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Apple Vision Pro: Everything you need to know

Apple Vision Pro went on sale on February 2, 2024. It’s a mixed reality headset (Apple calls it a “Spatial Computer”) that marries an M2 processor with a lot of custom silicon, sensors, cameras, and more. The starting price of $3,499 and limited availability means that it’s a niche product, but its the first in a new category that Apple believes will be critical in the coming years.

Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro price and availability

The headset was first announced at WWDC in on June 5, 2023, with pre-orders starting January 19, 2024 and availability on February 2. The starting price is $3,499 for 256GB of storage, with a 512GB model availably for $3,699 and a 1TB model for $3,899.

Apple Vision Pro is only available in the United States to start, with other territories coming throughout 2024. You can only buy it online directly from Apple or at an Apple Store.

Part of the reason for this is the necessity to get a proper fit and optical inserts. Apple takes a scan of your face (you do this yourself with your iPhone if you are buying online) to select a proper face seal size. If you wear prescription eyewear or need readers, you can order special Zeiss inserts for $99 (readers) or $149 (prescription); the headset does not work with your own eyewear.

If you want to buy the Vision Pro you can order one from Apple’s website , or by using the Apple Store app on your iPhone. You can also go to an Apple Store for a fitting and to purchase one.

There are also other accessories available for purchase, including a travel case ($199), battery ($199), Belkin Battery Holder ($50), Solo knit Band ($99), Dual Loop Band ($99), Light Seal ($199), and Light Seal Cushion ($29). AppleCare+ is also available for $499.

Apple Vision Pro release date: UK, Canada, Europe, Australia

Apple is yet to say when Vision Pro will be available to buy outside the U.S. beyond saying that it will be shipping to “more countries” later in 2024.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that the Vision Pro will be launched outside the U.S. before WWDC in June . He believes that will be necessary to enthuse the developers attending Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Apple Vision Pro review

In our Apple Vision Pro review , we found the technology very impressive, but the comfort and software—both apps and operating system—quite limited.

There’s a lot of potential there, but it will take quite a while for the software to mature enough to unlock it, and for most users, the Vision Pro will never be worth the price.

Will there be a cheaper Apple Vision Pro?

We take the fact that the Vision Pro has the word “Pro” in its name as a big hint that a more affordable version will be coming down the line. An “Apple Vision Air,” if you will.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes that a cheaper headset will arrive in 2025. He reported in October that Apple is already working on the sequel to the headset, which will be cheaper than the original model.

The Vision Pro is likely to follow the example of the HomePod with the expensive pro model paving the way for a cheaper option down the line. But it could be a while before the economies of scale and advancements in technology make a cheaper Apple Vision product viable.

Apple Vision Pro compatibility

The Vision Pro is its own product with its own software ecosystem. It has its own App Store, and runs software independent from other Apple products (though apps like Messages and Photos can sync via iCloud with your other Apple products).

There is support for iPad apps, however. By default, all iPad apps are made available for use on Vision Pro and can be found in the Vision Pro app store, but developers can opt not to allow their apps to be used on the device. White many iPad apps are available, prominent exceptions include YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix.

Apple Vision Pro specs

The Vision Pro is powered by an M2 processor with 8 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores–the same as you would find in a MacBook. It has 16GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of flash storage.

There are 14 cameras on the inside and outside, a LiDAR scanner, multiple IR illuminators, an accelerometer, gyroscope, and multiple microphones. A custom R1 processor is made to process the vast amount of data from these sensors very quickly, for lightning-fast eye tracking and a delay for the video pass-through of only 12 milliseconds.

When wearing the Vision Pro you look through custom catadioptric pancake lenses at a pair of micro-OLED displays, one for each eye. About the size of a postage stamp, each of these displays has a stunning resolution of about 3,386 pixels per inch, more than 4K per eye. Of course, what matters is pixels per degree when looking through the lenses, which on Vision Pro is around 34 pixels per degree (less than you’d see looking at an iPhone display, but more than most other VR headsets).

Apple does not disclose the field of view for the Vision Pro, but it appears to be somewhere around 110° horizontally and 90° vertically.

The Vision Pro is actively cooled, with a fan inside, but the fan runs so quietly you can’t hear it.

There are two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pod on the side of the headset near the headband connection. They deliver Personalized Spatial Audio based on the user’s own head and ear geometry. As a result, the sound feels like it is coming from the space around you. Vision Pro also matches the sound to the room using audio raytracing.

The Vision Pro also recognizes the user’s iris via a new method to unlock the device and authenticate passwords and purchases called Optic ID. Like the iPhone and Mac, all data is stored on a dedicated Secure Enclave processor.

On the outside of the headset is an OLED display with a lenticular lens over it that Apple calls EyeSight. It projects a rendered image of your own eyes with correct perspective, so others can see you looking at them. If you are in a fully immersive environment and can’t see anyone, the EyeSight display shows a blueish haze.

Apple Vision Pro battery life

Apple Vision Pro connects to an external battery via a custom tether, and the battery lasts for around 2 to 2.5 hours. The battery pack has a USB-C port that can only be used to recharge it, though you can use the Vision Pro with the battery plugged in.

Weight & Dimensions

According to Apple Vision Pro tech specs, the headset weighs 21.2 to 22.9 ounces (600 to 650 grams) depending on the Light Seal and headband configuration. That’s about the weight of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (24 ounces/682 grams). It’s not necessarily heavier than other VR headsets but quite a bit heavier than the Meta Quest 3, which weighs 18.2 ounces (516 grams).

The weight is very front-heavy, mostly in the metal and glass out in the front of the face seal instead of distributed around the sides. The battery pack weighs 12.5 ounces (353 grams).

What it is like to use Vision Pro

With a Vision Pro headset users will be able to watch a movie, listen to music, browse photos, look at 3D objects, and even collaborate on a presentation.

Users experience a three-dimensional interface and input system that they control with their eyes, hands, and voice. You select things by looking at them and pinching your fingers together, then dragging objects around or flicking your hand to scroll. A virtual keyboard is used to enter text where appropriate, either by poking at the keys or looking at each key in succession and pinching your fingers together. You can also use voice input to enter text, or a bluetooth keyboard.

Apple has posted a 10-minute guided tour explaining how navigation and gestures work as well as several apps. 

When you first put on Vision Pro you see your surroundings. You can freely move apps to fill the space around you and they can expand into your space. The digital crown lets you adjust volume or the degree of immersion in your environment–from fully immersed in a virtual space to seeing “passthrough” video of your own space. Here’s an primer on what the Vision Pro buttons do .

A user can bring Mac wirelessly into Apple Vision Pro just by looking at it and choosing to connect to it, if it is logged into the same Apple ID. The Mac display will blank out and be replaced by a big 4K virtual display in your Vision Pro environment; you’ll continue to use the Mac keyboard and touchpad, however, and audio will still play from the Mac.

