Jason Heiner/ZDNET
After more than six years of rumor, Apple’s AR/VR headset finally launched this year. Eight months after Apple announced the Vision Pro at WWDC 2023, the headset has started shipping to customers.
The highly anticipated headset is designed to take mixed reality experiences to a new level, with Apple even claiming that the Vision Pro is its “most advanced personal electronic device ever.”
Review: Apple Vision Pro: Attractive but flawed, with five things that need fixing
Preorders for the device began on January 19th, and despite its hefty price tag (starting at $3,499), Apple sold 200,000 units in the first 10 days, according to MacRumors. Shipments of the devices will start in February, and ZDNET was able to secure two units for testing.
After more than four months of testing the headset, we now have the answer to your burning question: Is the Vision Pro worth the price? Here’s everything you need to know about the company’s latest offering, including specs, features, and insights from ZDNET editors’ hands-on experience.
June Wan/ZDNET on Apple
The Vision Pro’s design differs from many existing AR/VR headsets: For example, the device has an external battery pack similar in size to an iPhone, which connects to the headset via a cable.
When using the Vision Pro, you need to be careful of the battery (which you can put in your pocket) and the dangling cables.
I’ve also tried the Vision Pro and other top-tier XR headsets, and this is the one most people should buy.
Apple has reduced the weight of the headset by using a tethered battery system, and the company claims this setup solves one of the biggest issues with AR/VR headsets: discomfort after extended use.
Despite the reduced weight on the headset user’s face, ZDNET’s Jason Hiner noted in his review that the device became uncomfortable after wearing it for more than an hour or two.
The Vision Pro itself resembles ski goggles, with a curved front that houses an external screen for EyeSight, a feature that lets you see other people’s eyes when they approach you.
Jason Heiner/ZDNET
The device features two OLED displays with a total of 23 million pixels, Apple’s M2 chip, 12 cameras, five sensors, six microphones, and Siri. The headset also features Apple’s new R1 chip, which works in tandem with the M2 chip to reduce latency.
The headset has two independently amplified drivers within each audio pad, enabling personalized spatial audio that personalizes sound based on the user’s head and shape.
I also watched my favorite TV shows on my Apple Vision Pro, and it was wonderful, strange, and exhausting.
To switch between AR and VR, the headset has a crown similar to the Apple Watch, as well as a knob to customize the fit and a button on the top of the headset for taking photos.
June Wang/ZDNET
Users can control the headset using eye and hand tracking and voice commands – features that are slowly being adopted by other headsets on the market – for example, pinch to select and flick to scroll.
Vision Pro runs on VisionOS, a new Apple operating system that is similar to the iPadOS interface and brings Apple’s ecosystem of apps and services to the headset. VisionOS was created specifically for spatial computing.
Apple Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset that combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). This feature allows you to either be fully immersed in a virtual reality environment when wearing the headset, or use the headset to add an augmented reality layer to your environment.
Plus: 7 upgrades your Apple Vision Pro needs for business success
The headset runs popular Apple apps like Books, Camera, Contacts, FaceTime, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos and Safari in mixed reality, combining AR and VR. The headset launched with 600 new apps, including Zoom, Microsoft 365, Slack and Todoist.
Samsung’s upcoming XR headset was also the biggest product teaser at Unpacked in July 2024.
According to Apple, apps feel like they exist in natural spaces and environments, so moving them around feels like moving real objects around you. In his hands-on post, ZDNET’s Jason Hiner noted that by the end of his 30-minute demo, moving objects around felt natural.
“Within five to 10 minutes, I was quickly opening and closing apps, scrolling up and down and left and right, selecting things, and moving apps and windows around in the space in front of me,” Heiner said. “By the end of the demo, I was doing all of this with great precision and confidence, without much thought.”
Plus, five companies prove that Apple Vision Pro is breathing new life into their businesses
Immersive video is a big selling point for the device, allowing users to feel as if they are physically present in the space the video is unfolding in. For example, the headset allows you to stream a movie and watch it with immersive spatial audio, as if it were being played on a giant screen in another environment, such as a beach.
June Wang/ZDNET
Vision Pro is also compatible with existing third-party streaming services, maintaining continuity between your favorite apps and the headset, giving users access to Disney+, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock, IMAX, MUBI, and more.
ZDNET reviews editor Kelly Wang said the immersive sports viewing experience is one of the headset’s biggest benefits, calling the experience “realistic, vibrant and exciting.”
“Forget productivity tools, games and creepy personas — Apple Vision Pro’s killer apps revolve around our favorite pastime: watching sports,” Wang said.
Also, watching Apple’s immersive MLS playoff video on the Vision Pro was an “aha moment” for me.
You can also use spatial video to watch videos you’ve shot on your iPhone, an experience that Hiner says is one of the headset’s best features.
