Meta might have to adjust its AR and VR hardware ambitions, just at the moment it faces its biggest ever competition from Apple and its Vision Pro headset.

Mark Zuckerberg’s company has been ploughing billions of dollars into the development of a ‘metaverse’ digital world and associated hardware, but will have to rein back its spending, according to a new report from The Information.

Meta’s Reality Labs hardware team, responsible for the development of the company’s Meta Quest hardware, has been asked to cut spending by close to 20% by 2026. And in a wake up call for staffers (who have endured mass layoffs) Meta’s Chief Financial Officer Susan Li has told teams that they should be targeting a $1 trillion dollar opportunity in the augmented and virtual reality markets. It’s a considerable shift from the previous money-no-object spending approach at the company, which has lost over $55 billion via its Reality Labs’ ambitious plans since 2019.

A new challenger emerges

It’s a tough spot for the Meta VR/AR team — which legitimized the space under the Oculus banner before being purchased by Zuckerberg’s then-Facebook company — to be in, as it fends off competition from its first major competition. Apple’s Vision Pro has itself got off to a slow start after launching this year in the US in February, but has just expanded its availability to markets including European and Asian territories.

Though significantly more expensive than Meta’s Quest 3, the Vision Pro is considerably more technologically advanced, and Meta is now expected to find a response to that. It’s hoping to do so with an assault on the market into (and beyond) 2026, with the launch of a new Quest 4 headset (currently set to ship in standard and premium configurations), and a high-end variant of the Quest line a year later.

For its part, Apple is expected to take the opposite tact, holding fire on a Vision Pro 2 headset in favour of a more affordable, stripped back take on the existing Vision Pro (which costs a whopping $3,499).

Both companies are ultimately targeting a release of augmented reality glasses however, with differing prototypes in the works, expected to have more mass market appeal than a vision-encompassing headset. 

With VR still waiting for its mass-market moment, the race will be on to deliver the most compelling tech in a glasses-like form factor, though the elephant in the room will be investor pressure to refocus around artificial intelligence projects, generally seen to be the ‘next-big-thing’ in not just consumer tech, but the wider worlds of business, manufacturing and healthcare, too.

More from iMore

• Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3 — which one should you buy?
• 5 things Apple Vision Pro could learn from the Meta Quest 3
• Superstar DJs and globetrotting slam dunks: The Apple Vision Pro experiences that made me a spatial computing convert

Apple's Metaverse-touting rival Meta has not one but three new virtual reality headsets in the pipeline, as well as a pair of AR glasses due to be released next year, according to a new report. 

Apple and Meta are rivals in the space to capture customers in what was once seen as the next big thing in tech, virtual reality, and the metaverse, the latter a term shunned by Apple but embraced by Mark Zuckerberg. 

Apple finally gave us Apple Vision Pro in early 2024, but now Meta is planning to strike back with a series of new headsets, including a high-end quest to compete with AVP. 

Meta’s next metaverse move 

According to The Information, Meta “is working on a range of new Quest headsets and AR glasses with displays for release over the next three years.” Meta’s augmented reality glasses are apparently going to be released next year, likely expected to be a big leap on its current Ray-Ban offering. 

After new smart glasses, The Information reports that the new Meta Quest 4 is coming in 2026 and that there is a “standard” and a “premium” version in the works. Further down the road, in 2027, Meta apparently “plans to release a high-end Quest headset… to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro.” 

Likewise, Apple isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to the next iteration of Vision Pro. The most recent rumors indicated that Apple has halted Vision Pro 2 plans in order to focus on a cheaper headset, designed to broaden the mass appeal of the $3,499 first iteration. A cheaper Vision Pro would likely come with a significantly nerfed display, however, reports indicate that even a cheaper version could still cost $2,000. The cheaper Vision Pro probably won’t surface until 2025 at the earliest, but it’s possible Apple could beat Meta’s new VR offerings to the market. 

Apple Glass, the company’s own rumored smart glasses project, remains nowhere to be seen. 

More from iMore

• Meta Quest Pro headset review: Meta's most impressive VR headset
• Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3 — which one should you buy
• The Meta Quest is going after Apple Vision Pro's multitasking

With Apple Vision Pro stealing all the VR and AR headlines of late, Meta is on a bit of a charm offensive to, quite literally, reclaim the attention of your eyeballs. Big budget adverts, media events, high-profile gaming partnerships —Zuck’s play for the virtual reality metaverse has come out swinging in response to Apple’s high-profile headset launch.

But Meta’s biggest move might be its simplest — it has slashed the price of its latest and greatest VR headset, the Meta Quest 3. You can get it now for just $429.99 — just 99 cents off its all-time lowest price, and a massive saving over its usual $499 asking price.

Vision Pro may have the better specs, but when it comes to bang-for-buck, Meta Quest 3 is the best headset money can buy.

A generational leap

The Meta Quest 3 is a massive improvement over the Quest headsets that came before it —lightweight and comfy even for glasses wearers, it’s ready for those marathon VR sessions without a massive weight straining your neck. Improved set-up and mixed-reality process make it even easier to get started, resulting in a device so pick-up-and-play, even your grandma could give it a whirl without calling tech support. It’s powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset — talking double the graphical power of Quest 2, with visuals so sharp you might just mistake them for reality.

• Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3

Quest 3’s app library is where it really shows off. With over 500 immersive experiences and games, including hits like Asgard’s Wrath 2, Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, and the ever-addictive Beat Sabre, you'll have plenty to play with. Plus, it’s got the improved ability to wirelessly stream PC VR titles, turning your game night into a veritable smorgasbord of virtual awesomeness. It’s no slouch when it comes to productivity, either — though you’ll likely be distracted by the more playful experiences it offers, Meta Quest 3 has full-fat VR versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint to get to work on.

I’m not entirely sure it’s fashionable to admit this, but I love virtual reality. Ever since Palmer Luckey re-ignited the scene with the launch of Oculus (now part of Meta) and the Oculus DK1 headset, I’ve been in the trenches of the VR scene, trying every bit of VR hardware I can get my hands on.

Whether working in VR or gaming in VR, I’m an evangelist for the format, and try to convert as many skeptics to the cause as I can, everywhere I go. Here’s my credentials — in a non-exhaustive list, I’ve tested the following:

• Oculus DK1
• Oculus DK 2
• Oculus Quest
• Oculus / Meta Quest 2
• Meta Quest 3
• Oculus Go
• Oculus Rift
• Oculus Rift S
• HP Reverb G2
• PlayStation VR
• PlayStation VR 2
• Google Cardboard
• Samsung Gear
• Apple Vision Pro
• Microsoft HoloLens
• HTC Vive
• HTC Vive Pro
• Valve Index

That’s just off the top of my head, and doesn’t include random trade-show concepts and prototypes, whatever headsets are in use at the many public VR playrooms that I’ve visited over the years, nor the curio gimmick attempts at virtual reality like the weird Nintendo Switch VR kit.

Of all the headsets on the list, it’s the Quest 2 I’ve spent the most time with — but it is its successor, the Meta Quest 3, that is the one I’d recommend to anyone looking to give VR a whirl.

It offers more bang-for-buck than any other VR headset on the market, and thanks to the Amazon Prime Day sale, it’s now at a superb price — the 128GB model is down to just $429.99 — a serious saving over its usual $499.99 asking price.

What makes Meta Quest 3 special

Lightweight and comfortable for extended play sessions, the Meta Quest 3 is as close to pick-up-and-play as VR gets. A standalone device, it doesn’t require a computer to power, instead running off the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. That gives it twice the graphical processing grunt over the already-impressive Meta Quest 2, and lets it drive greater-than-4K experiences across its dual screens — 30% sharper than its predecessor.

What separates the Meta Quest 3 from the competition though is its app library. Not only do you have access to more than 500 immersive experiences and games built especially for Meta Quest (including the impressive Asgard’s Wrath 2, Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR and Beat Sabre), but you can also use it to access the many PC VR titles on the market, wirelessly streamed to the headset, massively expanding the available software for the system. That’s before considering the productivity options the Meta Quest 3 offers, with impressive full-color passthrough meaning you’ve good awareness of your surroundings while you work.

Now, I’m hoping by the end of this year I’ll be able to add another VR headset to this list — the Apple Vision Pro (though don’t tell Apple I called its ‘Spatial Computing’ headset a VR device!). It is, without a doubt, the most advanced piece of VR kit I’ve ever tried, with a has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed screen, and the most amazing passthrough and hand-tracking tech I’ve ever used. But! At $3,499, you could buy a Meta Quest 3 many times over for the price of a Vision Pro, and right now, Vision Pro’s app selection just isn’t quite there. With more time, more users following the international roll out, and VisionOS 2 on the way, I’m hoping developers will redress that balance. But for now Apple’s Vision Pro ecosystem has some catching up to do.

In the meantime, the Meta Quest 3 is a remarkable device. And, at its current sale price, it’s offering remarkable value for money, too. 

Apple Vision Pro rolled out to the U.S. at the start of 2024, while the rest of the world patiently waited for its turn. Now, Apple Vision Pro is going global. But where exactly is Apple Vision Pro now available? How can you buy one and how much does it cost? 

We're here to guide you through everything you need to know about the global rollout of Apple Vision Pro, with plenty of tips and tricks in tow from our experts. 

Apple's spatial computing headset offers revolutionary apps, hand and eye controls, premium materials, and advanced hardware. It's all powered by visionOS (soon to be visionOS 2), and comes replete with support for accessories including the Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and soon the Magic mouse. Here's everything you need to know about buying one abroad.

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro

Where is Apple Vision Pro available?

As of July 12, you can now buy Apple Vision Pro in 10 countries:

• U.S.
• Canada
• Australia
• France
• Germany
• UK
• China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Singapore

How to buy Apple Vision Pro?

To buy an Apple Vision Pro in the U.S. or any other country, you can go to the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, or an Apple Store near you. We'd recommend going online, as you can start some of the process for getting the right fitment for your headset without leaving the house. That's also the only way to get the right ZEISS Optical Inserts if you require either reader or prescription eyeglasses. 

• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro — Apple's latest innovation is in stores now

Apple Vision Pro Accessories

You can score an Apple Vision Pro travel case from Apple, as well as peripherals like the Magic Keyboard. But you might also want to consider looking at Amazon, where we've found some great third-party accessories. 

• You can't buy Apple Vision Pro on Amazon Prime Day, but you can score these 11 accessories instead

Apple Vision Pro games

Apple Vision Pro is for play as well as work! Here are all the spatial games you can play on Apple Vision Pro right now:

• Every Apple Vision Pro Spatial game we know about so far
• Apple Vision Pro's first multiplayer spatial game is here 
• Here's your first look at Apple Vision Pro Spatial gaming
• Someone recreated one of the iPhone's most iconic games for Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro might have just got its best game yet

Apple Vision Pro tips and tricks

• Complete guide to Vision Pro streaming: When to use Apple TV, Safari, and apps
• Apple Vision Pro essentials: How to update, turn off, or reset the headset
• How to use cloud gaming services on Apple Vision Pro
• How to use other input methods to control Apple Vision Pro — keyboards, trackpads, pointers, and more
• How to create a Persona on Apple Vision Pro
• Having eye or hand tracking issues on Vision Pro? Here's how you can recalibrate
• Apple Vision Pro EyeSight: Everything you need to know about the mixed reality headset's outward display
• Apple Vision Pro sensors: What they all do, and where they are on the headset
• How to use Travel Mode with Apple Vision Pro on an airplane
• How to start a Guest User session on Apple Vision Pro — let someone else experience spatial computing on your mixed-reality headset
• How to safely clean an Apple Vision Pro headset and accessories
• How to set up Optic ID on Apple Vision Pro — troubleshooting tips and more
• This Vision Pro app turns your shortcuts into buttons that float before your very eyes and it's available now
• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro — Can you import one from the U.S., and is it worth it?
• Environments on Apple Vision Pro: What they are and every location announced so far
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Apple has patched a nightmarish Apple Vision Pro bug that allowed websites to render 3D models of bats and spiders in Safari. 

As reported by our friends at PC Gamer, the bug was discovered by Ryan Pickren, who uncovered a bug in visionOS that "a malicious website to bypass all warnings and forcefully fill your room with an arbitrary number of animated 3D objects." According to Pickren, while Apple has done plenty of work to ensure apps and websites can't randomly spawn objects in your personal space, it forgot about its old web-based 3D model standard Apple AR Kit Quick Look. 

As such, Pickren found a hack that meant "any website could instruct mobile Safari to treat the link as an in-place 3D model," even adding Spatial Audio sounds to the models too. The crux? "This means that we can launch an arbitrary number of 3D, animated, sound-creating, objects without any user interaction whatsoever... If the victim just views our website in Vision Pro, we can instantly fill their room with hundreds of crawling spiders and screeching bats! Freaky stuff."

Apple Vision Pro nightmare

As you can imagine, this is quite a problematic bug for users of Vision Pro, especially any who happen to be arachnophobes. Findings in hand, Pickren reported the issue to Apple in February, and Futurism reports it was patched in the June visionOS 1.2 update. What a relief. 

Also in June, Apple unveiled visionOS 2 at WWDC 2024. The update features new tools including tech that can turn any photo into a spatial photo, new gestures, and a big upgrade to Mac Virtual Display that brings ultra-wide display support. 

visionOS 2 is expected in September alongside iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, and Apple Intelligence, the company's new AI tools baked into its software. 

More from iMore

• visionOS: Features, supported devices, and more
• visionOS 2 announced at WWDC
• visionOS 1.1.2 released with bug fixes for the Apple Vision Pro

With Apple Vision Pro here, the focus on mixed reality experiences in the Apple ecosystem is stronger than ever. Yet for everyone who lives outside of the U.S., or doesn’t have $3,499 to spend on a headset, what options do you have when it comes to augmented and mixed reality? Well, one such offering is the TCL NXTWEAR glasses. The company recently unveiled the new S+ version of its smart glasses, but for the last few weeks, I’ve been hands-on with their predecessor, the S, to see what all the fuss is about. 

In short, these are an impressive pair of smart glasses that any iPhone or iPad user will love. They’re not flawless and there are definitely some drawbacks to this kind of tech, but for a fraction of the price of Apple Vision Pro, you can have plenty of fun playing games and watching movies in your very own private cinema, all packed into a device not much bigger than your average pair of sunglasses.

TCL NXTWEAR S: Price and Availability

The TCL NXTWEAR S are available on Amazon in both the U.S. and the UK. In the U.S. they’ll set you back $349, however in the UK they’re more than £540. I can’t see any good reason for the price discrepancy, especially when UK customers can pick up the new NXTWEAR S+ for £399 instead.

TCL NXTWEAR S: The good

The TCL NXTWEAR S stats don’t wow on paper, offering dual Micro OLED displays that simulate watching a 201-inch screen from 6 meters, or around 140 inches at 4 meters. They also only offer 400 nits of brightness, and 1920 x 1080p. However, despite these stats, the viewing experience is tremendous. I was properly blown away by how good regular 2D content looks when viewing TVs and movies on Netflix and Apple TV Plus. 

