Apple has released an augmented reality headset called Apple Vision Pro, which "seamlessly" blends the physical and digital worlds. CEO Tim Cook said of the device, which looks like a pair of ski goggles, "This is the first product where you can see through Apple." As rumor has it, it has a separate battery pack that can be controlled with eyes, hands, and voice.
As a high-end headset, it aims to compete with high specs and fairly advanced features that allow Apple's latest device category to stand out.
It takes the general form of a ski goggles-style headset that is also used by other companies on the market, with silicone straps on the sides and above the head to keep it in a stable fit. The cushioning layer helps provide a snug fit to the user's face and maintain long-wearing comfort.
Vision Pro introduces a concept known as entering "spatial computing", displaying an application within the user's space, which can be expanded within the space, and placing shadows on the surface to show where the application is placed.
To help users manage VR and AR experiences, a controller like the Apple Watch digital crown is used to move progressively between modes. This allows users to transition between VR and AR perspectives in a granular way.
Navigation of the operating system can be done in a variety of ways, using cameras inside and outside the helmet for hand, finger, and eye tracking. For example, this allows gestures, such as pinching, to trigger items on a menu.
The Vision Pro is positioned primarily as an AR device, but it can switch between augmented reality and full virtual reality via a turntable. The device is controllerless, and you navigate through the rows of app icons by gazing at the icons. You can easily tap and select with gestures, flick to scroll, and give voice commands as well as enter text.
Apple says the interactive experience doesn't isolate you from the people around you, and the headset also shows your eyes to those around you through a system called EyeSight.
The headset has been years in the making, and is said to have gone through several iterations, as well as years of delays. It will be CEO Tim Cook's signature product in Apple's lineup and garnered praise from industry insiders, although it will enter a market that has yet to take off. Its main competitor is likely to be Meta, which has enjoyed relative success with its gaming-focused Quest 2 headset, and its generic Quest Pro has received more critical acclaim.