Apple Vision Pro- Product Design Overview

The Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s first new product line since the HomePod was released in 2018. The long-rumored headset is scheduled to be released in early 2024. I am going to go into an overview of the product’s offerings and how I see it fitting into the market.

Product Features

Apple is calling this the world’s first spatial computer. Spatial computer is Apple’s fancy made-up term that translates to “Apple-fied” XR. The Vision Pro functions similarly to a Mac with an AR interface. Uses include web browsing, video streaming, Facetime, etc. The introductory video for the product shows it mostly being used at home as a large screen. The operating system, Vision OS, is very similar visually to other Apple interfaces and works alongside other Apple devices. The headset can also “transport you” to virtual destinations that you can experience digitally in a VR environment. The limited use case makes one wonder if it is worth the $3,499 price tag. The high price is most likely an early adopter tax to make up for the tech that needed to be developed specifically for this product, which is completely understandable because there is a lot going on in this headset.

In my opinion, the most impressive thing about the headset is its eye and hand-tracking capabilities. From what I have heard and seen; it supposedly outperforms everything else out in the market. This makes sense for Apple which has a brand identity to maintain. If the experience was anything less than smooth for their audience, they wouldn’t release it.

Physical Design

On the hardware side, it has 2 Micro-OLED displays with a resolution greater than 4k and a 90hz refresh rate. The speakers use audio ray tracing to make system sounds sound natural to the user’s environment. The rear headband was praised for its breathability in the introduction video, but I am more curious about breathability around the eyes. Sweating has long been a problem with VR headsets, and I want to see if Apple has done anything to enhance that aspect of the user experience.

The 2-hour battery is external to the device and attached via a cable. Users will have to carry the battery pack in their pocket which is bad news for users whose clothes might not always have pockets. I imagine that if your dresses don’t have pockets, you won’t be using the Vision Pro very comfortably. The battery is speculated to be swappable with a SIM ejector tool although I haven’t seen any confirmation of this. The battery was extremely disappointing to see after so many XR companies decided to ditch the tether. I got a flashback to MSI's VR backpack showcase and immediately thought of people carrying around backpack batteries to use this headset for prolonged amounts of time.

Target Market

As much as I love XR and want to see this product line continue, I don’t know who is going to buy this particular headset. As mentioned previously, it does a lot that a Mac can do and can even work with a Mac. However, it does not add a lot to that experience, and the value it brings that isn’t offered in a Mac can be found in cheaper products like Oculus Quest headsets. Those who do have the $3.5k to spend might not see a good reason to buy it and I can’t blame them. In addition, supply chain issues are already making headaches for Apple, and it’d be a shame if the ones they can manufacture just end up sitting in warehouses. Enterprise uses and development of must-have applications for the headset could increase its odds of succeeding but there are no indicators of either.

Potential Evolution

I had a hard time finding information on how powerful the headset was. It can handle Safari and iPad apps but what about some things that are a little more demanding? I don’t expect VR gaming to be available on this model but what about the next one? Will Apple stick with the external battery or opt for a headset that’s heavier on the head? A cheaper model is expected to come out down the line, but will the price be tempting enough to gain a substantial user base? Companies like Netflix are already stating that they don’t plan to adapt their platform specifically for the Vision Pro since the device is not guaranteed to take off. This is worrying for customers since they may find the experience to be unoptimized when it comes to 3rd party apps.

Conclusions

I like how Apple is approaching this product. Their design brings digital elements into the real world instead of trying to make the real world a digital one, a mistake Meta made with the Metaverse. As much as I like hating on Apple, I admire their courage with this product. I hope it performs well enough to warrant a successor and doesn’t kill this industry just as it starts to blossom.