Wearing TCL NXTWEAR is basically akin to sitting on the back row of a medium-sized cinema, everything feels quite far away, but not so far as to detract from the viewing experience. I fired up some Breaking Bad and was thoroughly impressed, and there didn’t feel like a huge difference between the NXTWEAR and my home 4K TV, or the Retina display on my iPad. The colors were all sharp and felt very accurate, too. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a much more colorful show, and everything felt bright and vibrant. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not an 8K QLED TV, or indeed the dual 4K Micro-OLED power of Vision Pro, but at 400 bucks it doesn’t need to be. The NXTWEAR S are a really fun breath of fresh air that have changed how I think about content on my iPhone and iPad completely. I often struggle to watch content on my iPad when traveling, I hate looking down at my iPad for long periods of time. On my recent trip to London, I took NXTWEAR with me and was able to enjoy content on the train and in my hotel completely free of neck or back strain.

The NXTWEAR S are so easy to use, too. They ship with a USB-C cable, which means that if you’ve got one of Apple’s best iPhones, the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you simply plug them in, and off you go. The other end of the cable is attached to the glasses via a pogo-pin connector, and once both are connected the glasses will come on, immediately displaying a mirror of your iPhone or iPad screen. The glasses take power from your iPhone or iPad, which means there are no battery constraints beyond what your source device can handle. However, you won’t be able to charge and view at the same time, as the NXTWEAR S occupies the USB-C port on your device. I didn’t find the NXTWEAR caused significant battery drain over time, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue, however. 

In the box, you get a premium carry case that’s just about big enough for your glasses and the cable. There are also some lens attachments that you can use to attach your prescription glasses. However, this strikes me as something of a DIY solution, as you’ll need to separate your lenses from your glasses to use them. There are no premium Apple Vision Pro ZEISS inserts to speak of here. You also get a darker outer cover for the glasses which I’d definitely recommend. They make the glasses look much more stylish and normal and darken the passthrough for a more immersive viewing experience.

TCL NXTWEAR S: What's not so good

The NXTWEAR S aren’t without their drawbacks. Most notably, these are Android-first glasses, which means iPhone can’t access the 3D experiences available through the Android app. That drastically limits their usefulness to USB-C screen mirroring. This is still a fun way to use them, but only with Android will you get the full experience. 

The styling of the NXTWEAR S leaves a little to be desired, they are quite clunky and it’ll be obvious to onlookers that you’re not wearing a normal pair of sunglasses. That being said, they’re much more discrete than Apple Vision Pro. 

While the NXTWEAR S glasses aren’t heavy, they do start to produce fatigue after a decent amount of time. After a 47-minute Breaking Bad episode, my nose was sore from the pressure of wearing them, but I didn’t notice until I took them off and it subsided pretty quickly. 

The screen is ever-so-slightly limited when it comes to viewing, in that the very bottom corners of regular 16:9 content get cut off by the edges of the display. For wider experiences like Dune, this wasn’t an issue for me, and it’s not too noticeable, but it is a quirk of the display configuration. 

I think the biggest limitation of these glasses is probably the audio. While they boast stereo sound, it’s nothing to write home about. On the plus side, it doesn’t disturb people around you unless you really crank the volume, which is controlled by a wheel on the left-hand side. However, at higher volumes, the sound is almost distorted, and definitely not a great experience. The sound is very shallow and thin, and while bearable for dialogue-heavy content, you wouldn’t want to watch Bladerunner 2049 with it. To that end, you really need a good pair of headphones to compliment the NXTWEAR S. I tried viewing with the AirPods Pro 2 and it transformed the experience. Not only does the noise-canceling add to the immersion, but the sound quality and spatial audio really connect you to the viewing experience in a way the onboard audio just can’t. As such, for a truly immersive experience with NXTWEAR S, you’ll need to add a pair of noise-canceling headphones to your shopping list. 

TCL NXTWEAR S: Competition

Last year we had a look at the TCL RayNEO Air 2. From the same company as the NXTWEAR, they have slightly different styling and some of the same drawbacks. There’s also the aforementioned NXTWEAR S+, which builds on the S with a 120Hz refresh rate and a slightly larger viewing space. XREAL also offers its Air 2 Pro AR Glasses. Meta’s Ray-Ban Wayfarer smart glasses, while cheaper, don’t offer the immersive viewing experience of the NXTWEAR S. 

TCL NXTWEAR S: Should you buy them?

TCL NXTWEAR S: Verdict

The NXTWEAR S smart glasses are pretty cool, and I’ve really enjoyed using them to view content on my iPhone. They won’t be for everyone, but for those who love quirky, futuristic tech they’d make a great gift or hobby purchase, just don’t expect IMAX-level viewing or Dolby Atmos Audio. 

All Apple Vision Pro apps give something unique to the wearer, that feels different thanks to Apple's interesting and totally unique headset. Though some apps available are mostly straight ports of existing apps and some are designed specifically for the headset, the act of using them while wearing Apple Vision Pro makes them feel different in a way that other devices can't quite capture. 

The Apple Vision Pro has now been out for a month in the US, with an expected launch at some point in the future for the rest of the world. When people outside the US start to get the headset, there should be thousands of specifically designed apps to use but it's still a little limited right now. 

 Thanks to tech like eye tracking, HDR support, and some fantastic screens, Apple Vision Pro is one of the most interesting pieces of tech that Apple has launched in years. It's a spatial headset, which means apps work in your physical surroundings. Thanks to this unique setup, apps might take a little while longer to arrive. 

That all said, here are all the Apple Vision Pro apps that are natively supported on the headset right now. 

Every confirmed Apple Vision Pro app so far

The Apple Vision Pro comes with support for Apple's own suite of apps like Safari, Mail, FaceTime, Keynote, Notes, and Mindfulness. The Photos app comes with the ability to run Spatial Video and Apple TV + allows you to stream the best Apple TV Plus movies to whatever size screen you like. Freeform jumps to Vision Pro too — it's all about collaboration, giving you and members of your team space to sketch ideas, show off plans, and create mood boards. If you are looking to visually represent an idea quickly, this is an excellent choice. 

As well as this, you can play the best Apple Arcade games as the entire library can be played on a virtual screen at any time. 

As for third-party Vision Pro apps, here's what's been publicly announced so far:

A Spatial Tale — A fun and intuitive way to explore fairytales in your living room, A Spatial Tale animate scenes from fairytales and teaches you languages while it does it. 

Adobe Lightroom — Need to make some quick image edits? Adobe Lightroom lets you quickly touch up photos taken on your devices, and that's soon to include images shot on Vision Pro, too. It'll be interesting to see if these image edits take 3D composition into account, too.

Bills To Budget — A quick and efficient way to keep track of all your bills, your pay schedule, and general budget, Bills To Budget will be a great addition to your everyday headset use.

Cisco Webex — Cisco Webex is a video conferencing app with some smart functions like a whiteboard for team collaboration and calendar functionality, to plan meetings with multiple team members. 

Disney + — Through Disney +, you can stream almost everything Disney owns, from Pixar to Marvel to Star Wars. There are also some great original movies, documentaries, and even everyone's favorite dysfunctional animated family, The Simpsons. 

Fantastical — An award-winning calendar app, Fantastical combines an accessible UI with weather notifications, preset templates to plan your day, and functionality to add social media apps. 

Fin — Fin is a financial app that helps you easily keep track of your budget, with easy-to-read data and the Vision Pro release sees a whole host of whoever effect, charts, and accessibility options.

Game Room — Game Room is a unique spatial game allowing you to play a handful of board games with your friends online.

Haptics — Designed for developers, Haptics is an app to test out the haptic feedback on Apple devices in real-time.

HomeBatteries — If you have a smart home, this app checks all of your HomeKit device batteries and shows them in a single convenient place. 

Instructor — Instructor is an app for driving instructors to monitor and track progress as their pupils attempt to pass their driving test. 

JigSpace — JigSpace is an app for creating and sharing 3D presentations. This would be particularly good if you're in a team working on physical objects or for demonstrations when teaching.

Lowe's Style Studio — This is an app from Lowe's that allows you to decorate and customize your home in real-time, where you can buy the furniture you would like all from the comfort of your home. 

Max — HBO's streaming service, Max, includes HBO original films, TV shows, and documentaries, alongside brand-new movies. It recently just received the Barbie movie so watching that on the big screen of the Vision Pro sounds like a treat.

Microsoft 365 — This is less an app and more a whole suite of apps from Microsoft including Word, Excel, Outlook, Defender, OneDrive, and more. 

Navi — Navi is a live translation tool that visualizes the translation directly in front of you. It can directly detect someone's language and put appropriate subtitles to help you understand them. 

NowPlaying — NowPlaying is a music trivia app that gives you fun facts about your favorite artists and even connects with Apple Music to find what you like.

NQSubBlock — NQSubBlock is a content blocker that removes intrusive ads from Newsquest websites to allow you to more effectively read the news.

Orbit Meditation — Orbit Meditation is an AI-guide meditation app designed around the immersive nature of Apple Vision Pro.

Planner 5D — Planner 5D is a perfect fit for the Apple Vision Pro as it allows you to imagine 2D and 3D objectives in your space to help decorate your home.

Peppercorn — Peppercorn is a shopping list app, meal planner, and recipe finder all wrapped in one. If you don't know what you're having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this is a great choice.

Play — Play is an effective way of creating a 'Watch Later' for all types of content like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and more.

PCalc — Simple in concept but likely not in execution, given how complex the Vision Pro is, PCalc is a calculator app that is sure to be valuable in those work meetings. 

Sky Guide — Though it's yet to be publically demoed despite making an appearance in Apple's Vision Pro showcase video and press materials, we're expecting Sky Guide to be able to present the night sky constellations through the headset in your home, opening up the cosmos from the comfort of your sofa. It's already available on iPhone and iPad.

Slack — The ultimate communication platform for teams, Slack comes with the ability to make different chat rooms for different topics, has integration with Google services, and has plenty of ways to customize your experience to be more efficient. 

Shutters — An easy way to access all of your blinds in a single click. With this app, you can open them or close them, as well as check their battery. 

Spatial Noise — Spatial Noise gives you the ability to add ambient sound around you, where you can pick up their location in the room as if they're in your physical space. 

Subjects — Subjects is a school planner, allowing you to plan out your timetable, homework, grades, and more. It's designed to be easy to use and even easier to navigate.

Super Fruit Ninja — Taking the classic Fruit Ninja formula and letting you play it in your very own living room, the Apple Vision Pro will take advantage of both eye and hand-tracking to let you really feel the fruit you slice your way through.

Territory — Territory is an app for switching storefronts on your device for developers to check how their apps are ranking for certain keywords in different regions.

TV launcher — TV Launcher is the best way to watch live TV on Apple Vision Pro, as it gives you access to hundreds of channels in just one click.

TV Remote — As the name implies, this is a TV remote app that works on LG, Samsung, Roku, Sony TV, and more.

What the Golf? — A companion to What the Car?, which is currently on Apple Arcade, What the Golf? is a fun, charming, and brilliant little puzzle game all about golf. Using a club, your own body, and a host of other items, you have to get the ball in the hole but it's not nearly that simple. 

Zoom — Finally arriving on Apple TV just last month, Zoom had a huge surge in users back in 2020 and soon became one of the most popular video-chatting services out there. This should help you organize meetings or game nights with your friends. 

Apple Vision Apps in development

We had the chance to chat with developers working on Vision Pro apps and here are four we know are in development right now: 

Obscura — Obscura is an app designed to get you the most out of your camera, with some very smart controls and settings. In Vision Pro, this could pair with spatial videos excellently. 

Delta — Delta is an emulation app that can transport you into a digital environment like a museum or a park. 

Game Track — Games Track is a tracking system for keeping an eye on all those games you haven't yet made the time to play through. In Vision Pro, you can finally start to tackle that backlog. 

Broadcasts — Broadcasts can be used to stream audio from tonnes of radio stations across the world, which can perfectly accompany whatever Vision Pro environment you find yourself in. 

Apple Vision Pro apps we're hoping to see

Though it is an AR headset designed to work in everyday life and not a traditional VR headset intended for games, we still hope to see a few fun titles on there. The likes of Beat Saber could work great in the confines of your living room and even room-scale experiences like Thrill of the Fight or Tea for God could be enhanced by the Vision Pro's impressive Apple Silicon chip. With how much support Apple has thrown behind Apple to put out both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 on iPhone 15 Pro, it would be great to see a VR Resident Evil in Apple Vision Pro too. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a native Netflix app from launch but you can run your iPad version of Netflix on it. Hopefully, we'll see the app arrive in the future. Alongside this, apps like YouTube and TikTok will be welcome additions for when you need an entertainment fix. 

Though the headset seems to have some excellent productivity apps so far, it would be nice to see a reason for creatives to check it out too, with optimization for Logic Pro or Procreate. Drawing apps, in particular, could be great for their ability to replicate the feeling of drawing on a real easel. With such a big launch, 2024 seems set to be a big year for Apple fans. 

Apple announced its entry into a new product category with the Vision Pro at WWDC 2023. While that was an announcement, the actual retail launch was said to be in early 2024. Well, it's early 2024 now, and we're inching closer to the retail launch. It appears the headsets have begun shipping to distribution warehouses in the U.S.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman said that Apple is likely to make an announcement about the Vision Pro next week. He also noted that the February launch was on track, with the headsets arriving at warehouses in just enough time.

Apple Vision Pro announcement to take spotlight away from CES

Apple famously doesn't attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the 2024 edition of which kicks off on Tuesday, January 9. Gurman says he expects Apple to make a Vision Pro announcement soon to take some of the spotlight away from CES. The announcement could be about the launch timeline, given how the preparations are in full swing.

He wrote, "The device is already shipping in small quantities to warehouses across the US before distribution to Apple retail stores, with the company believing it’ll have enough supply stateside by the end of January for a launch by February. I expect Apple to make an announcement related to the Vision Pro in the next week or so to take some of the spotlight away from CES, which begins Tuesday in Las Vegas."

Gurman has stuck to the February launch timeline for thr Vision Pro, which seems more likely now than ever. Gurman says there are a few reasons why he thinks a roll-out is imminent. Retail employees have apparently been flown to Cupetino for training for what is likely the Vision Pro. Additionally the stores will hold three-hour meetings for all employees on January 21, with more training to follow. 

That's not all, there's more. Gurman wrote that Apple's China-based manufacturing partner for the Vision Pro, Luxshare, had a "delivery ceremony marking getting the Vision Pro out the door."

So we may get to hear something officially from Apple soon, at least about the retail availability in the U.S. As for other countries, Gurman says Apple is considering China, Canada, and the U.K. for the headset, which will ihappen in 2024, but may happen earlier than previously thought.

When you reach a certain age, Christmas is usually a time for making sure you’ve bought all the presents for friends and family, followed by eating as much as you can until it’s bedtime.

Yet when you become a parent, your additional job is to make sure that you capture enough photos and videos to share with family and friends throughout — something that I did incessantly last month.

