Vision Pro: The Apple glasses are now official

Vision Pro is pure AR glasses and is still supposed to offer a magical experience. (Source: Apple)

Updated June 7th: The article has been expanded to include more specific details on how to control the Vision Pro.

No Apple product has been so anticipated in recent years as Apple’s mixed reality glasses, which have been the subject of numerous rumors in recent weeks and months.

Now the cat is out of the bag – Mit One More Thing CEO Tim Cook announced the Vision Pro at the end of WWDC 2023.

The new glasses were of course given most of the time at the keynote, so the list of announcements about the Vision Pro is correspondingly long.

Vision Pro: The body is the controller

In contrast to classic VR glasses, Vision Pro does not require any controller at all. Instead, the system should be addressed via gesture, voice and eye control.

Elements should be selected by simply looking at the respective symbol. If you look at the microphone button, for example, voice input for texts or searches is activated. Siri is of course also on board.

In addition to classic typing, there is also the option of making entries via the iPhone or a compatible Bluetooth keyboard in addition to the virtual keyboard.

The app screen is the one you are used to from the classic iOS operating system, so there is no need to get used to it, at least in this respect.

This is what the user interface of the Vision Pro should look like from the user’s point of view. (Source: Apple)

Windows and apps should be easy to move and stack. The 3D display of certain content is also possible. Raising your hand to scroll or pinching your thumb and forefinger to select was mentioned as a possible control.

EyeSight for natural communication

As a highlight of the Vision Pro, Apple praises the EyeSight called technology. The glasses have a curved OLED display that shows people around you the eyes of the AR glasses user. These blur as soon as the wearer uses an app to signal that he is not responsive.

If the Vision Pro user makes eye contact with the other person themselves, the eyes should become visible again. This is intended to enable more natural communication despite the glasses.

Vision Pro: These are the specs of the glasses

According to Apple, the company studied thousands of heads to find the perfect fit. The result is a modular system. Various attachments and flexible straps should enable a comfortable wearing experience for every user.

Two buttons on the case are responsible for displaying photos and videos; a little cog, the Apple Digital Crown called and already known from the Apple Watch, controls the degree of immersion.

The display is made from a single piece of glass; precise details on the resolution or frequency are still missing. What is clear is that 23 million pixels are spread across the two screens, each of which is said to be smaller than a postage stamp.

That is a higher number of pixels per eye (!) than one finds in a 4K television. On the audio side, however, a new spatial system is used so that, according to Apple, the brain thinks that the noises come directly from the environment.

New chip, new OS – a maximum of two hours of battery life

Of course, with all the technology, the Vision Pro has to be powered by a powerful processor. Apple already has this in its portfolio with the M2 chip, which should have an ideal partner for all the calculations.

In addition, the brand new R1 chip is used as support; However, Apple is still reluctant to give exact values ​​for this CPU.

The battery of the Vision Pro should last up to two hours. The battery itself is external, is connected via a longer cable and has to be placed accordingly so as not to get in the way.

Of course, the whole thing is based on its own operating system. VisionOS already offers hundreds of thousands of well-known iPhone and iPad apps at launch, but should also have its own app store at launch.

The Vision Pro’s modular design is designed to fit any head shape. (Image source: Apple)

Of course, the whole technology has its price, which is only fixed for the US for the time being: the Vision Pro should cost 3,499 US dollars for the release, which will take place at the beginning of next year. An EIA for the German market has not yet been determined.

The Vision Pro is official: What do you think of Apple’s probably most important new product in recent years? Is the price justified? What area of ​​application do you see primarily for the new glasses? Let us know in the comments!