After months, or even years, of rumors, leaks, and extensive development, Apple has finally confirmed the existence of its mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro. Unveiled to the press, although it was not physically accessible, a select few were able to catch a glimpse of it. While we may not have had that privilege, we can still provide you with an opportunity to discover it through images.
It was the announcement we had been waiting for. In fact, Apple made it a “Real thing,” something that hadn’t happened since the Watch. Say goodbye to Reality Pro and welcome Vision Pro. The new name is more enticing, symbolizing Apple’s vision of the future and marking the first step in a new product line. A non-Pro version of Vision seems inevitable, considering the high price of this model. At least if Apple wants to sell it in large numbers.
As usual, Apple didn’t delve too deep into the technical details of what makes Vision Pro a remarkable product. However, from their presentation, it’s evident that we’re dealing with a technological powerhouse, an extraordinary product tasked with inaugurating Apple’s third era: after personal computing and mobile computing comes spatial computing.
Although it wasn’t possible to try it on, except for a few rare exceptions, we still offer you the opportunity to discover Vision Pro from every angle.
The front face
The initial leaks described it as a kind of ski mask, and upon closer inspection, it’s easy to see why. There is indeed an air about the Vision Pro that exudes a sense of high-end, cutting-edge technology.
The front facade is indeed covered by a single piece of curved “three-dimensional” glass, which houses the sensors and cameras, and also protects a screen, just as The Information had revealed. This screen, along with a technology called EyeSight, is responsible for displaying the eyes of your photorealistic avatar – Apple refers to it as a persona. While we couldn’t see this virtual reproduction, we did witness rippling and pulsating waves of colors, indicating that the display surface only occupies a small portion of the front face.
Sensors features
12 cameras, six microphones, and five sensors. That’s the list – probably not exhaustive – that Apple revealed during the headset’s presentation WWDC 2023. A significant portion of them is visible through the front facade, particularly those that will capture your hands and the sides of your physical environment.
However, another portion is located inside the Vision Pro itself. It’s here that a system of LEDs and infrared cameras projects a set of points onto the user’s eyes, precisely tracking where you are looking. This is a crucial feature since your eyes are one of the three ways to control the headset, along with your hands and voice.
The ventilation system
At the core of Vision Pro, Apple has included an M2 chip for the necessary computational power to run applications, along with a new chip, the R1, responsible for managing the data generated by the sensors and cameras. Naturally, such a configuration packed into such a compact space will generate a considerable amount of heat. Apple has equipped it with an active ventilation system – the Apple representatives we spoke with did not disclose the exact number of fans incorporated. They only mentioned that it operates silently and discreetly, without being noticeable.
In any case, vents are clearly visible at the top and bottom of the front block. Air is drawn in from the bottom and blown out upwards.
One button, one dial
Like many Apple products, Vision Pro is minimalist when it comes to buttons. There is one located at the top left of the headset. It serves to power on the device and, presumably, to capture “spatial” photos or videos on the go while wearing the headset. As Apple states, Vision Pro is their first 3D camera.
On the opposite side, the left side, there is a digital crown that allows control over the transition from virtual reality to augmented reality, as previously revealed by The Information several months ago.
Cushion and Headband
Behind the solid portion that houses the core technological components of the Apple Vision Pro, there is what Apple calls the “Light seal.” Similar to most VR headsets, its purpose is to isolate the user from external light. Covered with a mesh fabric, this cushion should be flexible enough to conform to the shape of the wearer’s face. Unfortunately, we cannot provide further details as we did not have the opportunity to touch it.
Similar to Meta’s Quest Pro, Apple has chosen a headband design that distributes the weight – which remains unknown – of the device onto the back of the skull. This appears to be a good way to prevent facial fatigue caused by the headset resting on the nose. The headband is woven in three dimensions to ensure maximum comfort, as we were informed. It also seems to be easily detachable and replaceable.
However, in some videos shared by Apple, we also noticed the use of a sort of transversal arch with the headset. Whether this is an optional accessory or remnants of a past configuration is difficult to ascertain.
Intelligent Spatial Audio
We have been informed that the Vision Pro is obviously compatible with AirPods Pro and Max. However, compatibility with other Bluetooth headphones has not been confirmed to us. It appears that Apple does not wish to disclose all the technical details…
Nevertheless, Apple’s engineers have equipped the Vision Pro with two speakers on each side. These small lateral bumps redirect the sound towards the back, towards your ears. Apple did not disclose the exact power output of these speakers. However, they did mention that someone standing about a meter away from a user engaged in a phone call could hear that someone is speaking without discerning the content of the conversation.
In any case, these two small speakers are designed to deliver spatialized sound. Similar to the HomePod, they will analyze the acoustic quality of your environment and adapt accordingly for optimal performance.
Power supply: a separate battery
The external battery will provide two hours of autonomy. The headset does not have a built-in battery that would allow it to continue functioning for a few minutes while charging, so you will need to take a real break to change the power source. This raises questions about the time required for visionOS to reboot and the quick resume functions for activities.
It appears that at least some of the batteries used during the Vision Pro’s presentation at the Steve Jobs Theater were equipped with a USB-C port, allowing them to be directly connected to a power outlet or recharged.
It connects to the headset via a port that resembles the charging connector of the Apple Watch. The difference is that it is not magnetic and locks in place by twisting it slightly – two points align in the locked position.
The battery itself is about the size of an iPhone and twice as thick, housed in a sturdy aluminum casing. A sufficiently long cable extends from it, allowing you to slip the battery into a pocket while still connecting it to the headset when it is worn.
We were unable to photograph the interior of the headset, where the lenses manufactured by Zeiss and the micro-OLED screens with their 23 million pixels are located – two panels with a resolution well beyond 4K. Once again, Apple did not provide further details about this aspect of the Vision Pro. It’s true that their mixed reality headset is not expected to be released in the United States for at least another six months… Curious individuals in France will have to wait a little longer.