This wasn’t just for sharing what our newborn son was doing with his countless presents though — it was also to record as much as I could in Spatial Video, a feature introduced for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max with iOS 17.2.

For those unaware, this new feature uses the main and Ultra Wide camera lenses to record two 1080p videos at once, which are then merged into one. So when you view the video on a Vision Pro headset, you’ll see a 3D video.

Due to the amount of Spatial Videos I've already taken so far, it may surprise you to know that I'm not planning on buying a Vision Pro — at least, not yet.

Cherished Memories in Vision Pro

First of all, no one should spend $3,500 just to relive certain memories through a new video format, but Vision Pro looks like it could be one of the few products that justifies using mixed reality in our daily lives. Back at WWDC 2023, demos were showcased of an Apple TV Plus show extending across a bedroom — or joining a group call as if the other recipients were in the same room as you. A lot of it was very impressive, and since then, many developers have come to praise what the headset could bring to third-party apps.

Apple has done a smart thing with Spatial Video on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max — it’s allowed owners to use this feature, and in turn, helps them to imagine what these videos could look like on the Vision Pro. It’s the curiosity that’s the big appeal here, and I’m part of that.

Over the holidays in December, my wife and I visited Santa’s grotto with our newborn son, walking past the countless Christmas trees and penguin animatronics singing festive songs. It was here that I took a bunch of Spatial Videos right in my iPhone’s camera app. 

There’s nothing different when you play them back on your Apple device — there’s just a ‘Spatial’ label in the top left, but it’s the fact that you’re ‘future-proofing’ these until the day comes when you’re watching these on Apple’s headset. You’re also bookmarking these videos as well, as you’re going to be cherishing those moments in a completely different way from what we’ve been doing for years. Instead of looking at a 6-inch display, you’ll feel like you could touch that memory when you wear Vision Pro and see these spatial videos come to life.

But I still won’t buy one

Whenever Vision Pro is released this year, I’ll be sure to book an appointment to try one out. I want to play as many of these Spatial Videos as possible during this hands-on — but I do fear that there’s a slight chance, that once I play a video of Christmas with my son, emotions will hit me like a wave, and I’ll suddenly be plotting how to buy one.

So I’m trying to be realistic now - even though I have no knowledge of when the headset may be coming. I want to set expectations for myself that, this is a product that is only going to get better, and cheaper, as the years go by. Only when a Vision Pro of the future costs less than $1000 will consider buying one.

For now, though, I’ll wait for an appointment to try one out, marvel at how good my Spatial Videos look on the headset, and then simply wait. I’m sure the experience of using one will be incredible — but I’ll stick to capturing a bunch of Spatial Videos until I can afford a Vision Pro. Then one day, I’ll be able to relive those special moments with my son at his first Christmas all over again and marvel at how fast he grew in the intervening years.

The press have gone hands-on once more with the Apple Vision Pro and can’t believe what they’re seeing. Exclaiming how it brought them to tears or analyzing how easy the setup is, reports have come in both positive and curious for the future of the device. 

Though the Apple Vision Pro is set to launch in early 2024, there’s so much we don’t know about it yet. We do know it’s an AR headset designed to work around your own office space and life but not many nitty gritty details like the level of customization, the App storefront, and more. Recent reports haven’t illuminated too much in this regard but they do go over what it feels like and what you’ll do with it. 

Apple has been slowly letting select press see their brand-new AR device over the last few months, since its announcement in June. This seems to be an effort to build up hype for the full release next year, whilst giving small details for people to look for. We are expecting even more teases over the coming months. 

What does the press say?

Raymond Wong over at Inverse said the “Apple Vision Pro almost brought me to tears”. In his extended piece, he talked about seeing his mom in spatial video, having dim sum at a local restaurant. He shot a spatial video of the two of them beforehand and watched back in the Vision Pro, which was apparently quite an emotional experience. In the future, one could potentially do the same for a loved one who has passed away or moved overseas, being able to capture the look in their eye or the unique way they hold their hands. 

Lance Ulanoff, on behalf of our friends at TechRadar, said spatial video is ‘an immersive trip’ that he highly recommends. He rather eloquently sums up where he thinks it will lie in the market. “I still don't know if the Apple Vision Pro is for everyone, but the more I use it, and the more I learn about it, the more I'm convinced that Apple is set to trigger a seismic shift in our computing experience. Not everyone will end up buying Vision Pro, but most of us will feel its impact.”

CNET also tested it out and it was Scott Stein’s third time in the headset so far. He recalls shooting footage at his niece’s bat mitzvah and talks about the FOMO (fear of missing out) he feels by not shooting it in spatial video. If you own a Vision Pro, files will shoot in spatial video automatically on applicable iPhones but he suggests you may want to do it just in case you get one. 

All of these short tests heavily talk about their time with spatial video, potentially suggesting this is what Apple wants people to pay attention to right now and, if you plan on getting the Apple Vision Pro, it feels like almost a reason to upgrade to the iPhone 15, the best iPhone, by itself. 

We can’t wait to test it out for ourselves next year, but in the meantime, you can get ready for Vision Pro’s arrival by checking out the spatial video camera capabilities on iPhone 15, or even picking up a dedicated VR headset like the Meta Quest 3 

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• Apple Vision Pro: Specs, price, and everything else you need to know
• Apple won't sell you a Vision Pro online

ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, has reportedly scrapped its Pico 5 VR headset in favor of a higher-end model designed to compete with Apple Vision Pro. 

According to a new report from The Information seen by iMore, “ByteDance is canceling the next version of the virtual reality headset from its Pico subsidiary, the Pico 5” after sales of its Pico 4 “fell far short of ByteDance’s Expectations.” 

However, this headset, which was seen as a rival to Meta’s Quest series, isn’t the end of ByteDance’s VR aspirations. Instead, the company is now putting all of its efforts into a “high-end headset” that has been in the works for some time. Codenamed “Swan,” the headset is “inspired in part by Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset” but remains “largely experimental and conceptual” at this time. 

In the meantime, ByteDance will still release an updated Pico 4, following the original which came out just over a year ago. 

Setting a new trend with Vision Pro? 

It’s very interesting that a company with the resources and clout of ByteDance would choose to walk away from the Meta-dominated low-end of the virtual reality market. As the report notes, the sector as a whole “remains relatively niche,” but this pivot to an Apple Vision Pro rival possibly signals a wider belief that companies see the future of VR and mixed reality in high-end luxury products more akin to Apple’s $3,500 headset.  

Apple has confirmed the Vision Pro will launch “early” in 2024, with the latest leaks pointing to a rollout in March or possibly even earlier. It was recently reported that Apple had internally targeted January as a release window, but this looks like a slim prospect at this point. Apple’s “spatial computing” headset will offer entertainment and collaboration features as well as games, immersive environments, and much more. 

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• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro (when it comes out)
• Apple Vision Pro: Specs, price, and everything else you need to know

The Apple Vision Pro seems to be many things to Apple — a work machine, an accessibility device, and a Facetime camera. Now, you can add another notch to that belt; a way to go on a virtual holiday to some of the world's most stunning environments and beauty spots.

In a short video uploaded to X by user M1Astra, the Vision Pro takes viewers on a journey to snow-smothered Yosemite, surrounded by coniferous trees and towered over by misty mountains.

A trip to another world

The virtual environments of the Vision Pro aren’t just a way of viewing a place — the idea is that you’re actually in it. That means that all the other Vision Pro features are still available, like virtual desktop, video viewing, and even Facetime.

You’ll no longer be in your office, living room, or wherever else you might be wearing the headset, but at a completely different time and place. It’s a very cool element of the Vision Pro and one that could go even further.

iMore’s Take — a learning and education tool

Despite Ridley Scott’s best efforts, accurate history is important, and learning what it has to teach us even more so. Now, imagine that instead of just learning about it from a book you could let people experience the history. Place them in the Colosseum of Rome, at the center of the French Revolution, or in the trenches of WW1. 

Vision Pro’s virtual environments would be cool just to help you escape from the boring monotony of an office job, yes, but they could be so much more – and it’s likely that Apple has already taken it into consideration.

Just as long as it doesn’t make me start wearing it to parties, like one developer apparently said of the device in preplanning. That would suck.

More from iMore

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro: Specs, price, and everything else you need to Know
• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro (when it comes out)

Samsung has filed a trademark indicating it plans to take on Apple Vision Pro with its own mixed-reality headset. 

As spotted by Upload VR, Samsung has filed a trademark for Samsung Glasses, listed as "Virtual reality headsets; Augmented reality headsets; Headphones; Smartphones; Smart glasses," according to a filing with the UK Intellectual Property Office. 

Samsung confirmed in February it was planning a new "extended reality" piece of hardware in tandem with Google and Qualcomm, however, the company reportedly went back to the drawing board after seeing the power of Apple Vision Pro when it was unveiled at WWDC 2023. 

An Android Vision Pro rival

Apple Vision Pro is a spatial computing experience with an eye-watering $3,499 price tag that features two 4K micro-OLED displays and is capable of content consumption, collaboration, and more. 

Samsung's offering reportedly featured the Exynos 2200 chipset, known for being sluggish and unkind to battery life. As our friends at Android Central note, it's possible Samsung might be planning to adopt Qualcomm's as-yet-unreleased chipset, expected to drop in the first quarter of 2024. 

Apple's Vision Pro headset is expected to debut in stores in early 2024, with the most recent rumor tipping the launch for March, despite Apple initially targeting January. The prospect of an Android rival to Apple Vision Pro is an interesting one, and only time will tell if Samsung can successfully bring it to market. There are no pricing rumors regarding the headset, but it's unlikely it will come close to the $3,499 of Apple Vision Pro. With the aforementioned delay to Samsung Glasses' development, Apple will be able to launch Vision Pro into clean air next year. The only mainstream rival to the headset currently is really the Meta Quest 2 and the newer Meta Quest 3, which cost a fraction of the price. 

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• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
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Apple introduced its first mixed-reality headset earlier this year. The Vision Pro marks Apple's entry into a new product category for the first time in a while, but Apple isn't planning on slowing down now. With the Vision Pro yet to actually go on sale, Apple is already making progress on the sequel, according to a new report.

A new report by Macrumors sheds light on the development of this next-gen Vision Pro, which is apparently codenamed Project Alaska. The report had some details on what we can expect from the headset, even though it's pretty early in the development process, as well as a potential launch window.

Vision Pro sequel likely to arrive in late 2025 or early 2026

Macrumors notes that Apple is working on the new headset under the codename Project Alaska and device identifier N109. Apparently, it looks rather similar to the first-gen Vision Pro. 

There may be changes to the speakers, with some designs showing missing speakers housing while others show speaker-type holes near the top vents area. References to an audio accessory have also been found in documentation, which could mean we see an external speaker accessory for the next headset. 

Straps are another difference in the new design, according to the report.

"The second-generation headset features straps that are simpler in design and appearance, being somewhat reminiscent of the flat straps commonly found on laptop bags or backpacks. Prior rumors have suggested that the next Apple headset could be cheaper than the Vision Pro, and the design of the rear straps on the second-generation headset lends some credence to this theory."

The report also listed key hardware components of the second-gen Vision Pro. The sensors include a compass, ambient light sensor, magnetometer, and gyroscope. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, and ultra-low latency audio. The rest of the hardware includes two micro-OLED displays, a TrueDepth camera, four computer vision cameras, two RGB cameras, two infrared illuminators for low light, and semi-automatic interpupillary distance adjustment.

The headset is expected to enter the product validation testing (PVT) stage in 2025. That means we could see Apple launch the second-gen Vision Pro by late 2025 or early 2026. It's expected to be cheaper than the first-gen model, but we'll have to wait a while longer to know exactly how much it will cost.

After being showcased as an exclusive feature at Apple’s iPhone 15 event back in September, Spatial Video recording is now available through iOS 17.2 beta 2, released November 9.

For those unaware, Spatial Video allows iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users to record 3D video that you’ll be able to view on Apple’s Vision Pro headset, once it’s made available in early 2024. The feature uses the main and ultrawide cameras on the phones to create the 3D effect.

When you update to iOS 17.2, you can switch this format on by going to Settings > Camera > Formats > Spatial Video for ‌Apple Vision Pro‌. Back in the camera app, an icon that looks like the headset will appear. Press that to start recording in Spatial Video. Apple says that you can only record in this mode at 1080P at 30 frames per second, which takes up 130MB for every minute taken.

So while it’s great that many users will get a head start in creating videos in this new format once iOS 17.2 comes out, watching these in Vision Pro may offer a sub-par experience due to the low resolution and frame rate currently being offered.

A window in time - iMore’s take

When I saw that spatial video recording was going to be possible back at the iPhone 15 event, I was even more sold on buying a 15 Pro Max than I was before, not least because my newborn son was arriving the following week. Granted, it was an emotional decision, but imagining a scenario where I could watch those early moments of him through Spatial Video felt like something I had to look into.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I saw that Spatial Video can only be captured in 1080P at 30FPS and that it takes up 130MB every minute. That’s double the space of a regular video in this format, at 65MB. However, the extra space taken up may be due to both the main and ultrawide cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max being used at the same time for the 3D effect.

When you watch the demos of Spatial Video being played on Vision Pro, they look crystal clear, and not at all like 1080p format. I’m slightly concerned that once I take these videos in 17.2, and view them with Vision Pro, they’ll look like a 360p YouTube video from 2008.

I hope that’s not the case. However, Apple didn’t mention viewing these Spatial Videos on Vision Pro at this resolution back when it was showcased at WWDC in June. So I’m skeptical of whether it’s a limitation of what Vision Pro can display, or if it’s simply early days for iOS 17.2, and we’ll be able to take Spatial Video at 4K soon.

Whatever the case, I’m glad the option to record in this format is almost here, and I’ll be interested to see how these videos really look once I try out Vision Pro next year.

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Apple has just started adding new 3D movie designations to some of the best films on iTunes, revealing which titles you’ll be able to watch on its glorious $3,500 Vision Pro headset when it arrives next year. 

Apple unveiled its all-new “spatial computing” headset back at WWDC in June. Alongside collaborative working and communication, the headline features seem to revolve around consuming entertainment, notably watching movies on a massive screen powered by its two 4K displays.

Apple says Vision Pro “can transform any space into a personal movie theatre with a screen that feels 100 feet wide and an advanced Spatial Audio system,” and more importantly says that users will be able to enjoy “stunning three-dimensional movies.” Advanced spatial audio will come via a spicy update to Apple’s USB-C AirPods Pro issued in September. Now, thanks to a subtle iTunes update we have our glimpse at the titles on the way.

What 3D movies are coming to Apple Vision Pro? 

