The first review and unboxing video of the Apple Vision Pro was shared today ahead of the mixed reality headset’s launch in the US on Friday.
Below are some videos from notable YouTube creators and reporters, including Marques Brownlee and Joanna Stern.
movie
review
Vision Pro has a lot of ideas, and they’re all executed with a thoughtful intent that few other companies can achieve, let alone in their first iteration. But shockingly, Apple may have inadvertently revealed that some of these core ideas are actually dead ends, meaning they’ll never be implemented well enough to become mainstream. That means there is. This is the best video passthrough headset ever made, but that may mean camera-based mixed reality passthrough may be a road to nowhere. This is the best hand-eye tracking ever, and it feels like your mouse, keyboard, and touchscreen will remain unbeatable for years to come. There’s a lot of technology in here that feels magical when it works, and completely frustrating when it doesn’t.
wall street journaljoanna stern:
Apple’s headset has all the characteristics of its first generation products. It’s big and heavy, has terrible battery life, has few good apps, and is buggy. Now, have you seen how this object looks at me?
But much of what Vision Pro can do feels like science fiction. I’m flicking through apps all over my home office. I have multiple virtual timers placed above the stove. I’m looking at a hologram of a child petting a llama. This is the best mixed reality headset I’ve ever tried, and it’s far more advanced than its only competitors, the much cheaper Meta Quest Pro and Quest 3.
These companies know that these aren’t the devices we really want. They’re all working on building virtual experiences closer to regular glasses. Until then, they just mess with our heads.
The first thing I noticed about the Vision Pro during my first demo was how great the display was. The 4K resolution per eye micro-OLED display technology used by Apple is essentially the “retina” moment for VR and AR. It’s vibrant, colorful, HDR, and just stunning. Not only is it good enough for the movies Apple always promotes, but it’s better than any TV you have at home.
As for durability, the Vision Pro’s battery is rated at 2 hours of typical use and 2.5 hours of video playback. During his two hours of on-and-off testing, the Vision Pro dropped to about 60%, and after a few more hours he dropped it to 40%.
If you want to use Vision Pro continuously, just connect the battery using the included USB-C power adapter and you’re ready to go. Competing mixed reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro have batteries built into the headset, which are more convenient but less powerful.
what’s inside the box
In addition to Vision Pro, the following accessories are included in the box:
- light seal
- Light seal cushion (2 sizes)
- solo knit band
- dual loop band
- front cover
- battery pack
- vision professional polishing cloth
- 30W USB-C power adapter
- USB-C charging cable
Apple also released an optional Vision Pro travel case for $199. It has compartments for an external battery pack, ZEISS optical insert, cloth front cover, and other accessories. Apple says the case features a cloth exterior with a polycarbonate protective layer, a soft microfiber lining, and a retractable handle.
Apple said Vision Pro will be available in more countries later this year.