Apple Vision Pro software and apps

The Vision Pro headset runs visionOS, an operating system that Apple has designed from the ground up for visual computing. The latest version is visionOS 1.1 , which includes support for managed profiles, improved Personas, and lots of bug fixes and minor improvements.

There will also be a number of well-known Apple apps available at launch, such as Safari, Messages, and FaceTime. Apple launched Vision Pro with more than 600 optimized apps .

Apple Vision Pro terms

As with many Apple products, the company has some of its own branding around things that may be better understood by other names. Here are some of the things you may see associated with Vision Pro and what they mean.

Spatial Computing: Computing that appears to happen in the environment around you rather than inside a computer (or phone). A sort of umbrella-term that encapsulates AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and MR (Mixed Reality). It is not inaccurate to call Vision Pro and Mixed Reality headset.

Spatial apps: Apps designed with the Vision Pro hardware in mind, as opposed to iPad apps running in a window. Some Spatial apps are fully immersive experiences, others are almost indistinguishable from iPad apps.

Fully immersive: A “fully immersive” experience is one in which your surroundings are not visible: you’re completely surrounded in a virtual environment. In other words Virtual Reality.

Spatial Audio: Audio that seems to come from specific places in your environment.

Persona: A 3D digital recreation of you, created by scanning your face using the Vision Pro cameras. It is meant to be used to represent you in video conferencing apps like FaceTime or Zoom, since the Vision Pro has no cameras that can actually see your face (just specialized internal cameras for eye tracking).

Spatial Video: A new 3D video format that can be captured with either the Vision Pro or an iPhone 15 Pro. Spatial Videos can be viewed using a Vision Pro or even a Quest headset, and look a bit like a 3D diorama of a memory. It’s an emotionally charged and effective way of capturing the moment.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Apple Vision Pro

Apple’s first AR/VR headset won’t come with controllers, but it’s equipped with two 4K mini displays, a 3D interface, spatial audio, and much more.

Apple put all of the rumors to rest when it finally confirmed its long-anticipated virtual reality and augmented reality headset called the Apple Vision Pro.

The tech giant’s stock briefly hit an all-time high earlier Monday ahead of major announcements coming from its annual World Wide Developers Conference, including a sneak peek of the headset. Shares were going for as much as $184.95, surpassing the company’s previous all-time high of $182.94 achieved in January 2022. Apple’s stock has since slipped to roughly $179 per share at the time of this writing, and it might be because the company revealed that its AR/VR headset will cost $3,499 when it hits the market early next year.

The Vision Pro is Apple’s largest product launch since the Apple Watch hit the market, which was nine years ago. Even though consumers don’t seem to like the price tag, let’s dig into what we know about Apple’s newest product.

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The Apple Vision Pro Specs

The Apple Vision Pro headset is iced with laminated glass and fully controlled by users’ eyes, hands, and faces. The 3D interface is equipped with a front-facing display called EyeSight that reveals users’ eyes when someone else is nearby. This setup aligns with the spacial computing system Apple built out for the device that relies on cues from a user’s eyes, hand gestures, and Siri.

Apple immediately set itself apart from its competition since the Vision Pro doesn’t come with any controllers or handheld devices, operating truly as just a headset.

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced at WWDC that the tech giant also built a new operating system called VisionOS specifically for the Vision Pro. The device runs on Apple’s M2 and R1 chips, and the new M2 chip is equipped with both a graphics processing unit and a central processing unit. The headset is equipped with two 4K microdisplays, spatial audio, and optic IDC iris scanning.

The Vision Pro allows users to immerse themselves in virtual reality or tap into real-world environments to dip into augmented reality. As part of the enrollment process, users can create a 3D digital twin of themselves.

Interestingly enough, Apple’s presentation of Vision Pro focused heavily on typical work, showing us how emails, presentations, video calls, news, and the web operate. Users can even create a Vision Pro-friendly version of their Mac desktops in the headset, and there is a virtual keyboard available. Vision Pro will have Bluetooth capabilities to connect Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard devices.

Gaming was virtually not mentioned, though we can expect it will be a part of the Vision Pro vision eventually since the device can connect to game controllers and access Apple Arcade titles. Apple announced a partnership with 3D content developer Unity to develop exclusive apps and games for the Vision Pro.

As for entertainment, users can control the size of their viewing screens in Spatial Cinema mode, and the device supports 3D movies. Disney CEO Bob Iger joined the presentation to confirm that there will be a Disney+ app for Vision Pro. He also teased a new What If experience that might let users turn themselves into superheroes.

Like all of Apple’s other devices, the Vision Pro can sync with iCloud, iPhones, Macs, and iPads.

Here is a closer peek at what the headset will look like.

Vision Pro's stunning design 😮‍💨 #WWDC23 pic.twitter.com/8RV6s1wTmo — Apple Hub (@theapplehub) June 5, 2023

At first glance, it looks like the Vision Pro’s rear band is wrapped in a ribbed cloth material for more comfort. The device’s face pad is flexible to conform to faces of all shapes and sizes, and the size straps can stretch a bit.

The biggest shock about Vision Pro is that it can only run for two hours with an external battery pack or all day while plugged into a charger. Regardless, the Vision Pro has to be plugged into some power source to work; that’ll be hard to get around if Apple plans to develop apps and offerings that require movement with the headset on.

And yes, there is an eery resemblance between Vision Pro and the Ready Player One device. I am sensing a spike in streaming for that movie coming soon.

Apple just went full Ready Player One pic.twitter.com/hh4XWaFgxR — Nathie (@NathieVR) June 5, 2023

More Announcements from WWDC

As usual, Apple laid out dozens of updates and technological advances, including the usual announcements of a new operating system, fresh Mac and MacBook models, and new Apple Watches. Here are a few more intriguing tech updates Apple users can tap into soon:

• Namedrop : This new Airdrop feature lets iPhone and Apple Watch users share their contact information with each other by simply bringing their devices close together.
• Autocorrect : Apple upgraded its autocorrect feature with AI to better predict what users will say next.
• Standby : iPhones can now transform into full-screen nightstand displays when charging on a special station in landscape mode.
• Videomail : Like voicemail, but instead, short videos you can send to someone when they miss your FaceTime call.
• Siri : You can finally drop the “hey” before speaking to Siri now.
• Airpods : New AirPod models will include an adaptive audio feature that quiets active noise around a user.
• Apple TV : FaceTime is officially coming to the big screen and will be available on Apple TV for iPhone and iPad users.

If you missed the two-hour event, here’s the full video for a breakdown of what Apple has in store.

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What Is Apple’s Vision Pro Really For?

• Joshua Gans
• Abhishek Nagaraj

Developers should focus on providing users with hard-to-access information at just the right level of detail.