As reported by FlatpanelsHD, Apple has added support for 3D movies in the tvOS 17.2 beta released this week. Each title now comes with a small “3D” logo that looks like a Vision Pro headset. The full list of titles given by the outlet is as follows: 

• 47 Ronin
• Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away
• Everest
• Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters
• Jurassic World Dominion
• Kung Fu Panda 3
• Mortal Engines
• Pacific Rim Uprising
• Sanctum
• Shrek
• Skyscraper
• Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas
• The Boss Baby: Family Business
• The Little Princess
• The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature
• The Secret Life of Pets 2
• Trolls
• Trolls World Tour
• Warcraft

As per the report, it’s not clear at this stage what resolution or refresh rate these will run in. However, Vision Pro can deliver refresh rates of up to 100Hz (90Hz with HDR), and as noted can deliver a 100-foot wide screen with 23 million pixels. As you can see from the list, there’s something for pretty much everyone on this list including some kids' films, however, given this list reflects the state of play just hours after the update rolled out, we’d expect the list to be significantly longer than this by the time Vision Pro rolls around. We don’t have a firm Apple Vision Pro release date yet, but Apple’s latest window is “early 2024.” 

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When Apple revealed its Vision Pro headset at WWDC 2023, many members of the iMore staff shared two sentiments:

1. That thing looks awesome
2. There’s no way I’m going to wear that on my head all day long

Both are valid points! Apple Vision Pro is the culmination of years of research and development by Apple, the company’s next big hope as it looks to dominate the next two decades of computing in the same way its iPhone and Mac do now. And it has some incredible power to reach that goal, from a Mac-grade chip to a photo-real screen and innovative input tracking methods. There’s loads to be excited about.

I couldn’t help but be sceptical of Apple’s overarching goal, however: Positioning Vision Pro as something not only for recreational use but also a work-and-play-and-communication-and-fitness and everything else inbetween tool. Even if the company didn’t explicitly say so, it has to be picturing the Vision Pro — and its inevitable successors — as something that you’d spend several hours each day using. To justify its price tag ($3,499), and drum up revenue through on-device software and services purchases, people will need to rely on it and reach for it with the same readiness they do their iPhones.

And as anyone that has used a VR headset like the Valve Index or Meta Quest knows, that’s not always an attractive proposition. Even with its socially-conscious EyeSight mode, and as lightweight a design as Apple can build against the compromise of the tech packed within, any bulky headset like the Vision Pro will be fatiguing and a barrier to long-term regular use. The dream of a virtual working world may be an exciting one, but the physical reality can be less alluring.

Could that dream ever be a reality? Is there any way we could ditch our MacBooks and monitors, and spend all day inside a device like Vision Pro?

With a headset… probably not. But with something more like traditional spectacles? I’m ready to argue yes, having spent the last week with the TCL RayNeo Air 2 smart glasses. They’re not perfect, as my full review reveals. But they do offer a tantalizing view of a future where lightweight glasses are at the core of our computing experience, and virtual screens replace the TVs and monitors in our homes.

My time with the smart glasses

The TCL RayNeo Air 2 aren’t the first smart glasses I’ve tried, and like other rival devices in the category, they too have their flaws. Legibility at the extremities of the microOLED displays can be difficult, and they have only the most rudimentary AR features — not a patch on what even Apple’s brief Vision Pro demo teased.

But they’re still the best smart glasses I’ve tried, even removed from the fact that the current competition isn’t that hot. Their 1080p virtual display, appearing to hover in front of your face through the transparent lenses of the glasses, is incredibly sharp and vibrant (at least when centered correctly). And the lightweight design, powered not by an onboard battery but by the USB-C device you hook them to, meant I could feasibly wear them for hours on end without issue.

With a simple, single-cable connection to my devices of choice, I was quite happy to reach for the RayNeo Air 2 and use them in lieu of the host device’s own screen. And the transparent display, plus the familiar industrial design that apes a pair of Wayfarers more than a Lawnmower Man prop, meant I could interact with the world around me without taking them off, or feeling tethered by a cumbersome weight on my noggin. 

Portable enough to take in bed, with discreet speakers to prevent annoying my better half, I even managed to play a few games late at night without disturbing my bedmate, while they’re light enough to take out with me on-the-go with little hassle, and no noticeable extra strain on my backpack straps

They’re basic in many respects — essentially just a screen-mirroring device, rather than full-blown augmented reality providers. But they perfectly prove the concept: One day, something like this could easily replace the screens we currently depend upon. They're a solid example of the potential rewards such a future could offer.

Baby steps to an Apple AR future

Now, I know comparing the TCL RayNeo Air 2 to the Vision Pro is like arguing the merits of apples and oranges — similar families, but vastly different in the experiences they deliver. In fact, it’s more like comparing apples to raisins — the Vision Pro, as its price tag suggests, is set to be on a whole other level than what the relatively affordable ($379) RayNeo Air 2 offers.

But even with the gulf in functionality, I can’t help but feel that from an industrial design point of view, the RayNeo Air 2 is a more likely vision of what the AR future needs to look like than Apple’s model.

Apple is aware of this, of course; rumor has it that the original intention (and likely one that persists in an R&D lab somewhere) was for the Vision Pro to be smaller and more reminiscent of traditional glasses than the goggle-like product it’s set to launch next year. But for Apple, floating screens are only part of the experience, and more physical, literal space is needed in its device to fit the powerful chips, sensors, cameras and screens it needs to sell its vision of a ‘Spatial Computing’ future. 

I’m sure Apple is tirelessly looking to miniaturize the tech in Vision Pro to this very end. But that’s a ways off into the future, if possible at all — Moore’s Law’s diminishing returns are already upon us, and even Apple’s own silicon won’t eventually be immune to it, unless Apple has some sort of quantum computing breakthrough.

I wonder then, if in the meantime if not as a total alternative, a halfway house can’t be found? The TCL RayNeo Air 2 showed me that, if made correctly, I’d quite happily wear glasses to work with, provided the screen quality was high enough, comfort was paramount, setup convenient and legibility not a concern. If Apple made a simple pair of screen-mirroring spectacles to the same exacting standards as its other tech, chopped that Vision Pro price tag in half, made it ready to plug into a Mac… OR! a screenless portable Mac — a battery powered Mac mini, half a MacBook, however you want to cut it — offload the processing to another unit and let me just wear a pair of innocuous specs with that half-eaten Apple logo on it, I’d bite. Perhaps not quite as futuristic as the single device Vision Pro ideal. But more practical? More affordable? Maybe.

It wouldn’t be the giant leap for mankind that Apple’s hoping the Vision Pro will be. But perhaps baby steps will do while we’re still learning to walk the AR path.

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Apple is lining up a series of developer sessions both online and at its numerous headquarters around the world to get app developers up to speed with creating software for its new Vision Pro headset.

Taking place in Cupertino, Sydney, Singapore, London, Munich, New York City, Tokyo, and Shanghai at the end of the month, those invited to take part will “attend a one-day developer lab to experience your visionOS, iPadOS, or iOS apps running on Apple Vision Pro,” confirming (if there was ever any doubt) that Vision Pro is now travelling around the world.

“With help from Apple, you’ll be able to test, refine, and optimize your apps and games so they’ll be ready for the infinite spatial canvas,” reads the session description for the London event, which stresses that space will be limited.

In addition to the in-person sessions, Apple is hosting online ‘one-to-one’ consultations from its offices around the world in the form of an “online multi-activity challenge”, with those taking part able to “attend sessions, meet with Apple experts, and get your app or game ready for the all-new App Store for Apple Vision Pro.”

“In these sessions, you’ll explore the fundamental building blocks of spatial computing,” explains Apple, “discover the development framework, tools, and core technologies of visionOS, and learn best practices for crafting human-centered experiences.”

Further sessions will also instruct in the importance of product page optimizations, the use of App Analytics, and design best practices for custom product pages.

A new frontier for app developers: iMore’s take

Apple’s iOS, iPad, and Mac App Stores are a key driver of the company’s revenue, thanks to it taking a cut of sales on any purchases made, with the stores being trailblazers for digital software delivery, changing the way people find, buy and pay for applications forever.

For Apple’s Vision Pro headset to be a success, it needs its third-party applications to be as strong as its first-party baked-in software, making developer sessions vital. While AR and mixed-reality devices have existed for some time, manufacturers such as Meta and Valve have struggled to make a case for head-mounted wearables beyond gaming purposes.

Apple’s ‘vision’ for Vision Pro is to make it eventually a viable alternative to sitting in front of a MacBook all day long — something that users may literally find difficult to stomach. And so first impressions of the super-expensive headset will be very important in Vision Pro’s early days — janky apps in a new digital realm won’t inspire the confidence Apple needs to make Vision Pro a success. And while gaming apps have great potential, Apple will need to steer developers to as wide a range of experiences and use cases as possible if it’s to inspire a wide range of potential customers — and businesses — to eventually buy into the promise of Vision Pro.

So, from a design perspective, let alone a ‘get-to-grips-with-the-hardware’ point of view, even seasoned app developers will want every leg up they can get to make their Vision Pro apps stand out, and stand up to scrutiny. And Apple will want to do all it can to make its development community well-prepped for Vision Pro’s arrival.

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You can have the perfect product that people want to buy, the best stores in the country that people like to use, and the most dedicated consumers around — but without prepared and knowledgeable retail staff, the launch of a new device is never going to go as smoothly as you’d hope. Apple knows this better than most, and in the run-up to its biggest launch in years, Apple Vision Pro, the company is getting its staff up to speed.

In his ‘Power on’ newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple “has sent a memo out to retail employees asking them to apply for a secretive “product training event” in Cupertino, California.” 

Apple getting ready for launch

Apple will choose retail staff from those that apply, and then teach them all about the brand new AR headset before the launch. It looks like the training event will happen early in 2024, and it will prepare the staff to train their colleagues at their home store. The memo says “This is a group opportunity for those who have a deep passion for demonstrating Apple products and teaching others.”

Gurman continues that there will be a selection and interview process for the training, so it’s more than just a retail colleague's name being pulled out of a hat. He goes on to say that this tells us little about the launch timing of the Vision Pro headset itself, with both sitting in what Apple calls ‘early 2024’.

Vision Pro training — iMore’s take

For those of us who have worked any kind of retail job before, you’ll know that training that comes from above is part and parcel of what you do daily. This, however, is a little more than that — a full event that takes employees from across the states and puts them all together to learn about a new product.

Again, there’s no indication of when ‘early 2024’ actually will be, but it shows that Apple is ready to launch its new device — And that it wants its staff to be ready.

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• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro (when it comes out)

A future Apple Vision Pro model is set to get blazing-fast, low-power speeds when connected to your iPhone, thanks to a recent decision by the FCC.

According to the United States Federal Communications Commission, the 6Ghz spectrum can now be used by both AR and VR devices in short distances, which includes Apple Vision Pro.

This means that, when tethered to an iPhone, the data speeds between both devices will be much faster than what’s currently possible. Not only that, but the power consumption to do this will be even less, resulting in a minor hit on battery life for both devices as well.

But as this was granted on October 19, don’t expect this to be rolled out to Vision Pro when it’s released early next year.

Should you now hold off for Apple Vision Pro 2?

This new decision by the FCC is at a time when Apple is likely fixing up any major bugs before it decides to announce a release date for Vision Pro. Suddenly deciding to implement a new chip that uses this wireless connection would not only delay the release, but it could make it even more expensive to buy.

Already, we’re hearing rumors that a new, low-cost Vision Pro is either in development or has been canceled. But at $3,499 for the current Vision Pro, it only makes sense to see a cheaper version be rolled out eventually.

By the time the second-generation models are brought out, it could also mean that a chip that takes advantage of the 6Ghz spectrum could be made widely available at scale, and for a cheaper price.

But, regardless of what may be coming to Apple’s headset, this new spectrum will result in a better experience for owners of future Vision Pro models. From faster speeds to a lesser hit on battery, it could be a tentpole feature that could showcase how you can use the headset around your home, such as using your iPhone close by to be in a FaceTime call.

More from iMore

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro's accessibility features could be a game-changer
• In defense of the Apple Vision Pro battery pack

Apple’s biggest product release in years is quickly approaching, yet the company is already looking at ways to make the Vision Pro more affordable and, in turn, less creepy.

According to Mark Gurman in his weekly Power On newsletter, Apple is discussing internally a new Vision Pro within the $1,500 to $2,500 price bracket, a good deal cheaper than the $3,500 of the first-generation product set to be released in early 2024.

Gurman writes, “Earlier this year, I noted that Apple was aiming to bring down the cost by using lower-resolution displays and an iPhone processor rather than a Mac chip. I’m now told that the company is also likely to remove the EyeSight feature”

The EyeSight feature on Vision Pro was met with a lot of skepticism when it was revealed at WWDC 2023 in June, mostly because the outside display shows a virtual recreation of the user’s eyes, minus the soul, of course. By removing the external display, Apple would also be able to remove the external cameras and sensors needed to recreate the eyes.

More to come

Gurman also adds that Apple is not only aiming to bring out a more accessible Vision Pro headset but also a second generation which would continue to use a Mac chip and, as Gurman puts it “will have all the bells and whistles but be smaller and lighter, making it more comfortable to wear.” 

Considering the first Vision Pro doesn’t even have a set release date yet and could launch as late as April next year, these updated models might be a few years away.

For most, the $ 3,500 price tag of the first-generation Vision Pro will make the product inaccessible, so hopefully, Apple will be able to bring the product to the mainstream by innovating quickly and reducing production costs so everyone can get a taste of what Apple’s idea of VR and AR looks like.

Apple's Vision Pro headset isn't going to go on sale for another few months at least, and to be honest, we don't know exactly when it will happen beyond the vague early 2024 window Apple has provided. But the company is already planning what comes next and, according to one report, there are changes aplenty.

With Apple apparently still concerned about the weight of the Vision Pro we can expect the next one to be lighter. But that isn't all that's happening, and there is one potential change coming that will make a big difference to people who wear glasses.

That change, assuming the report is accurate, will see Apple switch to a new way of offering lenses for people who need corrective lenses. With Vision Pro v1. Apple will have people buy corrective lenses via Zeiss, something that adds complexity and cost. It's all needed because the Vision Pro won't allow space for people to wear their own glasses. But rather than push people to Zeiss, the next Vision Pro could have those lenses built into the headset itself. But while that will surely make the buying experience easier as a whole, is it really the best approach? I'd wager not, for a couple of reasons.

It's just so messy

This all comes via a Bloomberg report from the usually well-connected Mark Gurman, but it's always possible Apple's plans will change. With that said, the move to simplify the buying experience makes sense. But does it really make it easier?

Not for Apple, no. It wouldn't make a huge difference for people who want to walk into an Apple Store and walk out with their new AR/VR headset, either. Apple would surely only stock the standard model, meaning anyone who wants to order one with a prescription would have to wait for it to be delivered. There are simply too many prescription variations for Apple to stock them all except in stores with plenty of storage space.

Then there's the fact that Apple is setting itself up as a healthcare provider of sorts, something that might put its retail teams in a sticky situation — people used to selling iPhones could be faced with people who can't see properly because of their prescription, for example. Right now it can simply point people at Zeiss if something's amiss.

For a process that is supposed to make things simpler, it has the potential to do anything but.

