Apple revealed ‘Apple Vision Pro’ during this morning’s WWDC23 keynote. It is an AR/VR headset, but Apple is going with the term ‘spatial computer,’ that will be used for work, watching movies, gaming, and even just relaxing by looking at your photos. It is super expensive at $3499 USD and features some insane tech with 12 cameras, five sensors, an M2 chip, and a new R1 chip designed to process all the information the Apple Vision Pro is taking in at any point. 

After the reveal, it is evident this is an AR first, VR second device, focusing on productivity, communication and everyday use rather than attempting to appeal to or break into the VR market of headsets currently focused on gaming.

At the reveal, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said: 

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing. Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing. Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers.”

As all of the rumours pointed towards, the Apple Vision Pro will not use controllers and instead is entirely controlled by your hands, eyes and voice. It features a separate battery pack you can place in your pocket. To make it look even more like something from Black Mirror, the device features ‘EyeSight.’ There’s a screen on the front so people looking at you can see your eyes when talking to you or another indication you are currently in an app that isn’t letting them see you.

Even with the device being designed as controller free, it can be connected to other devices. This includes syncing up with your Mac to create a larger display, where you can continue working, or simply using an Apple Keyboard as a Bluetooth device. 

A big focus during the reveal was how the Apple Vision Pro could be used during meetings. During these, you can scan your face and create a digital persona, which is a very weird looking and oddly realistic looking which will appear as you when talking to others on FaceTime or other apps. You can also have multiple apps in front of you with visionOS. 

In the entertainment space, the Apple Vision Pro can transform any room and make it look like you’re looking at a 100ft screen and immerse you in 3D titles like never before thanks to the micro-OLED screens featuring 23 million pixels across the headset’s two displays. You control how you want to view the world around you and how immersed in a virtual space you want to become by simply twisting the Digital Crown on the headset. 

The Apple Vision Pro isn’t being targeted as a gaming headset, but there will be 100 Apple Arcade titles available at launch, with support for a Bluetooth controller. NBA 2K23 was shown during the keynote event, but there was nothing here as far as proper VR games go. 

Bob Iger (recently pulled out of retirement) joined the stage to announce the ways in which The Walt Disney Company will be working with Apple to bring their content and services to Apple Vision Pro. Disney+ will be available on Day 1, and a trailer will showcase the many different ways you may be able to interact and view Disney+ content. This included a bunch of pop-up displays while watching The Mandalorian. The hyper-reel ended with what looked like a Marvel’s What If… experience that puts you in control of the MCU. 

Apple Vision Pro will launch in the U.S. early in 2024 for $3999 USD. It will launch in other countries later in 2024, and although Australia does not have official pricing yet, it’s going to be $5300. If you want one, I would want to have started saving as of yesterday. 

What do you think of the Apple Vision Pro? Is it the future you’ve been waiting for? Let me know in the comment section below.