To understand the value of Apple’s new goggles, it’s helpful to think about how virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) correspond to two fundamental tasks in decision making. VR presents new information; AR distills information from an existing environment. But previous headsets and internet-enabled glasses haven’t tapped into the potential for either of these in a decision-making context. Apple is betting that it can build an ecosystem of app developers who can.

Apple announced a new computer last week, to great fanfare. The Vision Pro is a computer that is worn on your face, but the novel aspect is how you use it. Rather than view the computer’s output through a physical screen, that output is projected directly into your eyes with two very small but high-resolution displays a very small distance in front of you. Rather than control the computer through a keyboard, mouse, or touch screen, the primary user interface is through eye tracking and gestures.

• Joshua Gans is the Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair in Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and the chief economist at the Creative Destruction Lab. He is a co-author of Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence (Harvard Business Review Press, 2022).
• AN Abhishek Nagaraj is an Assistant Professor at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

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Hands-on: I’ve tried Apple’s Vision Pro and these are the five things to be most excited about

This is the experience you can look forward to when vision pro launches in february..

You can always trust iMore. Our team of Apple experts have years of experience testing all kinds of tech and gadgets, so you can be sure our recommendations and criticisms are accurate and helpful. Find out more about how we test.

Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (aka WWDC) is typically a software affair. But that wasn’t the case in 2023. Last year, it was in fact hardware that stole the show and more specifically, Apple Vision Pro, the company's long-awaited mixed-reality headset device. 

Set to introduce the world to Apple's Vision of Spatial Computing, it's Apple's most ambitious launch in a decade — and it's almost ready for release .

I won’t lie, I was incredibly sceptical about Apple’s take on a virtual reality headset. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a huge VR fan, but I can also admit when I’m wrong and when it comes to Vision Pro , wrong would be an understatement. There’s no denying it’s got a huge price tag attached to it, but the Vision Pro is arguably the most important device Apple has made since the iPhone stole BlackBerry’s thunder in 2007. 

Having been lucky enough to give it a spin in a hands-on demo, there's lots to look forward to when Vision Pro launches. Here are the five things you should be excited about when Vision Pro arrives in February.

Spatial Video

Apple made it possible to take Spatial Video with your iPhone when it released iOS 17.2 at the beginning of December. It might seem pretty pointless at the moment but if you have any intention whatsoever of investing in Vision Pro then trust me when I say you should take as many Spatial Videos as your storage will allow. 

I had a 30-minute demo of Vision Pro at WWDC 2023 and Spatial Video was nothing short of incredible. I watched a brief video of a child blow out the birthday candles surrounded by their family and no one was more surprised than me when a tear rolled down my cheek as I watched the event on the Vision Pro. The detail was exceptional to the point where I felt like I was right there in the room where it had been recorded.

During the keynote presentation, I assumed Spatial Video would be something you would only be able to capture through the Vision Pro headset itself and I hated that idea. No matter how great the result, I firmly believe you should be in the moment rather than stuck behind a headset to capture a moment . But when I learned Spatial Video wouldn't need to be captured via the Vision Pro, only played back through it, I realised what an exciting prospect that could be for people with loved ones far away. If a child I didn't know could bring me to tears (not a common feat for me, I promise), then watching a Spatial Video of someone I know would probably bleed my eyes dry. Expand that to a lost loved one and there are no words for what Vision Pro can deliver in terms of unique experiences here.

Watching content

It might seem obvious, but watching movies on the Vision Pro is not something to be underestimated or overlooked. During my demo of the Vision Pro, I watched a short clip of Avatar 2 in 3D and it was exceptional. Whatever you might expect that experience to look like, multiply that by at least 10 and you might get a fraction of the experience of watching movies on Vision Pro. The detail is just so sharp, and that's before considering the immersion of the cinema mode that puts you in the center of the theater. 

On that note, Vision Pro introduces a whole new way to watch sport too, and if movies aren't your thing but sports is, Vision Pro has the potential to change the way you watch your favourite teams entirely. My demo put me behind the hoop at a basketball game, as well as behind the goal line at a soccer game and both took place right in the center of the action. It's not just a completely different experience than what you would get watching it on your living room TV, but it's a completely different experience to what you'd get if you were at one of those games too.

Environments mode and panoramas

There are a number of use cases for the Vision Pro, whether it's sending a message on Messages to having a FaceTime call — something I didn't particularly enjoy in my demo. There a lot to be said for some of the more simple experiences however, and that's where Environments mode and Panoramas come into play. Neither have quite the same level of "fun" as Spatial Video or the Immersive Video option (more on that in a minute). But being surrounded by Mount Hood is an impressive experience and one that is good for the soul. It's possible to be fully immersed, allowing you to be surrounded by sheer beauty from every angle of your vision, or you can turn the Digital Crown on the Vision Pro to see your real environment with a slight overlay over the top, allowing you to dip in and out. 

I've popped panoramas in this section as they tie together. While Mount Hood was a 360-degree immersion in my demo, Vision Pro allows you to view panoramas better than you could ever imagine. Wherever you took the shot, Vision Pro will transport you back there and you'll likely see it in a completely different light. Along with those Spatial Videos, take as many panoramas as possible.

Apple Immersive Video

Arguably my favourite part of my Vision Pro demo was the Immersive Video experience. The problem with this one is that it is almost impossible to put into words, but when I say you should be excited about this, I mean it with every fibre of my being. The first element of the Immersive Video experience took me several thousand feet into the air onto a tight rope, which let me tell you is not something I would do in real life. It was so realistic however, my legs were so wobbly I wouldn't have been able to stand up from the sofa in the briefing room in Apple Park if I was asked to — and I'm not even scared of heights. 

The Immersive Video mode isn't just about exporting you to places you may never go in real life though, it's also about offering up experiences that you may never get in the real world — or that are impossible to experience at all. I moved from a very intimate Alicia Keys concert to being surrounded by sharks, to having a butterfly land on my finger when I stretched it out and coming face-to-face with a dinosaur. I did say it delivered an experience that wasn't possible in the real world! The dinosaur element of my briefing was phenomenal and I don't use that word lightly. The level of detail presented by the Vision Pro for the dinosaur's skin was so incredible, the image remains engrained in my mind over six months since I saw it. 

Familiarity and intuitiveness

Though there is plenty more to say about Vision Pro, the familiarity it delivers isn't something that should be overlooked — for such a futuristic piece of tech, it's surprisingly intuitive. Picking up how to interact with it is almost instantaneous and that goes for the gestures too. Frankly, I am disappointed I can't tap my thumb and index finger together and make something happen in real life. This gesture is so natural for Vision Pro however, and it works very well with a great response time. 