Single-user headsets are bad

While Apple will no doubt want people to buy a new Vision Pro for every member o the household, that simply isn't going to happen. But by building prescriptions into the headset, Apple might be forcing people into single-user purchases whether it means to, or not.

A headset with someone's prescription preinstalled won't work for someone else unless they have the same prescription (unlikely), making these headsets useless for sharing with other members of the family.

The same problem rears its head when you look to move your headset on, too. Apple will want you to trade it in at an Apple Store when it comes time to upgrade, but there are often better trade-in prices elsewhere. And what if you just want to sell your headset and not buy another one — the buyer would need to have the same prescription as you.

And there are problems even if you just keep your headset for a long time, too. Prescriptions change, and they can change a lot. Would you need to buy a whole new Vision Pro if you could no longer see properly with your old prescription?

It's still early days

Ultimately, Apple might already have a fix for much of this. The prescription lenses may come preinstalled, but could they be removed or swapped out if needed? Maybe. But it seems like unnecessary complexity in a product that Apple is already fighting to make less complex.

Vision Pro's success could hinge on making it as accessible as possible. I'm not sure that tying prescription lenses into its construction does that.

Apple announced its first VR headset, Vision Pro, a few months ago. The device is yet to be released to consumers, but Apple is already working on its next headsets. Apparently, it wants them to be lighter and likely smaller, because of some concerns with the bulk that the Vision Pro comes with.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman said that the newly established Vision Products Group, Apple's division for VR headsets, is working on developing more headsets in the future. Weight seems to be a big concern, and we could see future Vision headsets benefit from a reduction in weight.

Presciption lenses another pain point for Apple's Vision

Gurman says Apple is considering multiple Vision headsets, including a cheaper one, and an even more powerful version. It wants to reduce some of the bulk, however.

Gurman wrote, "Work on the next Vision Pro remains early, but the company is hoping to make the device lighter and at least slightly smaller. It currently weighs about a pound, and testing has shown that it can feel too heavy for some users — even in short stretches. Apple is considering addressing this on the first model with an over-the-head strap, but making the hardware lighter is a better long-term solution."

Prescription lenses are also a challenge for the Vision headsets. The Vision Pro gets magnetic prescription lenses, but Apple wants to simplify the whole setup. Apple is considering custom-built headsets, but that will come with its own set of challenges, noted Gurman.

Apple is likely to steer towards lightweight AR glasses in the future, solving both these pain points. These would be designed for all-day wear. Even if it doesn't take that route, upcoming VR headsets from the company are also likely to see a reduction in weight and likely size, making for a more comfortable experience.

Vision Pro is already sub-optimal for those of us blessed with rough eyesight, but the headset also just got a whole lot less fun. We already were going to have to invest in snazzy, special Zeiss lenses that take the place of your glasses when the Vision Pro is strapped to our heads, but now Apple has added salt to the wound — you can’t have your own glasses appear on your floating head avatar.

Pointed out by X-user M1Astra, the code as part of the creation of your digital persona requires you to take off your glasses. Instead of the headset scanning your glasses, you get a preset number of eyewear options to choose from that will go over your avatar’s face — so let’s hope there’s an option that echoes your favorite pair of glasses.

Setting up Vision Pro

Beyond the eyewear problem, the rest of the setup looks pretty interesting. It starts with a request to make sure that the light around you is bright enough to get started, and then it requests you pop your glasses off. What follows is a series of instructions that takes you through the scanning process, as it seems to capture everything from the shape of your nose, to the curve of your smile.

“Let’s capture your facial expressions,” the headset asks, scanning you with your eyebrows raised, a toothy smile, and then closed eyes. It reads head movements too, so that it can emulate your movement in those FaceTime calls the keynote showed off. 

There’s also what the code calls ‘hand enrollment’, which will register your hands so that you can point at stuff in those floating presentations to your design client, or whatever you’re planning on doing with Vision Pro. This entire setup uses the cameras on the front of the device, and seems like a far more involved version of the FaceID setup on the iPhone.

Vision Pro arrives next year, and it’s going to be interesting to see how all this works in the real world — and hopefully, Apple will have extended those glasses options.

Apple Vision Pro is here. It's the first major product launch for the company in almost a decade. The 'spatial computing' headset introduces whole new ways for Apple's legions of fans to interact with apps, enjoy entertainment content, and communicate with friends and family — and represents an expensive gamble for the company, too.

The new headset costs $3,499 and is now available in the U.S., with more countries to follow later this year.

First revealed at WWDC 2023, Apple's Vision Pro takes advantage of augmented reality software to let you do everything from watching TV shows to collaborating on projects. Whether you're playing games or video calling friends, it all takes place within a headset that overlays these applications onto the real world around you.

Designed to be worn on a user's face, sitting in front of their eyes, it has the power of two 4K displays, a MacBook-grade Apple silicon processor, hand and eye tracking, as well as a Digital Crown for adjusting the level of immersion — dialing in and out the real world around you as users interact with augmented reality experiences that merge their surroundings with software overlays presented on the Vision Pro's screens. And that's just scratching the surface.

Apple Vision Pro: At a Glance

What is it?: A wearable "spatial computer" capable of augmented reality experiences and workflows, featuring two 4K displays, hand-tracking and an external display that allows those around you to see your face below the hardware.

How much does it cost?: $3,499

Release date: February 2

Augmented reality principles are at the heart of Vision Pro. The Apple Vision Pro presents computer-generated images as viewed through lenses, superimposed over an instant video feed of the real world as captured by onboard cameras. With this, Apple says the Apple Vision Pro creates a new form of computing, called "Spatial computing," which differs from typical mobile computing by immersing the user in the headset's applications. Digital screens and experiences appear to form in the physical space surrounding the user, 'through' the headset's lenses (which sit in front of two small screens). Apple hopes this will allow meetings to have a greater sense of presence than standard video calls, movies to be blown up to gigantic screen sizes, and workers to manipulate applications on a greater canvas than traditional hardware monitors can cater to.

It's similar in principle to augmented reality apps like Pokémon Go on iPhone, but right in front of your eyes, and similar to virtual reality experiences as seen in the Meta Quest headset series, but with the emphasis on blurring the lines between the real and digital worlds.

Unlike most VR headsets (note that Apple refuses to align Vision Pro with the term 'virtual reality'), the Vision Pro does not require external controllers to navigate its interface. Instead, it's managed solely by eye-tracking intent, and hand gestures. The headset's onboard sensors are sensitive enough, and so numerous in number, that it can even track a pinch between your finger and thumb with your hand resting in your lap.

Some physical controls are retained on the headset itself though, and the most notable of these is the Digital Crown, returning from the Apple Watch. Here though, it's used to dial in the level of immersion, letting you see more or less of the real world around you, or allowing applications to take up more of your peripheral vision as they're overlaid onto the real world. In addition, this dial is central to Apple's Vision Pro 'Environments' feature — digitized locations, ranging from forests to the surface of the moon, which can encompass the viewer filling out the real-world environment around them.

If text entry sounds difficult, that's an issue that may be solved too — it's also possible to look at a search field and then begin dictating. Best of all? The Apple Vision Pro can identify items, text, and more through just looking at it. It's effectively a more advanced form of Visual Lookup.

Apple Vision Pro: Hardware, Internal Specs, and Design

Apple Vision Pro is powered primarily by two chips working in unison. The first is the powerful M2 chip, first seen in MacBook computers, a powerful all-purpose computational unit. A second chip inside the Vision Pro is brand new — the R1 chip ('R' standing for 'Reality') is dedicated to processing the data coming in from the Vision Pro's many sensors, cameras, and microphones.

At least 10 external cameras are used to capture a user's surroundings when using the Vision Pro (a pair of forward-facing cameras, four looking down, 2 TrueDepth cameras for analyzing depth, and two pointing sideways to capture the periphery of your view and surroundings), with four IR cameras dedicated to tracking in dark environments — both inside and outside the headset.

In addition, you've also got a LiDAR sensor for mapping distance, and accelerometers and gyroscopes to track orientation and movement.

In terms of storage configurations, reports about the headset having more storage than the average MacBook Pro and many of the best iPhones were correct. We recently discovered the storage configurations for the Apple Vision Pro, which range from 256GB to 1TB.

Let's focus on the external design next — a unique-looking product in Apple's line-up, elements of the AirPods Pro Max, Apple Watch and existing headset designs come together for the Vision Pro. A mixture of aluminum, plastics, and fabric mesh, there's a 70s sci-fi vibe to it all — almost NASA-like in its mix of grays, whites, and orange highlights.

A mostly hands-free experience, Vision Pro really only has two significant hardware controls. On the right-hand top edge of the headset's front piece is a Digital Crown, similar to what's found in an Apple Watch. This dial can be used to turn the level of immersion up and down for the headset experiences, smoothly bringing more or less of the digital overlays on top of your real-world surroundings. The second is a dedicated camera button on the left-hand side, used for capturing 3D photos and videos.

A plastic band connects the front gasket to an adjustable fabric grip at the rear of the product, with a Fit Dial on the side to tighten the headset snugly onto the wearer's head. The rear support is made of a stretchy breathable mesh to maximize comfort, curving to distribute weight. Similarly, the Light Seal that surrounds your forehead, eyes, and nose are well padded for maximum comfort (and available in a variety of sizes), blocking out ambient light for the best possible viewing experience of the screens inside. Those who wear prescription glasses may struggle to fit them inside Apple's headset, but the company has partnered with eye care specialists ZEISS to provide custom prescription lens inserts that magnetically attach to the inside of the headset for a clear view. Prescription ZEISS Optical Inserts cost $149, while 'Readers' cost $99.

Speakers, capable of 'Spatial Audio' sit in pods on either side of the plastic strip connecting the front and rear parts of the headset, sitting over rather than in the ears to allow for ambient noises to be heard while in the headset. 

Finally, the Apple Vision Pro makes use of an external battery pack, designed to sit in your pocket and connective over a cable to the side of the headset band via a MagSafe puck. Though that seems like a step backward for design, it is not as bad an idea as it sounds, keeping as much weight as possible away from your head. The battery is quoted as an average of two hours of use per charge, and you can plug the headset into a wall socket for continuous use, too.

Apple Vision Pro: Weight, Sizing, Bands, Lenses, and Accesories

Apple Vision Pro is a head-mounted spatial computer at the end of the day, so there are a few aspects that are important to the experience. To begin with, is the weight. Apple Vision Pro weighs between 21.2 And 22.9 ounces, which is 600-650g, or 1.325-1.43 pounds. 

The weight will vary based on the choice of headband and the size of the Light Seal included. While the Vision Pro weighs about the same as Sony’s PlayStation VR (600g) and is heavier than the Meta Quest 2 (503g/17.7 oz), it has an external battery, unlike those two headsets. So, the weight you're carrying will also include the external battery pack, which is another 353g, although your head will not bear that additional weight.

To ensure the Vision Pro fits you well, Apple has a whole sizing process. Apple lets you scan a QR code on its Vision Pro page with an iPad or iPhone to begin the face scan. 

In terms of bands, you get a Solo Knit Band, which is thicker and gains support for the headset from the back of your head. The package also includes a Dual Loop Band, which splits the support into two straps, with one for the top of your head, and the other for the lower back of your head.

Apple Vision Pro ZEISS lenses

The fit for a head-mounted spatial computer like the Apple Vision Pro is about more than just the weight and bands; it also includes vision correction for those who wear glasses. Apple has partnered up with German lens manufacturer ZEISS to accommodate this setup. 

Apple Vision Pro ZEISS lenses come in two options — one for glasses wearers with prescriptions and one for those who use reading glasses.

The prescription lenses cost $149 and attach to the inside of the headset with magnets. You can configure your prescription lenses online when ordering the Vision Pro, but Apple needs an updated U.S. prescription. Not all prescriptions are supported. These are only available online, and not at Apple Store physical location.

The reading glass style lenses cost $99 and are available in-store and online. They click into place instead of using magnets, and won't need a prescription for these.

Apple Vision Pro Accesories

No Apple product is complete without accessories, and the Vision Pro already has a bunch available. Apple has announced its own accessories in addition to the aforementioned ZEISS lens inserts. The two notable ones are:

• Apple Vision Pro Travel Case, which gets special compartments for the battery, ZEISS Optical Inserts, Apple Vision Pro cover, and other accessories. It costs $199.
• Apple Vision Pro Battery, which is the same as the one included in the box, in case you need a spare or a replacement. It also costs $199.

Additionally, there are a bunch of third-party accessories for the Apple Vision Pro.

• Spigen's Apple Vision Pro Case Klasden Pouch
• Belkin's Battery Holder
• BandWerk Apple Vision Pro Headband
• Speck's Apple Vision Pro accessories (Yet to be revealed)
• CASETiFY's Bounce Vision Series (Yet to be revealed)

There's also a ridiculous Apple Vision Pro CVR Edition from luxury jeweler Caviar, which is a high-end accessory with a leather band, and an 18-karat gold shield for the Apple Vision Pro's glass exterior. It's expected to cost $39,990.

Apple Vision Pro: Storage configurations, financing, import, and AppleCare Plus

Apple Vision Pro is available in three storage configurations, as below:

• 256GB: $3,499
• 512GB: $3,699
• 1TB: $3,899

So, if you want to splurge and get that additional space for your spatial computer to avoid storage-related issues, you can pay an additional $200 to double the storage to 512GB or $400 to quadruple it to a nice, rounded-up 1TB.

The pricing tiers according to storage keep the $200 gap as the same storage tiers for the iPhone and Mac.

Apple Vision Pro: Financing

You can pay the full price for the Apple Vision Pro, of course, but you can also finance it through Apple Card. You can finance the Apple Vision Pro with Apple Card over a period of 12 months, with the monthly payments coming to the following amounts.

• 256GB: $291.58 a month
• 512GB: $308.25 a month
• 1TB: $324.91 a month

You should also be able to finance the Apple Vision Pro with third-party credit card and lending services.

Apple Vision Pro: Can you import Apple Vision Pro?

Importing the Apple Vision Pro will be tempting for many. However, the Apple Vision Pro is currently limited to the U.S., which not only means that you can't purchase it outside of the U.S., but Apple will not let you order it from a non-U.S. Apple ID either. 

It is also locked to U.S. Apple ID accounts only, and the spatial computer also doesn't seem to have an App Store outside of the U.S.

Technically, it may be possible to import the Apple Vision Pro with a U.S. Apple ID, newly made or borrowed, but you'll have to move all your apps and content manually.

Additionally, Apple has confirmed that "Purchases on Apple Music and TV app require an Apple ID with the region set to the U.S." What this means is that the video content, like 3D shows, as well as spatial games, are limited to the U.S.

Here are the region restrictions as stated in the FAQ section of the order page for Vision Pro:

• Apple Vision Pro only supports English (U.S.) for language and typing and English for Siri and Dictation.
• App Store requires an Apple ID with region set to the U.S.
• Purchases on Apple Music and TV app require an Apple ID with region set to the U.S.
• For customers with vision correction needs, ZEISS only accepts vision prescriptions written by U.S. eye care professionals, and only ships to U.S. locations.
• Customers may not be able to access certain apps, features, or content due to licensing or other restrictions in those countries or regions.
• Apple Support is only available in the U.S.

