Apple Vision Pro Review
The Apple Vision Pro is a highly-anticipated entry into the world of wearable computers, with a starting price of $3,499. Apple claims that it marks the beginning of "spatial computing," aiming to run apps all around the user. The device is designed to layer apps and information over the real world, essentially augmenting reality.
Features and Functionality
Good
- The Vision Pro offers a technical marvel with its display and the best video passthrough yet .
- It features hand and eye tracking, seamlessly works with Apple’s ecosystem, and is fun to use with windows all over space
Bad
- The device is quite expensive.
- The video passthrough can be blurry, and the hand and eye tracking may be inconsistent and frustrating.
- The personas are uncanny and somewhat terrifying, and it can be a lonely experience .
Comparison with Other Devices
- Compared to other VR headsets, the Vision Pro stands out as it is built with premium materials and is designed to be less obtrusive
Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality
- The Vision Pro is a mixed reality device which mixes the virtual and physical without direct interaction between the two, letting users place app windows in their living room. On the other hand, virtual reality immerses the user in a fully virtual space, deliberately blocking out their perception of the physical world
Concerns and Tradeoffs
- The Vision Pro has some tradeoffs, including the weight on the face, difficulty in sharing the headset, and the challenge of creating profiles for different family members
Limitations and User Experience
- Despite its impressive technology, the Vision Pro still has some limitations, such as the video passthrough being a constant reminder that the user is looking at video on screens and that reality is more interesting than that
Criticisms and Future Prospects
- The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price, limited purpose, and the difficulty in sharing the headset with others
- Additionally, it has been suggested that the technology in the Vision Pro may indicate that some core ideas are dead ends and may not be executed well enough to become mainstream .
Conclusion
Overall, the Apple Vision Pro is considered to be an impressive but incomplete first-generation product with some significant trade-offs and limitations, indicating potential challenges in mainstream adoption