The only time I noticed it not working is when my hands were too close together and overlapping on my lap. Otherwise, it was flawless in my demo. The interface is so familiar too and exactly what you would expect if you're at all used to iOS or iPadOS, but on a much larger scale. Following setup, you simply look at an icon like Photos or Messages in front of you and Vision Pro will track your eyes and fire it up instantly. It's so simple to navigate and understand non-Apple users won't find it daunting either.  

The Apple Vision Pro is one of the most expensive piece of tech set to launch in 2024 but if you do anything this year, try it out when it arrives. It will blow you away, and there's not a doubt in my mind about that. 

Apple Vision Pro goes up for pre-order on January 19, and onsale in stores on February 2. It costs $3,499, and will launch initially in the US before going on sale in other international territories at a yet-to-be-determined date.

More from iMore

• Here are 7 new Vision Pro features that Apple just revealed
• Every Apple Vision Pro app we've heard about so far
• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro

Britta is a freelance technology journalist who has been writing about Apple and tech for over a decade. She's covered everything from phones, tablets and wearables to smart home and beauty tech, with everything in between, and she's reviewed every Apple product to launch in the last few years. She has a fashion journalism degree from London College of Fashion and was previously deputy editor of Pocket-lint. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on, aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate and she loves a good iPhone trick.

What is a hands on review?

'Hands on reviews' are a journalist's first impressions of a piece of kit based on spending some time with it. It may be just a few moments, or a few hours. The important thing is we have been able to play with it ourselves and can give you some sense of what it's like to use, even if it's only an embryonic view.

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Real-Life Minority Report —

I worked exclusively in vision pro for a week—here’s how it went, the biggest problem is meetings, as personas are a bit of a letdown..

Samuel Axon - Mar 4, 2024 11:45 am UTC

• A close-up look at the Vision Pro from the front. Samuel Axon
• There are two displays inside the Vision Pro, one for each eye. Each offers just under 4K resolution. Samuel Axon
• This is the infamous battery pack. It's about the size of an iPhone (but a little thicker), and it has a USB-C port for external power sources. Samuel Axon
• There are two buttons for the Vision Pro, both on the top. Samuel Axon
• You can see the front-facing cameras that handle passthrough video just above the downward-facing cameras that read your hand gestures here. Samuel Axon
• Apple offers several variations of the light seal to fit different face shapes. Samuel Axon

You can get a lot of work done while wearing Apple’s Vision Pro and have fun doing it—but it’s not yet at the stage where most of us will want to fully embrace spatial computing as the new way of working.

I spent more than a week working almost exclusively in the Vision Pro. I carried on Slack conversations, dialed into Zoom video calls, edited Google Docs, wrote articles, and did everything else I do within my day-to-day responsibilities as an editor at Ars Technica.

Further Reading

At the same time, though, I never quite zeroed in on a specific application or use case that made me think my normal habit of working on a MacBook Pro with three external monitors would be replaced. If you don’t already have a setup like that—that is to say, if you’ve just been working on a laptop on its own—then the Vision Pro can add a lot of value.

I plan to explore more use cases in the future, like gaming, but this is the last major piece in a series of sub-reviews of the Vision Pro that I’ve done on various applications, like entertainment or as an on-the-go mobile device .

My goal has been to see if the Vision Pro’s myriad use cases add up to $3,500 of value for today’s computing enthusiast. Productivity is front and center in how Apple markets the device, so this is an important one. Let’s see how it holds up.

Table of Contents

• Vision Pro with peripherals
• Turning my whole home into an office
• Working with a Mac
• Meetings and Personas
• Could the Vision Pro be your main workhorse?

Outside the realm of entertainment, visionOS and its apps are mostly about flat windows floating in 3D space. There are very few apps that make use of the device’s 3D capabilities in new ways that are relevant to productivity.

There are two types of visionOS apps: spatial apps and “Compatible Apps.” The former are apps designed to take advantage of the Vision Pro’s spatial computing capabilities, whereas Compatible Apps are simply iPad apps that work just fine as flat windows within the visionOS environment.

In either case, though, you’re usually just getting the ability to put windows around you. For example, I started out by sitting at my kitchen table and putting my writing app in front of me, Slack and my email app off to the side, and a browser window with a YouTube video playing on the other side. This felt a bit like using several large computer monitors, each with an app maximized. It’s cool, and the ability to shift between your real environment and fully immersive virtual ones can help with focus, especially if you do intensive creative work like writing.

If there’s one thing Apple has nailed better than any of its predecessors in the mixed reality space, it’s the interface. Wherever your eyes are looking, a UI element will glow to let you know it’s the item you'll interact with if you click. Clicking is done by simply tapping two of your fingers together almost anywhere around your body; the headset has cameras all over, so you don’t have to hold your hands up or in front of you to do this. There are also simple pinching-and-moving gestures for scrolling or zooming.

reader comments

Channel ars technica.

Apple’s view of the future is a lonely one

Vision pro is all about the ‘experience’ as you watch videos, facetime family, and get work done. but that experience looks awfully isolating..

By Allison Johnson , a reviewer with 10 years of experience writing about consumer tech. She has a special interest in mobile photography and telecom. Previously, she worked at DPReview.

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The year is 2025. I’m sitting on the couch next to my husband, who appears in my field of vision whenever we talk to each other. When we aren’t talking, he fades out of view so I can focus my attention on the screens in front of me. I’m editing a presentation for work, FaceTiming with my family across the country, learning Spanish, and watching cooking demos on YouTube at the same time.

I get a notification — it’s time for my daily meditation. The screens darken, and the room around me fades away completely so I can focus on a calming animation and count my breaths. When I’m done, the session is automatically logged in my journal, along with my daily mood: pleasant. Just like yesterday. The FaceTime call comes back into focus just as my family members’ photorealistic personas are laughing at something funny my mom said. I’m not sure what it was, but my avatar laughs along with theirs anyway.

This vision of the future might not be exactly the one that Apple is trying to sell us with its new headset, but I don’t think it’s far off. The Vision Pro is a $3,500 screen for one person: you and you only. Maybe it’s the future of the iPhone . Maybe it will usher in a blissful utopia where we are all tuned into our surroundings as much or as little as we would like to be. Maybe it’s a really expensive way to look dumb in the comfort of your own home. But I think there’s one thing that’s for sure: it looks lonely as hell.

Exactly what the Vision Pro is and what it’s designed to do has been extremely well documented over the past 48 hours, but in case you missed it, here’s the synopsis: Vision Pro is a state-of-the-art pair of goggles that puts a screen on your face. It’s mostly a VR headset, even though Apple is allergic to saying VR, with some augmented reality elements woven in. It captures the world outside the headset with outward-facing cameras, and it will show you more or less of it as needed. If it recognizes that you’re talking to someone, they’ll come into view. If you want to tune out and watch a movie on your flight, the real world will fade away.

