be done with a finger pinch or by moving it to the side with two fingers held together and moved in the desired direction.

Unsurprisingly, Apple's well-curated demonstration showcased the Vision Pro in the best possible light. The headset holds immense potential for business purposes, enhancing productivity, collaboration, and video conferencing, particularly in an era where remote work has become more prevalent. Without causing the disorienting effects commonly associated with other virtual reality headsets, the Vision Pro can immerse users in stunning visuals, offering 3D displays of faraway places. It can transport them to past memories through videos recorded with one of its 12 cameras (the demo included heartwarming scenes like a child's birthday party and a campfire gathering). Watching a 3D movie, such as the latest Avatar installment, feels like sitting in an IMAX theater while comfortably lounging on your own couch. It can also create surreal moments, like witnessing a butterfly from a virtual prehistoric era fluttering across the room and landing in your outstretched hand as you sit on a couch. Furthermore, glimpses of sporting events through the goggles indicate that professional and collegiate football, basketball, baseball, and hockey organizations will likely incorporate this technology into subscription services, providing viewers with a front-row experience. To its credit, Apple designed the Vision Pro in a way that allows users to maintain awareness of their surroundings if they choose to do so.

THE POTENTIALLY BAD, AND THE OUTRIGHT UGLY: The only reason the Vision Pro may not become an immediate sensation is its price. When it enters the U.S. market early next year, it will retail for $3,500, making it a luxury item out of reach for most households, particularly since owning the headset won't replace the need to purchase a new iPhone or Android smartphone every few years. It is likely that the Vision Pro serves as Apple's testbed for mixed reality, encouraging the development of more apps tailored to this technology. This will subsequently lead to a range of other products equipped with similarly impressive features at lower price points. Unfortunately, this progression may entice more people, including children, into a realm that intensifies screen addiction, potentially overshadowing real-world human interactions.