Currently, it seems like importing the Apple Vision Pro may not be a great idea given the possible caveats. You're likely to have a compromised experience while using the headset outside of the U.S., so it might be best to wait for an official release in your region.

Apple Vision Pro: AppleCare+

Now, since this is going to be a very expensive piece of equipment, you should also consider AppleCare Plus. The AppleCare Plus plan for the Apple Vision Pro is pricey, but not nearly as pricey as a potential repair.

To begin with, AppleCare Plus for the Vision Pro costs $499, or $24.99 per month over two years/24 months. You have to pay a $299 service fee for a repair under AppleCare Plus, or $29 if the damage is to an included accessory. You have unlimited accidental damage claims, but the service fee is applicable for each repair under the coverage.

Without AppleCare Plus, a repair for the Apple Vision Pro will set you back significantly. Currently, it costs $799 to repair a cracked cover glass, and the other category is a vague "other damage" option, which can go up to $2,399. Given the high price of the device and repairs, you might want to pick up AppleCare Plus for this one.

Apple Vision Pro: Display

The Vision Pro uses a pair of micro-OLED ultra-high-resolution displays in its front mask, spreading 23 million pixels across them. That's like putting a 4K TV in front of each eye. It combines this with catadioptric lenses (combining reflection and refraction of light) for sharpness and clarity. 

As mentioned, prescription glasses wearers can benefit from ZEISS Optical Inserts, but those come at an extra cost, starting at $99. Expect to see third-party offerings challenging the market here, as we've already seen with Meta's Quest headset third-party lens inserts. 

Apple Vision Pro: EyeSight

But there are not just screens on the inside of the Vision Pro — there's a wild one unlike anything you'll have seen before on the front too.

Behind a piece of curved laminated glass is Apple's EyeSight screen. The feature shows your eyes on the exterior of the device, based on what cameras on the inside of the headset are seeing. The display lights up when someone walks into your field of vision, revealing your "eyes" to whoever is nearby, while those around you then become visible in your AR experiences. Creepy? Early user tests show a mixture of amazement at the feature and uncanny discomfort. We will see how this plays out, but any attempt to make headset wearing a less solitary experience, or ideas to prevent having to break immersion by removing the headset, are welcome.

Apple Vision Pro: Sound and AirPods

Vision Pro features advanced Spatial Audio powered by two "AudioPods". Each of these AudioPods has a dual-driver setup that can generate Spatial Audio based on your own head and ear geometry, delivering a simulated surround sound experience.

Apple's latest USB-C AirPods Pro 2 are also being touted as a key accessory to pair with the Vision Pro headset. A tweaked chip design in the latest revision of the AirPods Pro 2 enables high-resolution audio playback, and reduced latency between what's seen on screen and heard in-ear.

Apple Vision Pro: Hands-Free Controls and Eye Tracking

When it comes to navigating apps and interfaces with Apple Vision Pro, you are the controller. Apps and menus are navigated primarily by hand gestures, and you're not required to wave a wand or remote to explore the headset's software. The onboard sensors are so sensitive to hand movement in fact, that Vision Pro can recognize you tapping a finger and thumb together, even when your hands are resting in your lap. In fact, that pinching movement is the equivalent of a tap or click in the headset's operating system, while flicks and swipes let you scroll through panes and pages.

That said, if you feel the need to hook up Bluetooth peripherals like a keyboard, trackpad, gamepad and mouse, you'll be able to do that for those moments when a familiar typing experience or traditional game input works best.

Siri is also onboard, allowing for speech input to navigate the headset's many features, while a Visual Search system can use image recognition to identify items in your field of view or detect and read-aloud text. So you'll have multiple ways to get around everything Vision Pro has to offer.

Eye Tracking and Optic ID security

To ensure the accuracy of your hands-free input, eye-tracking is employed by the headset. Vision Pro has a high-speed camera and a ring of LEDs that project light onto your eyes, helping to identify where your gaze sits and to reinforce the intent of your hand gestures. 

Eye-tracking also plays a role in the headset's security system, dubbed 'Optic ID'. This biometric security layer takes a scan of your unique iris and uses that to confirm that only registered users can access apps and data in the headset. A 'Guest Mode' is also included, allowing several users to enjoy the headset. Regardless, Optic ID is used to verify log-in data in apps like Safari and to ensure payments made with Apple Pay are carried out securely. Apple says it does enough processing locally that websites you are browsing on the built-in browser will not be privy to information about where you are looking; the only information passed along to a given site is the click. Likewise, third-party apps get no data about what's inside your living room.

Apple Vision Pro: Cameras and 3D Capture

Vision Pro features Apple's first-ever 3D camera, letting you capture immersive memories in 3D with spatial audio so that you can view them again at a later date. It's also possible to see your entire iCloud Photo Library in Vision Pro and see Panorama shots expanded as if you were standing right where they were taken. 

One of the most exciting features for some users is sure to be spatial video, providing you with a far more immersive experience than simply looking at a photo. For the feature, onboard cameras capture 3D video with depth, making it feel as if a recorded scene is playing out right in front of you. Those being recorded should be aware of the fact, as the front EyeSight panel will change to show a recording icon if you're concerned about being snapped unexpectedly.

To back up this feature, the latest iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are capable of recording Spatial Memory videos, which can then be transferred to the headset, meaning you'll be able to capture these sorts of clips even if the Vision Pro isn't with you.

Apple Vision Pro: What can it do?

Apple Vision Pro has a plethora of use cases, giving you infinite screen real estate. Remember — this isn't a traditional VR headset, it's an AR headset. So while it doesn't support 'room-scale' experiences (the type that completely removes your 360-degree surroundings with digital worlds), it does allow you to have a seemingly endless amount of room for your apps and projects, spread out 'over' the real world around you.

Everything is built around an all-new operating system called visionOS. It builds on familiar foundations from iOS and macOS, with recognizable icons and Apple-style menu and file structures, but is designed to take advantage of an augmented reality canvas.

visionOS includes popular apps like Apple TV Plus, Music, Photos, Freeform, Safari, Notes, Messages, Mail, and more in the headset — as well as apps exclusive to the hardware. The App Store lets you browse the library of available Vision Pro software, as well over a million iPhone and iPad apps — a huge number of 2D apps areavailable to be used in Vision Pro, presented as floating panes within the OS.

So, using gestures and swipes, you can put all manner of apps and workflows around you, resize windows to enormous sizes around you, play back immersive Apple TV Plus videos, or make use of Continuity features with Mac applications, engaging in FaceTime video calls, and more. Here's a run-down of the most interesting features we've seen so far.

Entertainment, Environments and gaming

Vision Pro is a stunning way to enjoy movies, TV shows, and games. It can create virtual movie theater displays of up to 100 feet wide and take advantage of advanced Spatial audio playback. It's not just 2D content displayed at dramatic screen sizes, either — a new Godzilla show, for instance, is one particular show that will offer Spatial Video support once released to make it appear as if the titular monster star is rampaging around your living room in 3D.

Spatial computing means you can also play games on these giant virtual screens, with support for popular controllers and Apple Arcade games. A number of 'Spatial Games' , including Game Room, What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja, take full advantage of the immersive potential of Vision Pro by transforming the space around players while they play. Game engine pros at Unity have already been confirmed to be involved with game development so it'll be fascinating to see what unique games emerge to take advantage of Vision Pro's feature set.

Apple has also teamed up with Disney, bringing Disney Plus to Vision Pro. This includes immersive settings for shows like The Mandalorian, letting you watch the show in your very own landspeeder on the sandy Star Wars planet of Tatooine. Other teased features included a virtual Mickey Mouse bounding around your home, and birds-eye views of NBA games, playing out on a tabletop in your home, like a miniature board game. Netflix fans will disappointed to learn that there won't be a dedicated Apple Vision Pro Netflix app, however — for now, anyway. HBO's Max, however, does feature.

For those looking to chill out in Apple Vision Pro, you can use Environments. This displays intricately-detailed recreations of places real (forests, beaches) and unreachable (the surface of the moon), and can be dialed in and out with the Digital Crown, transporting you to virtual locations around the globe from the comfort of your sofa. These can even be used alongside the 3D video playback options to further heighten immersion.

Work and productivity

While entertainment features may lure in casual users, Apple wants Vision Pro to be a productivity and enterprise tool, too. You can work with spreadsheets, documents, and 3D modeling applications in Vision Pro for instance, and we already know apps like Final Cut Pro will offer Vision Pro support in the future with many more set to come.

Apps like Fantastical, Freeform, JigSpace, apps from Microsoft 365, and Slack are also available. 

A key part of this professional application bubble is be Apple's Continuity system. The same, existing feature that lets you work seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, sharing files, clipboards, and even peripherals across distinct devices are in play with Vision Pro — and supercharged. For instance, the Vision Pro can recognize a MacBook Pro in front of it, use Continuity to recognize it's a user's system, create additional virtual displays around the physical one, and tap into iCloud cloud storage to share files across all devices. With Vision Pro, you may never need an external monitor ever again — let alone a desk to house it on.

FaceTime

FaceTime is a huge part of the Vision Pro experience. Apple expects you to make video calls within the headset, with your chats with friends, family, and colleagues taking place in floating panes around you.

But, if you're wearing a headset, what do those you're calling see? A digitized version of yourself, that's what. 

Vision Pro can scan your face using the TrueDepth camera it houses, using your facial map to create a digital 'Persona' that can be shown to those calling you. The aim is to create a photo-real recreation of your features and expressions, reflecting your face and hand movements in real time. With your Persona you can watch movies, browse photos, or work together with others, just like you were there with them. Kind of. There's an uncanny quality to what has been shown so far, impressive as it is. But reports have suggested Apple is making significant leaps with the quality of these Personas behind the scenes.

Personas also work in third-party video conferencing apps including Zoom, Cisco Webex, and Microsoft Teams, according to Apple.

Other features include being able to receive 3D objects in messages, and letting you manipulate CAD-like attachments in 3D space.

Apple Vision Pro: First impressions

Apple has demoed the Apple Vision Pro to a bunch of technology journalists, creators, and YouTubers. We have our hands-on review as well, with five key aspects we were most excited about. These include Spatial Video, watching content, Environments mode and panoramas, Apple Immersive Video, and Familiarity and intuitiveness.

Our colleagues at Tom's Guide also did an early review explaining how impressive Apple's visionOS system is in terms of hand tracking for gestures. Their review says the headset's price cannot be ignored, while the external battery can be annoying. They also said that Apple's Persona functionality needs work.

There are also video reviews from The Verge, MKBHD, CNET, WSJ, iJustine, and more. 

The general consensus seems to be that the Vision Pro is a pretty solid device, with a few issues here and there which make it more and more apparent that this is a first-generation device. The price is also a dealbreaker, with most reviews suggesting that this isn't a device for everyone.

The reception is largely positive, though, pointing to the fact that Apple's spatial computer will only get better over the years as we get more iterations.

Apple Vision Pro: Release date

Apple's Vision Pro headset is only available in the U.S. and launched on February 2, 2024.

Customers are able to go into an Apple Store to learn more about the headset and even personalize their fit for their purchase, something that's likely to be near vital given the way it works.

Apple Vision Pro: Price

Apple's Vision Pro headset starts at $3,499, which is even more expensive than the rumored $3,000 price tag that was floating around prior to its announcement. That's significantly pricier than even the Meta Quest Pro, and a lot more than headsets such as the Meta Quest 3.

Despite that, it's still winning over the Apple faithful, with Apple Vision Pro winning 'Most Wanted' in the iMore Readers' Choice Awards.

Apple's vision of augmented reality looks more thrilling the more we learn about it. It'll be fascinating to see what developers come up with as they work on new applications for the headset — and whether or not that price point is surmountable for those interested in Apple's next big thing.

If you’ve been hoping for a low-cost Vision Pro headset, then it looks like you’re out of luck — according to one top insider, it’s likely been scrapped.

With a price tag of $3499, the Vision Pro is already not something for everyone, and now the ever-reliable Ming-Chi Kuo has arrived to pour more water on the parade, stating that 'Apple may have canceled the low-cost Vision Pro version plan.'

Vision Pro for all

The Vision Pro is going to be a device for the wealthy early adopter, but that shouldn’t stop there from being more affordable versions in the future. Kuo, however, puts something of a kibosh on the notion, while claiming that Apple will ship anywhere between 400,000 to 600,000 of the first generation — less than the million units that the market expects.

He goes on to say 'Apple may have canceled the low-cost Vision Pro version plan', continuing 'Unless Apple significantly reduces the price of Vision Pro, the anticipated significant shipment growth in Vision Pro shipments starting in 2025 may not materialize.' About as final as final can be.

The second generation of devices aren’t likely to come out until 2027, he explains, adding 'There may be no hardware updates for the Vision Pro in the coming years.'

So there are a couple of things to take away; Sales expectations have lowered, no more budget Vision Pro, and no updates for a good few years after release. No wonder Kuo questions 'why users need this product'.

Low-cost Vision Pro — iMore’s take

We’re excited for Vision Pro, make no bones about it. We can’t wait to strap the Spatial computer to our faces and creep everyone out with the digital eyes on the front. We’re also not looking forward to paying that massive price tag to get one.

A low-cost Vision Pro would make sense. Once Apple has brought the device to market, there should be nothing stopping it from using the developments and tech from the more expensive model in a cheaper one as production ramps up.

Kuo makes an interesting point, however. “Why do users need this product” is not something that you would ask of pretty much all of Apple’s product lineup. You needn’t justify the iPhone or the MacBook, the HomePod, or the Apple Watch — but there is something of the gimmick about the Vision Pro. Beyond the wealthy early adopters of the Vision Pro, there are perhaps fewer users who need something like the Apple headset and won’t be very likely to put down the cash on even a cheaper device.

There are enough rumors still swirling to say that Kuo might have got this one slightly off base — but the analyst has been right about this stuff before.

Apple Vision Pro, the company's exciting new $3,500 Spatial Computing Augmented Reality headset, is about to take its next step to become your central computing and entertainment. For app developers on two of Apple’s most popular platforms, iOS and iPadOS, it's big news, as hundreds of thousands of iPhone and iPad apps and games are about to arrive on Vision Pro.

Apple says that an upcoming developer beta release of visionOS will include the new version of the App Store, filled with iPad and iOS apps. This will give developers the opportunity to test out their apps in the VisionOS simulator that’s a part of Xcode 15 beta.

iPhone and iPad apps on Vision OS

Developers will also be told if there are compatibility issues with their apps and Vision Pro, so that they can make the necessary updates and get the apps working properly. Most apps, however, Apple says will have ‘no additional work required’ to get them working — although they might want to bring them on board with the visionOS SDK.

That will truly bring the apps into the Vision Pro fold, adopting ‘standard visionOS system appearance’ so that you can ‘add elements, such as 3D content tuned for eyes and hands input’. The fact that so many apps will already run properly means that some developers may be more likely to make visionOS versions, given most of the groundwork has been laid for them.