Apple very much wants us to believe that we can participate in the “real world” while wearing the headset. The company is heavily emphasizing the Vision Pro’s augmented reality capabilities, and there’s even a physical dial to control how much of the real world you see at any time. There’s also an external display so anyone else in the room can see your eyes rather than a big black box on your face. And in the keynote, Apple highlighted a parent using the headset in their kitchen with a child playing nearby. The kid kicks a soccer ball toward the headset wearer, and he kicks it right back without missing a beat. See? Nothing to worry about! You can do five things on your headset and be an engaged parent all at once!

But even though it’s not supposed to totally take you out of reality, by design, it puts you at the center of your own little screen-filled world. That’s an inherently more isolated experience than interacting with a 6-inch screen that you hold in your hand. How do you show someone a funny TikTok you just watched in your headset? How do you watch a cute video you took of your kid with your spouse? How do you show everyone on your FaceTime call that your cat just jumped into your lap? Won’t Apple please think of the pet moments we’re going to miss?

Putting a screen on your head when you want to zone out and watch Netflix is one thing, but Apple’s not selling this as just a screen for your face. You’re supposed to be able to walk around your home, grab a drink from the fridge, and interact with your spouse while you wear it. In fact, Apple’s promotional video portrays it almost exclusively as something you wear at home alone.

And take FaceTime, one of the big use cases. Apple’s pitch is that it’ll make it seem like the people you’re talking to are right there in the room with you. But they don’t see you exactly — they see a photorealistic representation of you as you talk, built from a scan of your face taken with the headset. I have a very hard time understanding how I’m supposed to feel closer while FaceTiming my family across the country when they can’t even see my actual face.

• I wore the Apple Vision Pro. It’s the best headset demo ever.
• What’s so ‘pro’ about Apple’s Vision Pro headset?

To be clear, I don’t want to declare this product — which is still many months away from shipping — a disaster for society or anything like that. Even if it takes off, nobody’s going to come to my house and replace my iPhone with a headset overnight. It’s very easy to opt out of this whole experience simply by not spending $3,500 on a headset. 

But I also can’t help noticing the juxtaposition between the Vision Pro and its very self-centered nature and Apple’s simultaneous push for better tools to manage mental health. In the very same keynote that it announced the Vision Pro, Apple revealed a couple of new features for iOS 17 to help people understand their own emotions and moods. You’ll be able to log your daily mood and moment-to-moment emotions in the Health app, and you’ll also be able to access a standard survey that health professionals use to screen for depression and anxiety. 

There’s also a new journaling app , which can automatically prompt you to stop, reflect, and write a journal entry based on things you’ve recently photographed or places you’ve been. It’s probably not a bad thing to take a break from the constant pressure to share your photos, videos, and thoughts with the world and just write something for yourself. 

How hard will it be to peel yourself away from TikTok when you’re actually wearing the screen?

And not to be forgotten, Apple has spent years building features designed to help you keep track of and minimize your screen time. If we already have a hard time putting our phones down, how hard will it be to peel yourself away from TikTok when you’re actually wearing the screen? Apple is willing to outfit us with a few flimsy tools to help us keep healthy relationships with our phones, but it’s also willing to sell you a screen to literally keep strapped to your face.

There’s every chance that the Vision Pro will flop and we’ll just keep happily (and unhappily) using our pocket screens for the rest of time. But Apple is a company with tremendous power to shape how we interact with technology and the track record to prove it. When it releases a product in a new category, it’s reasonable to wonder if that thing represents some version of the future — how we interact with each other and how we relate to ourselves. And if Apple’s Vision Pro is indeed a significant part of that future, then I won’t be surprised if it feels a little bit lonelier.

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Use your Mac with Apple Vision Pro

Learn how to use Apple Vision Pro as a private, portable 4K display for your Mac with Mac Virtual Display.

Before you begin

First, make sure your Mac meets the system requirements. You can use Mac Virtual Display with any Mac that has macOS 14 Sonoma or later .

Then, check these things on your Mac and your Apple Vision Pro:

Sign in on both devices with the same Apple ID, and make sure your account has two-factor authentication turned on.

Turn on iCloud Keychain on both devices. On your Mac, go to System Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Passwords & Keychain, then turn on Sync this Mac. On your Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Passwords & Keychain, then turn on Sync this Apple Vision Pro.

Make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

Start a Mac Virtual Display session

If you have a compatible Mac laptop, you can begin a Mac Virtual Display session by looking at it. If you have a Mac desktop, start by opening Control Center.

On your Mac laptop

Make sure that your Mac laptop is open and its display is active.

While wearing Apple Vision Pro, look at your Mac laptop.

Tap the Connect button that appears in your view above your Mac laptop.

If you don't see the Connect button above your Mac laptop, follow the steps in the next section.

On your Mac desktop computer

Select your Mac from the list that appears.

Using Mac Virtual Display

When your Mac connects, its display appears as a window in Apple Vision Pro. Just like with all windows in your Apple Vision Pro workspace , you can pinch and drag the window bar that appears at the bottom of the window to move your Mac display and arrange it closer or farther away in space. You can also resize Mac Virtual Display by pinching and dragging the window bars that appear at either bottom corner of the window.

Use your Mac computer's built-in keyboard and trackpad, or its connected Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, to work on your Mac within Apple Vision Pro.

While you're using Mac Virtual Display, sounds from your Mac (such as notifications) will continue to come from your Mac, not from Apple Vision Pro.

Mac displays and resolution

If your Mac has multiple displays connected to it, Mac Virtual Display shows only the one that you've set as the main display.

If you have a Mac with Apple silicon , it can appear in Apple Vision Pro at resolutions up to 4K. If your Mac has an Intel processor, it can appear at resolutions up to 3K.

To adjust the resolution of your Mac display in Apple Vision Pro, go to the System Settings app on your Mac, click Displays, then choose from the available resolutions. To see more sizes, turn on Show all resolutions.

Use your Mac input devices to control Apple Vision Pro apps

When you're in a Mac Virtual Display session, you can use your Mac computer's built-in keyboard and trackpad, or its connected Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, to control Apple Vision Pro apps and content inside the Mac Virtual Display.

First, make sure that your Mac is set up right:

On your Mac, open Settings > Displays.

Tap Advanced.

Turn on Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.

Now you can move your Mac pointer out of the Mac Virtual Display window into other Apple Vision Pro windows, where you can use it to scroll and select items.

End a Mac Virtual Display session

When you're finished, tap the close button at the bottom of the Mac window to disconnect from your computer.

If Mac Virtual Display isn't working

Learn what to do if Mac Virtual Display isn't working on your Apple Vision Pro .

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Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

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Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Teaching With the Apple Vision Pro

It’s early days for the Apple Vision Pro, but educators already see the new technology's potential as well as its limitations.

