Apple Vision Pro: The Good, The Bad, And The Just Plain Weird

Apple’s latest tech marvel, the Apple Vision Pro, represents an ambitious leap into the future, blending cutting-edge technology with the company’s renowned design aesthetics. I have watched the Keynote and umpteen reviews, and here’s a breakdown of what this new headset gets right, where it may stumble, and some features that are a bit odd.

The Good

• High-Definition Visual Experience: The display technology used in the Apple Vision Pro is nothing short of revolutionary. The device packs screens with 64 times the pixel density of an iPhone, making the visuals crisp, clear, and vivid. This allows for a highly immersive experience for gaming, movie-watching, or exploring virtual environments. The display tech will undoubtedly set a new standard for visual experiences in the AR/VR industry.
• Stand-alone Functionality: Unlike most AR/VR devices currently in the market, the Apple Vision Pro operates independently from any smartphone. Thanks to its onboard M2 chip, the headset functions as a standalone device, eliminating the need for a tethered iPhone. This feature allows for an authentic plug-and-play experience, opening up possibilities for applications across multiple sectors, including education, architecture, and entertainment.
• Advanced Interaction: The Apple Vision Pro uses a combination of advanced eye tracking and hand gestures to interact with the virtual world. This novel approach to input makes the experience more intuitive and immersive, eliminating the need for external controllers. This feature marks a significant evolution in how users interact with digital content, enabling more natural and seamless engagement.

The Bad

• High Cost: At $3500, the Apple Vision Pro is substantially more expensive than most consumer technology products. The high price could significantly limit the product’s accessibility to a broader audience. Despite its cutting-edge technology, the headset’s cost may become a barrier for the average consumer.
• Potential Tech Overload: The Apple Vision Pro presents a highly immersive experience. With screens barely an inch from the eyes and notifications instantly viewable, the boundary between digital and physical reality could blur even further. While this may sound appealing to tech enthusiasts, for others, it could contribute to a sense of tech overload and raise concerns about digital well-being.
• Battery Life and External Pack: Although the external battery pack effectively redistributes weight, it remains an oddity for Apple’s design philosophy, which traditionally emphasizes seamless integration. Furthermore, considering the device's immersive capabilities, the two-hour battery life may seem short. Users might need spare batteries, which would increase the overall cost and potentially disrupt the immersive experience.

The Just Plain Weird

• 3D Face Reconstruction: During FaceTime calls, users appear as a 3D reconstruction of their faces rather than their actual faces. This unorthodox method of digital communication could be jarring, especially for those who value personal authenticity in their interactions. Although innovative, this feature could provoke questions about the line between the real and the virtual, as well as privacy concerns.
• External Screen Display: An intriguing feature of the Apple Vision Pro is the external 3D screen that displays what the user’s eyes are doing underneath the headset. Although this feature could help reduce the sense of isolation often associated with VR/AR headsets, it might feel strange or uncomfortable to some users and could be potentially off-putting to observers.
• Switching Visual Modes: The device’s external screen switches between transparent and opaque, indicating whether the user is interacting with an augmented or virtual reality. While this might help bystanders understand what mode the user is in, it could also seem peculiar to observers and perhaps even intrusive to the user’s privacy.

Despite these quirks, Apple's Vision Pro represents a notable milestone in AR/VR. As with any innovative product, some features will inevitably raise eyebrows. Still, the key question remains: is the world ready for such a dramatic leap into the future of digital immersion?