Vision Pro apps — iMore’s take

We already knew that the headset would be getting iPhone and iPad apps, but this developer update brings that feature closer to the final release next year. Whenever that may be.

It will be really interesting to see how these apps work on Vision Pro — is there a floating iPad screen that you can use to run Procreate? A floating iPhone on which you can play Doodle Jump? Developers will get to find out soon, and if you’ve access to the Vision Pro simulator, then you can too.

It does make the prospect of more apps quite exciting, however, as it means there will be a litany of pre-prepared experiences ready to go as soon as the device is in your hands. This will eliminate the issue that other new platforms find themselves with much of the time; a distinct lack of content and apps on launch.

We’re unlikely to see much from Vision Pro at next week's Apple event, so we’re probably not going to learn much anytime soon. We will learn more about the iPhone 15, however, so we’re getting ready for some big launches coming up. Just not Vision Pros; that is still likely coming next year. At least it will be filled with apps when it does.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you,” photographer Jay Maisel famously once said. And for millions of people around the world, that camera will be the one on the back of the iPhone in their pocket – for now, anyway.

With the launch of the Vision Pro headset, Apple will set loose the most significantly different camera imaging system it has ever made. The company’s ‘Spatial Computing’ wearable will include an advanced camera array capable of capturing 3D stills and videos; these clips and shots add greater depth to an image over traditional ‘flat’ 2D media, according to Apple, leading to more immersive recreations of those moments captured in time.

Apple’s serious about this 3D photo and video push — there’s a dedicated camera shutter hardware button on the Vision Pro, and the headset’s WWDC 2023 reveal showcase had a whole section dedicated to capturing what Apple’s calling spatial video and spatial photos.

“Apple Vision Pro lets users capture, relive, and immerse themselves in favorite memories with Spatial Audio,” says Apple of the feature. 

“Every spatial photo and video transports users back to a moment in time, like a celebration with friends or a special family gathering. Users can access their entire photo library on iCloud, and view their photos and videos at a life-size scale with brilliant color and spectacular detail.”

• Apple Vision Pro: Everything you need to know about Apple's new headset

But the staged WWDC clip of a father capturing videos of his kids while wearing the headset was the most derided part of an otherwise impressive Vision Pro unveiling, and a slightly dystopian view of distanced parenting norms to come. It looked and felt creepy, and circling back to Jay Maisel, it’s hard to imagine people taking the Vision Pro (with its slight battery life) out and about with them each day. Those looking to take spatial photos of their beach-side holiday will be wary of toting their $3,499 headset down to the sand — and would end up with some very interesting facial tan lines if they did.

Look at the Meta Quest headsets: Despite millions of sales, how many have you seen in public? If Apple expects 3D video and photography libraries for Vision Pro to swell in size, something else is going to have to take that media-capturing burden.

That’s where the rumored iPhone Ultra might just come in.

An Ultra camera shake up

For months, there’s been speculation that the iPhone 15 Pro, expected to launch at the next Apple event on September 12, 2023, will in fact be called the iPhone Ultra, in keeping with the premium Apple Watch Ultra wearable launched last year (and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 likely to arrive next week).

Despite many leaks in support of this assertion, it’s a theory that’s fallen out of favor, with the Ultra now expected to be an even more premium iPhone that will launch next year above the current iPhone range. So you’ll end up with a 2024 launch line-up that looks like iPhone 16 < iPhone 16 Pro < iPhone Ultra.

Rumors circulating on Chinese social media site Weibo, as first spotted by MacRumors, point to an advanced 3D photography array being present on the upcoming 2024 handset. In addition to the wide, ultra-wide and telephoto camera lenses, alongside the LiDAR scanner and True Tone Flash on the rear of an iPhone (not to mention the rumored Periscope lens the iPhone 15 Pro Max is said to have), another 3D-focused lens would be required.

What form that takes remains to be seen, but it could necessitate yet another camera bump on the rear of the handset, one spaced far enough away from a partnered lens to create natural and believable depth when two images are combined.

It’s a delicate art to pull off.

“3D photography hasn’t really taken off for a couple of reasons,” explains Mark Wilson, pro photographer and TechRadar.com News Editor.

“It’s still widely seen as a gimmick, which is understandable given that most people’s experience of it was those old View-Master toys. There are also unflattering parallels with 3D TV. But tech limitations have also restricted it to being a low-quality experience,” Wilson told iMore. “Stereoscopic photography goes back to the 1800s, but we’re now seeing major advances like NeRFs (neural radiance fields) that could take 3D captures to a new level.” 

VisionOS, the underlying Spatial Computing software platform, has some example spatial photos to examine in its earliest beta release, presumably taken with the headset’s own camera system. Developers with early access have revealed how the headset takes two HEIC images from slightly varying positions to match the distance between a user’s eyes; it presents them in tandem to create the 3D effect. Presumably an iPhone Ultra camera array would be able to replicate this method.

3D — the undead zombie of entertainment technology

The elephant in the room is that this would be far from the first attempt at making a 3D-media-capturing phone — it’s just that there’s never been a successful one. To my memory, LG was first out of the gates with the LG Optimus 3D back in 2011, which featured a 3D screen and interface as well as the ability to capture 3D stills and three-dimensional video up to 720p in resolution. It was a flop, but a valiant one given the resurgence of interest in 3D TV at the time.

Then there was of course Amazon’s Fire Phone, released in 2014. Its take on 3D was slightly different: Rather than capturing 3D imagery, it used its 3D sensing cameras to present a 3D, head-tracked interface on the phone screen itself. It’s perhaps the biggest smartphone failure of all time, with Amazon selling just a few thousand handsets and resulting in part of a $170 million write-down for the company.

It’s not a like-for-like comparison, but I bring up the Fire Phone despite its functional differences to help emphasise a point: 3D, in all its forms, has never amounted to more than a bit of a fad. Whether it’s the Avatar-led cinema boom, or the Nintendo 3DS’s glasses-free 3D screen, visual media makers are on what feels like an eternal cycle to present 3D as the next hot ‘new’ thing every few years.

Now it’s Apple’s turn to take it for a spin.

“The Apple Vision Pro is a promising step for the 3D viewing experience, but a lot more needs to be done,” Wilson said. 

“Apple needs to make 3D photography a point-and-shoot experience by adding next-gen LiDAR scanners and extra sensors to its iPhones and iPads. It also needs to open up spatial capture to third-party apps. If that’s all combined with more affordable, approachable headsets or glasses, then 3D photography could well have a revival. 2D photography won’t go away as an art form, but I could see 3D captures becoming an important way to capture our memories in more powerful ways.”

As only a function of a wider immersive ‘Spatial Computing’ ecosystem, it stands a better chance of long-term survival than other examples of 3D media, perhaps. But to feed that application of Vision Pro fully would require a significant change for iPhone photography. 

If the premium nature of the iPhone Ultra is true, you could be looking at needing a $1,500 phone to fuel the 3D library of your $3,499 headset — and that just doesn’t scream ‘mass adoption’ to me. Given the yo-yoing fortunes of, and interest in, 3D video and photography over the years, I’m not convinced that should be the core photography play any eventual iPhone Ultra should take. But it may prove the inevitable direction to get a 3D ecosystem off the ground.

You can finally order the Apple Vision Pro! But even before you get your hands on the Vision Pro, you'll probably want to get some accessories to get the most out of your pricey purchase — and protect it. Apple is offering some premium accessories, of course, but there are some third-party products you might consider as well.

Apple's own

Apple has announced a number of accessories, of course. The Apple Vision Pro Travel Case will be a perfect fit and protect your investment on the go. At $199 it isn't cheap but it does have special compartments for the battery, ZEISS Optical Inserts, Apple Vision Pro cover, and other accessories.

If you wear glasses, you'll have to get the ZEISS Optical Inserts if you want to see properly in your $3,500 headset. They start at $99 for simple readers or $149 for prescription lenses. 

While you're at it, you might want to pick up a spare Apple Vision Pro Battery. It's $199, but it means you can double your battery life on the go.

Spigen Apple Vision Pro Case Klasden Pouch

Going for about $90, less than half the price of Apple's carrying case, Spigen's Apple Vision Pro Case Klasden Pouch has a hard exterior and soft pillowy interior to protect your headset. It also has organizational pockets for your cables, battery, and even a secret AirTag compartment.

Belkin Battery Holder

While Belkin's Battery Holder may not be the most fashion-conscious thing you can wear, it does give you some options for cable management and battery-wearing. It lets you clip the Apple Vision Pro battery onto your belt or pants. Or you can use it as a cross-body strap for your battery.

Speck Apple Vision Pro accessories

At iMore, we're big fans of Speck cases for iPhone, MacBook, and more. While Speck hasn't described in detail exactly what accessories will be released, they have hinted at their lineup with the above photo and promised they have "already conceptualized protection options, carrying cases, and holders for Apple’s Vision Pro."

Speck's Apple Vision Pro landing page gives you the option to sign up with your email address to receive exclusive updates on all of Speck's new tech as it comes out.

CASETiFY Apple Vision Pro accessories

If it's from CASETiFY, you know it'll be colorful. CASETiFY's Bounce Vision Series is a full accessory lineup that includes "headbands, protective bumper-style cases for the external display, neck straps and cushions for the eyepiece, and more to come." The Bounce Vision Series will be available on CASETiFY's website in early 2024.

CASETiFY will be adding these Vision Pro accessories to their Bounce lineup, which is already popular due to its excellent drop protection for smartphones and laptops. But what makes CASETiFY accessories really stand out is customizability. The Bounce Vision Series will be no exception. 

Customers will be able to choose personalized color combinations, patterns, textures, and more. You'll even be able to upload your own designs and photos.

BandWerk Apple Vision Pro Headband

Luxurious European leather brand BandWerk is planning a headband lineup for the Apple Vision Pro. These bands will combine high-quality Italian leather with top-notch design.

BandWerk's products are handcrafted in Germany. BandWerk promises an optimized Apple Vision Pro experience, easily replaceable elements, and a focus on comfort and durability. As we can see from the images on BandWerk's website, these headbands will surely combine style and function beautifully.

Purchase of this headband includes the easily replaceable leather headband itself, which can be attached to the Apple Vision Pro with a few simple steps. Additionally, you'll get a matching "light seal" made from fabric, which goes in between the Vision Pro's screen and your head.

This fabric can also be easily replaced as needed. BandWerk plans to release the headbands in five colors to start: brown, grey, creme, black, and gray with orange highlights.

Caviar 18K Gold Vision Pro

Luxury jeweler Caviar takes the Apple Vision Pro to a whole other level, as it's done with many Apple devices before, such as a bulletproof iPhone 13, gold-plated iPhone, gold-plated AirPods Max, and much more.

Not content to just create a band or a case, Caviar was inspired by Tom Ford flip-up glasses and Gucci ski masks to design a flip-up shield made of 18-karat gold. So, when you don't want people to see your eyes displayed on the outside of the Apple Vision Pro, you can cover up your projected peepers with this fancy gold shield. 

Of course, Caviar's upscale Vision Pro accessory is also a high-end leather band. It's made from Connolly leather, which supplies the British Royal Court and Rolls-Royce. 

The Caviar 18K Gold Vision Pro is expected to launch in 2025 as a limited edition product, with only 24 units for sale. You can bet that it will cost far, far more than the Apple Vision Pro itself, an estimated $39,900. That's if you can even get your hands on one. To be among the first to be informed of its release, you can leave your email address on Caviar's website.

Lots more accessories on the way

The accessories we've rounded up here are just the first of many we can expect to be released along with the Apple Vision Pro or soon thereafter. They will offer you a way to customize your Apple Vision Pro and make it truly your own. Plus, you can get some extra protection, perhaps some extra comfort, or maybe even some extra luxury to go along with your luxury tech device.

Apple has been granted a new patent for a physical AirTag-like item that could be used to represent a virtual object in the real world.

The patent appears to be aimed squarely at the Vision Pro headset, but the wording is sufficiently vague that it is difficult to truly understand what Apple has in mind. There are some clues, however, and it seems Apple wants to give people a way to take something virtual and turn it into a physical item.

Why that could be useful isn't immediately clear, but it's something Apple now holds the patent for should it want to make it happen.

Apple 'iStone'

Patent number 11733959 describes "physical companion devices for use with extended reality systems" and shows small accessories that appear similar to an AirTag in size. Those accessories don't necessarily need to have circuitry inside, the patent notes, but could do in some implementations.

The patent, first spotted by Patently Apple, describes these accessories as a "stone" or "go stone", with Apple's plan being to allow people to use them as physical placeholders for virtual content. As an example, the patent describes a stone being used to transport content in the physical world so that it can be accessed later. Almost like a USB stick for saved files.

"In this way, a user of an XR system can be provided with a portable companion device (sometimes referred to herein as a “stone” or a “go stone”) that can be carried with the user to transport content from the XR environment within the physical world," the patent explains.

It goes on to say that "The associated content can then be accessed at a later time by the same XR system when the companion device is detected by the XR system, and/or by other devices and/or XR systems when the companion device is detected by those devices and/or systems." An XR system is, of course, an extended reality device like the Vision Pro headset.

"In this way, the user of an XR system can be provided with the ability to carry content, such as a stack of digital photographs, the state of an active document or application, and/or digital currency (as examples) within the physical world for later access by various devices or systems," the patent explains.

Why that would be useful, however, isn't clear. Apple's cloud storage systems seem ready-made for this kind of thing but it's possible that Apple has something in mind beyond moving files around. Time will tell, and with Apple's headset not set to go on sale for months yet, it's possible all will become clear soon enough.

After years of rumors, Apple finally announced the Vision Pro headset during the WWDC 2023 opening keynote on June 5. But while we'd been hearing that a headset was in the works for some time, the truth of just how long that development cycle was is quite surprising.

As shown by a new patent granted to Apple this week, the company has actually been working on the Vision Pro headset for at least 16 years and likely much longer.

The patent itself actually dates all the way back to 2007 — the same year that the very first iPhone started to change the world.

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro

Decades of work

If this patent, titled "Automatically Adjusting Media Display In A Personal Display System," dates back to 2007 we can assume it was being worked on long before then. Patent applications don't get drawn up on the fly, after all.

The patent itself relates to a personal display system that may also include an electronic device that can display media among other things. As Patently Apple notes, the patent also suggests that "the personal display device may adjust displayed media to overlay features of a theater, stadium or concert facility thus giving the user of the personal display device the impression of being in the facility."

That sounds very much like the Vision Pro experience that Apple showed off during the preview event, as does another suggestion that a user's head movements could be tracked and then represented in real-time on the headset's display.

The patent is as dry as you'd expect it to be, but there's little doubt that it is an indication of just how early Apple was planning on something very similar to the Vision Pro headset that will go on sale in early 2024. Some of the features that will be available are directly attributable to this patent.

We obviously don't know if the headset was in active development throughout the last 16 or so years, but the fact that Apple's engineers were working on something so similar to the finished product that far back is mind-boggling. And we have to wonder what Apple is working on now that won't land until for another 16 years or so.