As you may have heard, Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s new immersive headset, was recently released.  Apple is saying the Vision Pro will launch the “era of spatial computing,” and touting features such a micro OLED display, 3D cameras, and advanced eye and motion detection ability that allows users to type and interact with displays without needing a keyboard or mouse.

Right now it’s too soon to say what impact the Apple Vision Pro will have on education. Experts see many great features that could potentially be used in teaching. However, the tool currently costs $3,499, which can be prohibitive for schools (or anyone, really). And there are other possible classroom limitations beyond its price. 

Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek , the Stanley and Debra Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Temple University and a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Frank Bergdoll, a veteran teacher who hosts the Learning and Technology with Frank YouTube channel , discuss the Apple Vision Pro and its potential impact on education.

Apple Vision Pro: Teaching Potential  

Forgetting price, there are many ways in which Apple Vision Pro could be used to support teaching. 

“It will give kids the opportunity to bring an IMAX into a classroom,” says Hirsh-Pasek. This is because the Apple Vision Pro comes equipped with the ability to play movies on a screen that can be adjusted to each user’s desired size, and Apple has also announced a partnership to bring IMAX documentaries to the device . 

Hirsh-Pasek adds that the tool can give students a truly immersive experience, such as the opportunity to visit ancient lands and explore other worlds. 

She was also impressed by the tool’s EyeSight feature, which alerts Vision Pro users when someone is nearby by bringing the person into their field of vision while also clearing the way for the user’s vision. Hirsh-Pasek sees this as a breakthrough over previous immersive gear and a concept that could allow for more AR/VR collaboration among students, and make spending time in these experiences less dangerous. 

“It means you're less likely to bump into a desk,” she says. “And I can't tell you when I've done immersive reality how many people have bumped into walls and desks.”  

Downsides Beyond Price  

Bergdoll notes that schools often have expensive pieces of equipment in classrooms, including interactive whiteboards and projectors as well as other AR/VR headsets. However, these devices can be utilized by multiple students at the same or one after the other in quick succession. 

“My main concern with the Apple Vision Pro is that it does seem to be a highly personalized device that doesn’t lend itself well to sharing,” Bergdoll says. “For many AR/VR experiences, we would not want learners to be immersed throughout the entire day – so sharing a device would be ideal.” 

The Apple Vision Pro needs to be calibrated to the eyesight and hands of each user, and while this isn’t an incredibly time-consuming process, it’s far from instantaneous. Passing the device back and forth between 20 to 30 students during one class period would most likely be impractical. 

And this isn't the only limitation. As impressed as Hirsh-Pasek is with the Apple Vision Pro, she doesn’t believe it makes use of all the advantages immersive technology could provide in education. 

“It's still a more passive than active system,” Hirsh-Pasek says. “We all learn better when actively engaged in something rather than just watching something.” 

Larger Impact 

AR/VR and other immersive metaverse-style technologies are used frequently in schools but have never been able to break into the education mainstream or beyond. The Vision Pro could change that as Apple has a long history of pushing the envelope with new technology.

“Apple has a strong reputation for building technology with a user focus,” Bergdoll says. “The Vision Pro will very likely spar a lot of innovation around competing hardware, and especially the software and media ecosystem that develops around it.” 

Apple Vision Pro apps are available in the app store and Bergdoll predicts that will attract developers, which will attract consumers in a virtuous circle. 

Hirsh-Pasek agrees and notes that Apple has a coolness factor that will likely bring extra attention. “Every time Apple comes out with something, everybody goes to try to create the next iteration,” she says. “So in that sense, it can have real impact on the industry.” 

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Erik Ofgang is Tech & Learning's senior staff writer. A journalist,  author  and educator, his work has appeared in the Washington Post , The Atlantic , and Associated Press. He currently teaches at Western Connecticut State University’s MFA program. While a staff writer at Connecticut Magazine he won a Society of Professional Journalism Award for his education reporting. He is interested in how humans learn and how technology can make that more effective. 

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Apple Vision Pro is 'Over-Engineered Devkit,' Says Former Oculus Head

Apple's first-generation Vision Pro headset is an "over-engineered devkit" that ships with more sensors than is necessary to deliver Apple's intended experience. That's according to Hugo Barra, former VP of Android and head of Meta's phased-out Oculus headset brand.

Barra notes that Apple has packed Vision Pro with an impressive six tracking cameras, two passthrough cameras, two depth sensors, and four eye-tracking cameras. This "over-spec'ing," says Barra, is "characteristic of a v1 product where its creator wants to ensure it survives the hardest tests early users will no doubt want to put the product through."

Apple's decision to over-spec the Vision Pro, however, inevitably makes the headset weigh over 600 grams, and "makes it difficult for most people to wear it for more than 30-45 minutes at a time without suffering a lot of discomfort."

Because of its heavy weight, Vision Pro has inevitably landed in the world as a high-quality "devkit" designed to capture everyone's curiosity, hearts & minds with its magic (especially through the voice of enthusiastic tech influencers) while being realistically focused on developers as its primary audience. In other words, the Vision Pro is a devkit that helps prepare the world to receive a more mainstream Apple VR headset that could have product-market fit in 1 or 2 generations.

Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman believes Apple is working on multiple new Apple Vision models, exploring both a low-cost version and a second-generation version. With the low-cost version , Gurman believes Apple will eliminate the EyeSight feature and the M-series chip, using more affordable components.

In another notable claim, Barra reckons Apple has made the Vision Pro experience intentionally blurry in order to hide pixelation artifacts and make graphics appear smoother, which he sees as a "clever move" by Apple.

One of our biggest product positioning struggles within the Oculus VR team from the very beginning — especially when trying to convince reviewers — was always related to having underwhelming displays. Every single Oculus headset that ever shipped (including the latest Quest 3) has suffered from resolution/pixelation issues varying from "terrible" to "pretty bad". It's like we're living in the VR-equivalent world of VGA computer monitors.

By making the Vision Pro optics slightly out of focus, Apple has achieved "way smoother graphics across the board by hiding the screen door effect (which in practice means that you won't see pixelation artifacts)." However, Barra laments the Vision Pro's "significant motion blur and image quality issues that render passthrough mode unusable for longer periods."

Barra claims that it was this motion blur in passthrough mode that was one of the many reasons why he decided to return his Vision Pro. "It's just uncomfortable, leads to unnecessary eye strain, and really gets in the way of anyone using the headset for longer periods of time," he adds.

You can find Barra's lengthy write-up of his experience with Vision Pro over on his blog . Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 in the United States, with the device expected to launch in more countries later this year .

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Top Rated Comments

nearly every impression I've read about the Vision Pro has been so far, wrong IMO after owning the device - solo knit band is more comfortable than the dual band - passthrough is blurry while some reviewers say it's amazing. - it's not any less comfortable than my Quest 3 - have no problems wearing it for 2 hours straight

The primary reason being that he already spent all the time he needs to learn from the unit and, as a competitor, has no use for it. ?

