Tested: Apple’s Vision Pro is a majestic first step into a glorious future

During last Monday’s WWDC23 keynote, Apple announced its Vision Pro. The striking product, with a price tag of $ 3,499, has caused a lot of criticism worldwide. As one of the two people in the Benelux who actually got to try the AR headset, I can tell you that this is not justified. Apple has something very special in its hands.

People interested in the Vision Pro have of course already known what Apple’s AR headset has to offer. I will not tell you that in this article. If you want to know more, I would like to refer you to this article on our website. In this story I give my natural first reaction to the impressive demo I received from Apple yesterday.

Apple Vision Pro: Impressive technology is inexplicable

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a lot of rumors about Apple’s AR headset. Honesty compels me to say that I was personally very skeptical about the company’s plans. During last Monday’s WWDC23 keynote, my point of view already started to change a bit. ‘If they are going to do it this way, then this could get fat’, I thought.

Anyway, a price tag of 3499 dollars (converted about 4000 euros) is not justifiable. It’s equivalent to four Apple Watch Ultras or two nice MacBook Pros. A bizarre price for a new product, but it quickly became clear that Apple is looking at the long term. This is a first-generation product, and the category will need to evolve into something affordable and unique over the next few years. It’s the first step.

However, I could never have imagined what awaited me a day after the keynote. Apple gave me the chance to try the unique Vision Pro as one of only two people in the entire Benelux. The vibe surrounding an event can sometimes be contagious, but the glimpse into the future I was able to take yesterday is one for the books. It provided an experience that I will never forget for the rest of my life and that is very difficult to explain.

Still, I’m going to try.

Hymn with a healthy dose of realism

What you are about to receive is a hymn of praise. It has nothing to do with the fact that my soul has been corrupted by Apple or that money doesn’t matter to me. In this story I mainly look at the technology itself, the potential it has and the impressive demo I got in Cupertino. Long story short: this is a glimpse into the future ahead and the impressive first step that will accompany it.

That’s not to say I expect much from the first-generation Vision Pro. The technology is one that consumers really have to get used to, and the price tag is so high that the product is only for a very small group of people.

Nor is it to say that the hardware itself is perfect right now. The battery life of two hours is limited, and as far as I’m concerned, the weight of the Vision Pro really needs to be reduced. Although I must say that the entire design really needs to be changed significantly in the coming years if Apple really wants to make this product successful.

There are still plenty of points that can be improved, but Apple does not deny that. It has been made clear to me several times over the past few days that the Vision Pro is just the beginning. And if this is just the beginning, we really have a bright future ahead of us.

Image quality Apple Vision Pro steals the show

Of course, augmented reality with the Vision Pro provides a unique experience. Apple has approached it in such a way that the environment you are in feels realistic and remains intact at all times. That’s impressive, but it’s the image quality of the AR headset that steals the show.

Not very surprising, because each glass in the glasses has more pixels than a 4K television. That logically ensures extreme realism. Something that, as far as I’m concerned, can best be seen in Experiences. This way you can place yourself in all kinds of locations. Think of a private concert by Alicia Keys, the top of a high mountain or along the field at an NBA game. The exceptionally high image quality, captured by special 8K Spatial cameras, makes you feel like you’re really there.

I personally think that is best reflected in sports competitions. For example, at an NBA game I was just above the basket, at the MLB game I was in base with the reserve players, and at a football game I felt like I was just behind the goal. Of course the experience cannot be imitated, but I won’t be buying a ticket for such a match anytime soon.

Although this quality is certainly impressive with a function called Landscapes. This allows you to transport yourself to a nature reserve and discover it 360 degrees. Spatial audio ensures that small details, such as birds in the sky and wind through the trees, feel extremely realistic. You’re really away from it all, while you’re just sitting on the couch with glasses in the meantime.

Magic Eyes, Magic Hands and Magic Mouth

Sitting on the couch while using the Vision Pro can also be extremely relaxing. You don’t have to sit upright all the time to operate the AR headset. Sit back, throw your hands over the armrest and still take control of the headset. Because the Vision Pro has 12 different cameras and 5 different sensors, it sees more than you can see.

By the way, the controls work impressively. The eye tracking of the Vision Pro is of such quality that there is little room for error. You just look at an icon as if you were looking at an object in the real world, and a simple tap of the fingers makes a selection. It is certainly futuristic, although the extreme arm waving from science fiction films is not really necessary.

For example, I opened an article in Safari. I read the first few paragraphs, which were razor sharp by the way, then put my fingers together and pulled the page down from top to bottom. I even played with the size of the screen a bit by moving it closer or dragging it further away. The controls were accessible and the shadows on the objects in my living room added realism. So a pleasure.

This certainly came back to an experience with dinosaurs. The wall in the living room opened like a theater curtain to reveal a prehistoric world. By getting up, walking to the wall and looking around the corner, I got to see more than before. A bit scary, because before I knew it a dino came walking out of the world and it was in the living room. The scales were razor sharp and the interaction with the beast (that’s how he flinched when I got closer) immediately showed me the power of the controls.

How do you set it up?

It should be clear that the Vision Pro works very well, but the headset must of course be set up properly. A process that is particularly easy and works quickly.

To properly adjust the size of the headset, you end up in a kind of Face ID-like configuration. Your face comes in a circle and you have to look around until the iPhone confirms the setup. Then scan the ears, as you do with the AirPods Pro for a personal adjustment. For me personally, the strength of my glasses was also measured and I was ready to go.

Before you start, the Vision Pro gives you a number of commands so that you get the right experience. First it makes your surroundings a lot brighter and you have to follow a number of balls with your eyes. Then you get the same assignment in a darker room. Then you extend your hands and you are ready to start.

Vision Pro is the future, provided Apple gets it right

It all may sound a bit vague, but it is very difficult to explain. All I can tell you is that anyone who has an opinion on the Vision Pro and has only seen the Keynote at the same time doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

You think you have an image with AR or even VR and you even want to compare it with glasses from other companies. But take it from me that this is something you have to experience with your own eyes (and hands). Until you’ve done this, you can’t have an opinion as far as I’m concerned. This is something you have to experience yourself to understand what Apple wants to do with this and what the chance of success is.

As far as I’m concerned, and many journalists agree with me, that chance is very great. Provided Apple takes the time, does it right and takes the right steps. If it does, we won’t know any better in about five to ten years. And then I will always be able to look back on an experience that no one will take away from me for the rest of my life.