“The difference between regular photography and video and spatial photography and video is like the jump from black and white to color in photography and film, except it’s maybe an even bigger jump,” Heiner said.
If you’re hoping to use the headset for work, you’re in luck: it can also double as a 4K external monitor by mirroring the contents of your connected Mac into the AR interface. (The feature only supports a single Mac display, but Apple may extend support to multiple displays in the future.)
Additionally, FaceTime for Vision Pro enables video conferencing, which you can use to work on projects with colleagues simultaneously. Tiles of people on a call are displayed “life-size” and each person’s audio comes from their tile location, making for a more natural conversation.
I also recorded a spatial video to view on my Vision Pro and Quest 3, which you can download.
According to Apple, people on a call will see a “digital persona” that uses machine learning algorithms to mirror the Vision Pro wearer’s face and hand movements in real time. You can watch a video of Heiner and Wang using their digital personas in a FaceTime conversation.
The headset can create a persona for you by scanning your face and building a realistic, deep model that moves during a FaceTime call.
Additionally, Apple has added Spatial Persona to Vision Pro, here’s how you can try it out:
Third-party conferencing apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams also offer enhanced video calling experiences.
Vision Pro is scanning you.
Screenshot: Christina Darby/ZDNET
The Vision Pro is priced at a steep $3,499 for the base 256GB storage model, putting it in the premium category compared to Meta, HTC and other manufacturers selling for under $1,000.
Plus: 7 hidden costs of Apple Vision Pro to factor into your XR budget
Apple is also offering two more storage options: a 512GB configuration that will retail for $3,699 and a 1TB that will retail for $3,899. Included in the box is the headset, battery pack, dual loop band, cover, light seal cushion, polishing cloth, USB-C power adapter, and USB-C charging cable.
And don’t buy an Apple Vision Pro headset without this essential accessory.
In addition to changing storage methods, glasses wearers should also consider the cost of Zeiss Optical Inserts, which range from $99 to $149.
Other options include Apple Care+ for $499 for two years or $25 per month, and accessories like a travel case for $199.
And want to try out Vision Pro’s Travel Mode? Here’s what to expect before you hit the road:
The $3,499 purchase price includes the headset, battery pack, dual loop band, cover, light seal cushion, polishing cloth, USB-C power adapter, and USB-C charging cable. You can watch Hiner unbox the device here:
Also, how and why to install a VPN on your Apple Vision Pro
Jason Heiner/ZDNET
Do not wear Apple Vision Pro with eyeglasses. The headset is not compatible with eyeglasses. Wearing eyeglasses and glasses at the same time can cause discomfort and damage to the headset.
And how much would it cost for Apple to manufacture a Vision Pro headset?
But Apple understands that glasses wearers need vision to use the headset, and so it also sells Zeiss Optical Inserts. Retail prices range from $99 to $149, so be sure to factor in this additional cost if you’re a glasses wearer and considering buying a headset.
June Wang/ZDNET
One of the standout features of Apple Vision Pro is its advanced hand tracking, which allows users to have more immersive AR/VR experiences without the need for a controller. Unlike the Meta Quest 3, there is no optional controller; instead, it relies entirely on hand tracking.
The patent also suggests that the Vision Pro controller could resemble the Apple Pencil.
But if you’re hoping for a controller in the future, you might be in luck: Apple recently filed a patent for a handheld controller with a charging and storage system. One advantage of the controller would be a much greater increase in precision, which is especially useful for professionals such as engineers. Before you get your hopes up too much, it’s important to note that even though companies file numerous patents each year, only a small fraction of the technology actually sees the light of day.
To save the Vision Pro, Apple needs to do three things:
The Apple Vision Pro is available to purchase on Apple’s website and in stores. Pre-orders for the device began on January 19th, with arrivals starting February 2nd.
More: Vision Pro app that Apple says will transform healthcare
A year after the Apple Vision Pro headset was announced, at WWDC 2024, the company updated VisionOS 2, adding more features to the headset.
There were many announcements, but some key highlights include:
The ability to turn 2D photos into spatial photosNew hand movement gestures, for example users can open their hand and tap to access the home screen or turn their wrist to check battery level
New ultra-wide monitor view with two 4K monitors side-by-sideTrain support in Travel modeGuest user option allows additional users to store eye-and-hand data for 30 days
For a complete list, read the VisionOS 2 section of this article: Every new feature (including AI) Apple announced this fall for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more.
Jason Heiner/ZDNET
Also, why did I return my Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 and buy XR glasses?
This is a $3500 question. Ultimately, whether the Apple Vision Pro is right for you will depend on your use cases, interests, and needs. To help you make that decision, ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Jason Hiner has written two helpful articles.
Hiner has had his hands on the Apple Vision Pro and shared his full review, including his overall rating, his experience using it, and whether or not he would recommend the product.
ZDNET experts have their hands on the Apple Vision Pro headset, so stay tuned for more notable features and buying advice.