Barra claims that it was this motion blur in passthrough mode that was one of the many reasons why he decided to return his Vision Pro.

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Apple’s Vision Pro now has over 1,000 apps specifically designed for the new device

Mark Zuckerberg may be laughing off the competition in the AR/VR headset market, but Apple’s Vision Pro is gaining traction — with developers, at least. On Tuesday, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, announced on X that the company’s “spatial computing” headset now has more than 1,000 apps designed specifically to take advantage of the new hardware. That’s up from the 600-plus apps Apple said just two weeks ago would be available at the time of the device’s launch, and far more than the 150-plus apps that had been ready in the days leading up to the Vision Pro’s arrival.

A huge thank you to our developers! Their hard work has already resulted in over 1,000 incredible spatial apps designed specifically for Vision Pro, along with over 1.5 million compatible apps. We're thrilled to see how they'll continue to push the boundaries for what’s possible. — Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) February 13, 2024

While reviews, besides Zuckerberg’s obviously biased take , have dubbed the Vision Pro the best mixed reality headset on the market, although still very much a work in progress, its $3,500 price point could mean a limited market for developers. However, App Store data indicates that over half of developers have been embracing the paid app business model , instead of freemium or free with in-app purchases or subscriptions, as elsewhere on the App Store. That means even if only a few hundred customers download their app, they’ll receive a guaranteed income from their work.

While the Vision Pro is capable of running more than 1.5 million compatible iOS and iPad apps, spatial apps built for the headset are those that have been designed to leverage its specific capabilities. This includes a number of streaming apps like Disney+, ESPN, MLB, PGA Tour, Max, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, Pluto TV, Tubi, Fubo, Crunchyroll, Red Bull TV, IMAX, TikTok and MUBI. (Netflix is a notable holdout).

The PGA Tour, MLS, NBA, Red Bull TV and others have also built apps for the new device, as have productivity app makers like Microsoft, Slack, Notion, Zoom, WebEx and others. But many independent software developers have embraced the new platform, too, filling in gaps, as Christian Selig did by building a YouTube app called Juno , or tackling areas that don’t have as much competition yet, like fitness, science or mindfulness , among other things.

One developer, Jordi Bruin, is even working to improve an area where the Vision Pro falls short with his Persona Studio app that lets users view and record their “Persona” — a 3D avatar used when communicating with others via Vision Pro. Apple’s version of personas makes people look odd and unlike themselves, but Persona Studio aims to improve that.

The growth in Vision Pro apps so soon after launch indicates that many developers in Apple’s community still see the company as offering a viable platform for their success, despite its recent anti-developer measures to make regulations like the EU’s DMA completely toothless . Several larger developers have come out against Apple’s DMA plans, like Meta , Spotify , Epic Games , Mozilla, Microsoft and others, which led some to believe that the Vision Pro could suffer from a developer boycott or backlash.

While there may be a few significant holdouts from these larger players, it’s clear that many in Apple’s developer community were interested in building for the new device, after all. In addition, Y Combinator today put out a new call for startups, and added “spatial computing” — Apple’s term for mixed reality (AR/VR) — to its list of companies it wants to fund, suggesting further growth in this market is still ahead.

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Apple's Vision Pro was used in surgery to help perform spinal operations

• Apple's Vision Pro headset has been used in spine surgery procedures.
• A surgical team member at Cromwell Hospital in London wore the device to assist with the procedures.
• Several healthcare apps compatible with the headset have been developed since its release.

A surgical team at a UK hospital used Apple's Vision Pro headset to help execute a medical procedure.

The team used the mixed-reality headset to assist in two microsurgical spine procedures at Cromwell Hospital in London, hospital owner Bupa told Business Insider. Surgeons Fady Sedra and Syed Aftab were part of the team, but it was a scrub nurse who donned the headset to help assist them, The Daily Mail reported.

The hospital was introduced to the device by eXeX, which provides tech platforms to hospitals.

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Aftab, a consultant orthopedic spinal surgeon, said, "Working with eXeX to use the Apple Vision Pro has made a huge difference to the way we deliver care to our patients. The software is seamless and has improved efficiency within the Complex Spine team."

Following the release of Apple's Vision Pro device in the US last month, a range of healthcare apps compatible with the headset have become available, as detailed in a press release from Apple.

Among these, Stryker's Mako SmartRobotics developed an app tailored for surgeons conducting hip and knee replacements.

Meanwhile, Fundamental Surgery offers surgical training through virtual reality and Cedars-Sinai provides an app for patients offering mental health support through meditation and deep breathing exercises.

Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of worldwide developer relations, said in the press release: "We're thrilled to see the incredible apps that developers across the healthcare community are bringing to Apple Vision Pro."

Meta's virtual reality headset has also been used to practice surgeries before operations, CNBC reported. Doctors at Kettering Health Dayton in Ohio used the Quest 2 headset in a 3D simulation of a shoulder replacement in a mock procedure in 2022, CNBC reported.

According to hospital operator Universal Health Services, VR devices can help surgeons to examine a patient's anatomy before a procedure, "much like a pilot uses a flight simulator."

Watch: What's wrong with the Apple Vision Pro

• Main content

Introducing Apple Vision Pro: Apple’s first spatial computer

Extraordinary New Experiences

A Revolutionary Operating System and User Interface

Breakthrough Design

Unrivaled Innovation in Hardware

Industry-Leading Privacy and Security

Text of this article

June 5, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

TORONTO, ONTARIO Apple today unveiled Apple Vision Pro , a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, while allowing users to stay present and connected to others. Vision Pro creates an infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice. Featuring visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space. The breakthrough design of Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system that packs 23 million pixels across two displays, and custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design to ensure every experience feels like it’s taking place in front of the user’s eyes in real time.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “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.”

“Creating our first spatial computer required invention across nearly every facet of the system,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Technology Development Group. “Through a tight integration of hardware and software, we designed a standalone spatial computer in a compact wearable form factor that is the most advanced personal electronics device ever.”

Apple Vision Pro brings a new dimension to powerful, personal computing by changing the way users interact with their favourite apps, capture and relive memories, enjoy stunning TV shows and movies, and connect with others in FaceTime.

An infinite canvas for apps at work and at home : visionOS features a three-dimensional interface that frees apps from the boundaries of a display so they can appear side by side at any scale. Apple Vision Pro enables users to be even more productive, with infinite screen real estate, access to their favourite apps, and all-new ways to multitask. And with support for Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, users can set up the perfect workspace or bring the powerful capabilities of their Mac into Vision Pro wirelessly, creating an enormous, private, and portable 4K display with incredibly crisp text.

Engaging entertainment experiences : With two ultra-high-resolution displays, Apple Vision Pro can transform any space into a personal movie theatre with a screen that feels 100 feet wide and an advanced Spatial Audio system. Users can watch movies and TV shows, or enjoy stunning three-dimensional movies. Apple Immersive Video offers 180-degree high-resolution recordings with Spatial Audio, and users can access an exciting lineup of immersive videos that transport them to entirely new places.

Spatial computing makes new types of games possible with titles that can span a spectrum of immersion and bring gamers into all-new worlds. Users can also play over 100 Apple Arcade games on a screen as large as they want, with incredible immersive audio and support for popular game controllers.

Immersive Environments : With Environments, a user’s world can grow beyond the dimensions of a physical room with dynamic, beautiful landscapes that can help them focus or reduce clutter in busy spaces. A twist of the Digital Crown lets a user control how present or immersed they are in an environment. 

Memories come alive : Featuring Apple’s first three-dimensional camera, Apple Vision Pro lets users capture, relive, and immerse themselves in favourite memories with Spatial Audio. Every spatial photo and video transports users back to a moment in time, like a celebration with friends or a special family gathering. Users can access their entire photo library on iCloud, and view their photos and videos at a life-size scale with brilliant colour and spectacular detail. Every Panorama shot on iPhone expands and wraps around the user, creating the sensation they are standing right where it was taken.

FaceTime becomes spatial : With Apple Vision Pro, FaceTime calls take advantage of the room around the user, with everyone on the call reflected in life-size tiles, as well as Spatial Audio, so it sounds as if participants are speaking right from where they are positioned. Users wearing Vision Pro during a FaceTime call are reflected as a Persona — a digital representation of themselves created using Apple’s most advanced machine learning techniques — which reflects face and hand movements in real time. Users can do things together like watch a movie, browse photos, or collaborate on a presentation.

Even more app experiences : Apple Vision Pro has an all-new App Store where users can discover apps and content from developers, and access hundreds of thousands of familiar iPhone and iPad apps that run great and automatically work with the new input system for Vision Pro. Apple’s developer community can go even further and take advantage of the powerful and unique capabilities of Vision Pro and visionOS to design brand-new app experiences, and reimagine existing ones for spatial computing.

Built on the foundation of decades of engineering innovation in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, visionOS was designed from the ground up to support the low-latency requirements of spatial computing. The result is a revolutionary operating system that delivers powerful spatial experiences that can take advantage of the space around the user, unlocking new opportunities at work and at home. 

visionOS features a brand-new three-dimensional interface that makes digital content look and feel present in a user’s physical world. By responding dynamically to natural light and casting shadows, it helps the user understand scale and distance. To enable user navigation and interaction with spatial content, Apple Vision Pro introduces an entirely new input system controlled by a person’s eyes, hands, and voice. Users can browse through apps by simply looking at them, tapping their fingers to select, flicking their wrist to scroll, or using voice to dictate.

Apple Vision Pro also features EyeSight, an extraordinary innovation that helps users stay connected with those around them. When a person approaches someone wearing Vision Pro, the device feels transparent — letting the user see them while also displaying the user’s eyes. When a user is immersed in an environment or using an app, EyeSight gives visual cues to others about what the user is focused on.

Apple Vision Pro builds on Apple innovation and experience designing high-performance products like Mac, iPhone, and wearables like Apple Watch, culminating in the most advanced personal electronics device ever. To achieve ambitious goals for performance, mobility, and wearability, Apple utilized the most advanced materials possible. 

Apple Vision Pro has an astonishing amount of technology in a compact design. A singular piece of three-dimensionally formed and laminated glass is polished to create an optical surface that acts as a lens for the wide array of cameras and sensors needed to blend the physical world with digital content. The glass flows into the custom aluminum alloy frame that gently curves around the user’s face, while the modular system allows for a tailored fit to accommodate a wide range of people. The Light Seal is made of a soft textile, and comes in a range of shapes and sizes, flexing to conform to a user’s face for a precise fit. Flexible straps ensure audio remains close to the user’s ears, while a Head Band — available in multiple sizes — is three-dimensionally knitted as a single piece to provide cushioning, breathability, and stretch. 1 The band is secured with a simple mechanism, making it easy to change to another size or style of band.

Apple Vision Pro is designed to deliver phenomenal compute performance in a compact wearable form factor. Featuring a breakthrough ultra-high-resolution display system built on top of an Apple silicon chip, Vision Pro uses micro-OLED technology to pack 23 million pixels into two displays, each the size of a postage stamp, with wide colour and high dynamic range. This technological breakthrough, combined with custom catadioptric lenses that enable incredible sharpness and clarity, delivers jaw-dropping experiences. Users with vision correction needs will use ZEISS Optical Inserts to ensure visual fidelity and eye tracking accuracy. 2

An advanced Spatial Audio system is core to the Apple Vision Pro experience, creating the feeling that sounds are coming from the environment around the user and matching the sound to the space. Two individually amplified drivers inside each audio pod deliver Personalized Spatial Audio based on the user’s own head and ear geometry. 3

In addition to creating a breakthrough display and advanced audio experiences, the high-performance eye tracking system in Apple Vision Pro uses high-speed cameras and a ring of LEDs that project invisible light patterns onto the user’s eyes for responsive, intuitive input.

These groundbreaking innovations are powered by Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design. M2 delivers unparalleled standalone performance, while the brand-new R1 chip processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones to ensure that content feels like it is appearing right in front of the user’s eyes, in real time. R1 streams new images to the displays within 12 milliseconds — 8x faster than the blink of an eye. Apple Vision Pro is designed for all-day use when plugged in, and up to two hours of use with its external, high-performance battery.

Apple Vision Pro is built on a strong foundation of privacy and security, and keeps users in control of their data.

Optic ID is a new secure authentication system that analyzes a user’s iris under various invisible LED light exposures, and then compares it to the enrolled Optic ID data that is protected by the Secure Enclave to instantly unlock Apple Vision Pro. A user’s Optic ID data is fully encrypted, is not accessible to apps, and never leaves their device, meaning it is not stored on Apple servers. 

Where a user looks stays private while navigating Apple Vision Pro, and eye tracking information is not shared with Apple, third-party apps, or websites. Additionally, data from the camera and other sensors is processed at the system level, so individual apps do not need to see a user’s surroundings to enable spatial experiences. EyeSight also includes a visual indicator that makes it clear to others when a user is capturing a spatial photo or video.

Pricing and Availability

Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 (U.S.), and will be available early next year on apple.com and at Apple Store locations in the U.S., with more countries coming later next year. Customers will be able to learn about, experience, and personalize their fit for Vision Pro at Apple Store locations. For more information about Vision Pro, visit apple.com/apple-vision-pro .

• Accessories are sold separately. 
• ZEISS Optical Inserts are sold separately.
• Personalized Spatial Audio requires an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera to create a personal profile.

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