The Apple Vision Pro headset was finally announced after years of rumors back on June 5, when WWDC kicked off. And while we know a fair bit about what the headset will do when it arrives in 2024, there are still some things Apple hasn't shared. Now, we might have the answer to at least one question — how much storage will the thing have?

Apple's headset is going to be able to run all kinds of apps, including those that are already available in the App Store on the iPad. So questions were always going to be asked about how much space apps would take up and how much storage people would be strapping to their heads with Vision Pro.

As it turns out, at least some Vision Pro headsets will have more storage than the average MacBook Pro and a lot more than some of the best iPhones, too.

All those bits and bytes

A new report by iPhoneSoft suggests that Apple is going all-in when it comes to storage. Based on information provided to the outlet, headsets that are currently out in the wild have as much as 1TB of storage included.

"After discovering the Magic Battery or DRAM RAM, we learn that the Vision Pro will automatically be sold with 1 TB of SSD storage, or 1,000 GB," the report says via machine translation. "This information is included in the 'Settings' application of the two helmets that our contact was able to test within the 'labs.'

Based on that, it appears that development units handed out by Apple are laden with storage, but it isn't clear if that will be the case with all models when they go on sale. Apple says that Vision Pro "starts at $3,499," potentially opening the door for a base model having less storage and more options being available beyond that. 

The Apple Vision Pro will come with an external battery pack that Apple is considering calling a Magic Battery, according to references spotted by Apple code researcher @aaronp613 who tweeted about it on X / Twitter.

It's been referred to previously as the MagSafe Battery Pack and it looks similar to an iPhone battery pack, giving the VR and AR headset two hours of battery power without being connected to a power source. 

It looks like there's going to be a single braided cable attached to the side of the Vision Pro headset. This will connect it to either a static power source if you're at home or sat down, or the Magic Battery if you need to use the headset untethered or on the go. 

This is handy as it means you'll be able to experience VR with a lot of freedom. You'll also be able to swap out the Magic Battery for more power while you're on the move. We imagine some users will want to buy lots of battery packs for when they're not near a power outlet. 

However, we're not sure that having to pop the battery in your pocket is really the most user-friendly option. Other AR and VR headsets have the battery integrated, but that's what makes the Apple Vision Pro headset smaller and lighter than rivals. 

As you'd expect, there's been some criticism of this naming choice on X. Especially considering there's not much that seems particularly magical about the battery. Regular Apple commentator, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, tweeted: "There’s nothing magical about a two hour tethered battery pack, but OK."

Code secrets

The Magic Battery name was spotted by @aaronp613 in the tvOS 17 beta 5 code. 

This is the second secret he's found in the tvOS code in as many days. He also discovered references to unreleased iPhone devices, which likely include the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. 

We'll be finding out more about those references in a matter of days if the latest rumors about Apple's September launch event are to be believed. September 12 and 13 are the dates that most industry insiders think we'll be getting our invites for. Gurman has revealed that he thinks September 12 is most likely, so that's the day we'll be putting our money on.

Apple has recently been granted a patent for finger devices and accessories designed to let you 'feel' virtual sensations, movements and textures.

According to Patently Apple, these finger-mounted accessories have a U-shaped design to fit over your fingers and will work with head-mounted displays, like the Apple Vision Pro, but could also sync up to other devices, like TVs and Macs. 

Right now the Apple Vision Pro – and other VR and AR headsets, like the Meta Quest Pro – use small cameras to pick up finger gestures that are then translated in virtual spaces. But devices that could be worn directly on your fingers would be able to add wearable sensors, leading to more accurate tracking and more features.

In fact, Apple has detailed a whole range of sensors that could be added to the accessories, like an accelerometer, a force sensor, microphones, proximity sensors, ambient light sensors, muscle activity sensors — the list goes on.

Hooked on a feeling

But the most exciting part of the patent details some of the haptic tech that could also be fitted into the finger devices. Haptic tech essentially replicates touch and any feeling sensations. Think the way you'd feel a vibration or rumble from a games controller, but much more targeted and advanced.

So with haptic tech inside finger devices you could ‘feel’ vibrations, virtual textures, motion and any other tactile sensation. As you can imagine, this would enable you to interact with virtual content in a much more realistic way.

Maybe you feel a virtual cat brush up against your fingertips or feel virtual water run over the back of your hand or feel just the right amount of pressure when you virtually high-five your friend's avatar in a virtual meeting spot. You get the idea.

Haptic tech designed for your hands already exists – like the HaptX haptic gloves. And Apple has already filed several patents in the past concerned with finger-sensing thimble controllers and finger sensors for VR long before the Apple Vision Pro was even announced. 

It's easy to see why this is so important. For VR and AR to capture mainstream attention, sensing the way your hands and body move in real space and translating that to a virtual one is imperative. If you move your hand in real life and see a lag or an awkward arm glitch in VR it's annoying, not to mention a little disconcerting. 

And that's only part of it. Providing that all-important touch feedback is going to be vital for making people feel more immersed, matching up what they might see through a headset like the Apple Vision Pro with what they can then actually feel. What we're saying is, it makes sense that the race to control your fingertips is such an important one. 

Imagine you've decorated a new virtual home in the metaverse. As you step back and admire your digital abode, someone else's avatar runs in, sprays their name on your virtual paintings and starts scrawling crude sketches of male anatomy on your walls. 

As far as problems with the metaverse go, this may not seem like the most pressing concern. And yet I think we can all agree it's rude and annoying. It turns out Apple thinks so too, judging from a recently filed patent spotted by Patently Apple that details a way to erase graffiti in virtual spaces in order to make it invisible. 

This isn't the first time Apple has filed a patent focused on the problem of digital graffiti. Back in 2021, a similar patent application was concerned with virtual vandalism. It detailed how a user might simply make an irritating, unwanted avatar guest invisible if they start drawing on your virtual walls. If only we could get rid of annoying people in real life that easily.

Creating safe virtual spaces

Although this patent may seem a little bizarre, it suggests that Apple is seriously considering how people will use virtual spaces. That's positive given that the Apple Vision Pro headset is on the way and will be Apple's first step into virtual and augmented reality tech. 

Although many people say that the metaverse has the potential to be a virtual utopia, we all know that some people just want to ruin things for others – that's going to be no different if someone is wearing a virtual reality headset and interacting in a virtual space. 

Companies that make virtual reality experiences have been grappling with how to deal with abuse and harassment in digital spaces for years now. Some solutions include "bubbles" around your avatar to ensure no one else's can get too close, ways to make other avatars disappear in an instant and intuitive blocking and reporting features. 

It's a shame that so much time and energy has to go into protecting people in virtual spaces. But considering that virtual interactions can sometimes "feel" incredibly real, these sorts of effective interventions are vital. If tech companies want people to spend more time in these digital environments, addressing vandalism, abuse and harassment needs to be a top priority.

Apple has recently filed the latest in a string of patents that detail a simple head-mounted display that you wear on your face and slot your phone into. 

Even though the Apple Vision Pro is finally on the way, Apple is pushing ahead with plenty of related patents. Including this basic head-mounted display, which could be a simpler and cheaper way to get people interested in VR who can't afford the Vision Pro's eye-watering $3,499 price tag.

According to a report from Patently Apple, this is the 17th patent filed by Apple with the same device concept, and it's been making tweaks to the details over many years.

It specifies a head-mounted display that looks like fancy glasses, which can be coupled with a portable electronic device – read: smartphone – that then acts as the main screen. If you're thinking, "wow, that sounds a lot like Samsung's Gear VR," then you'd be right. However, Apple was already filing patents for this concept long before the Gear VR came onto the scene.

We were interested to read that some plans went further than simply suggesting a fancy way to strap your phone to your face. For example, the patent also details a remote control that might change content on the screen – a little like the Oculus Go. It also suggested the use of a "touch sensor" that could be used to sense a finger sliding on the glasses to control audio volume.

There's also a proposed external viewing mode, allowing the user to see the outside world. One big issue with AR and VR is that some people feel too cut off from what's going on around them when they're in a virtual space. The Apple Reality Pro solves this problem and so do the plans in the early details of this patent. 

Making VR more accessible

Virtual reality and augmented reality tech is incredibly exciting but there's no getting around it, it ain't cheap. And, because it's such uncharted tech territory, even those who could justify dropping more than $3,000 on the Apple Vision Pro wouldn't know for sure whether they'd get their money's worth – it's a huge risk.

The issue is that the tech needed to create immersive, high-end VR and AR experiences is highly advanced and, therefore, super expensive. 

But something has to budge and if money is the biggest issue, developing an idea that utilizes tech we all already have – our phones – and transforming it into a basic VR headset could be the secret sauce that's needed to get us all interested in – and hooked on – VR so we'll all invest in it long into the future.

When Apple revealed the Vision Pro headset, the thing that stood out was its new control method — you swipe around and pinch with your eyes and fingers, in what seemed like something that jumped from the future. No controller was present at all.

Now, in a new patent, it looks like Apple has come up with a new way that we might be able to interact with the headset — and it sounds similarly futuristic, if grounded in familiar principles.

New control method for Vision Pro

As spotted by Patently Apple, Apple has been granted a patent for a new control method for the Vision Pro AR and VR headset. It appears to pertain to a new touchpad, or trackpad, that can interact with apps and games on the goggles — all in a virtual space.

Even more interesting is how this trackpad will integrate into Vision Pro activities. There is talk of holograms and virtual objects superimposed with the accessory, so that it would feel like a part of the app or game that you’re using inside the virtual world of the Vision Pro.

The pad looks like it’s not going to be a physical touch surface itself, but it will project a surface into the digitised world around the user. To work, it’s going to be filled with a series of sensors, including a camera, image sensors, and even orientation sensors so that it’s more aware of its surroundings.

Vision Pro virtual trackpad — iMore’s take

We’re already excited about the Vision Pro, and so each and every new patent and rumor is enough to get us riled up. This control method seems to work hand in hand with the pinch-to-click method that we saw during the Vision Pro keynote presentation at WWDC, and we can see it working well when you use the headset as a display for your MacBook.

It does raise some questions, though. Will it need a physical surface to work properly, or can it be placed in the air, to make for some Minority Report-style mid-air control swipes? How will it interact with games? Even without those questions answered, however, it seems like an interesting new way to use the AR and VR headset. It is only a patent, however, so it might never happen — patents are used to protect a company’s ideas, and don’t necessarily result in a final, purchasable product. But we can always hope.

There’s a big problem with AR and VR goggles; they make some of us feel sick. Apple, understandably, wants to make sure that Vision Pro doesn’t make you feel like you’ve just spent a little too long on the deck of a ferry doing the English Channel. 

To make sure that no one gets sick while using Vision Pro, it’s been granted a new patent, with some cool new technology to reduce both motion sickness and eye strain.

In the new patents, Apple seems to have targeted eye strain and motion sickness in particular, amongst other features. There are new sensors, fancy new lenses, and more information about eyeglass adapters.

Keeping Vision Pro useable for everyone

The first patent is for moveable lenses within the headset, so that people with glasses can also use Vision Pro, as well as making sure that the lenses can be at a distance from the user's eye to avoid straining their eyes when using the goggles. It will be an important part of the headset, letting you use it for extended periods of time. Patently Apple first talked about the patent, and has a very detailed write-up.

9to5 Mac also notes how important it will be for reducing VAC, or vergence-accommodation conflict, which causes nausea and motion sickness. It’s all very technical, but the gist is this; Vision Pro needs to make sure that your eyes are looking at a very close-up image as one that is a little further away — a depth issue that makes some users sick.

The patent seems to point to the use of different screens and lenses in order to avoid those depth problems.

The second patent shows off some cool control methods with the Vision Pro headset — including Siri, eye controls, and touch. Again, from Patently Apple, the patent has detailed descriptions of both known control interfaces like the pinch to click from the reveal and the eye tracking, but also using your eyes to move digital objects around a physical space. Very cool.

iMore’s take

We’re excited for Vision Pro — Apple’s first proper foray into VR and AR? Yes, please. We can’t lie, however; we did have some concerns about the motion sickness and eye strain part of the headset.

It is, after all, an issue with other headsets that we’ve used, and one that puts us off extended use of a pair of VR or AR goggles. This new patent does go some way in making us more comfortable with the new headset.

Will we get it on the first printing of the Vision Pro? Maybe. It does seem to be some time before we get the device in our hands, so there should be plenty of time for Apple to get it in the headset.

The control methods are also interesting, and could well be features that we can see coming in a software update to the first edition Vision Pro a little later down the line. The control of the headset already seems interesting to us, so anything extra is always cool to see.

Apple has announced that it has helped form a new alliance that will help drive an open standard for the creation of 3D content, ready for the launch of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset in the first part of 2024.

The new alliance includes Pixar, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and NVIDIA, and is sure to help companies create content that can be viewed on headsets like Apple's. The Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) will "promote the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology."

The alliance will go on to develop new specifications that will detail the features of OpenUSD, theoretically ensuring future compatibility between devices and content types no matter the companies attached to them.

A grand 3D vision

Apple announced the new alliance in a press release, saying that "by promoting greater interoperability of 3D tools and data, the alliance will enable developers and content creators to describe, compose, and simulate large-scale 3D projects and build an ever-widening range of 3D-enabled products and services."

“OpenUSD will help accelerate the next generation of AR experiences, from artistic creation to content delivery, and produce an ever-widening array of spatial computing applications,” Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision Products Group, said via the statement. The Vision Products Group is the one behind Vision Pro and, presumably, future iterations. “Apple has been an active contributor to the development of USD, and it is an essential technology for the groundbreaking visionOS platform, as well as the new Reality Composer Pro developer tool. We look forward to fostering its growth into a broadly adopted standard.”

The popularity and success of Vision Pro and the headsets that follow it will very likely come down to how readily available content created specifically for its strengths becomes. This alliance is clearly aimed at ensuring that content will be not only available moving forward, but also compatible into the future.

Apple's first headset is set to go on sale in early 2024, but there's plenty happening before then. Apple still has the iPhone 15 to announce, while its best iPhones — the iPhone 15 Pro series — are likely to also arrive in the same expected September timeframe.

After announcing that Vision Pro was to be made available to developers soon after WWDC 2023, that day has come, with Apple opening up sign-ups to receive a developer kit of the headset.

In its developer section, you can apply for a 'loaner' device where you can borrow one for a certain amount of time, and if you're successful, will also be given an onboarding session with a representative to make sure Vision Pro is set up correctly. You'll also be able to check in with 'Apple experts' to help make your app work as best as it can for Vision Pro.

If you're not a developer but have an Apple Developer Account, you're going to be declined, as this is strictly for developers in making sure their apps work with Vision Pro.

We've been here before where Apple opened up signups for its Developer Kit with an Apple silicon Mac back in 2020, where developers could use a Mac mini with an early version of the M1 chip. So we may start to see similar benchmarks and testing once these headsets start to arrive for developers.

How to sign up

Before you press apply, you have to make sure that you meet the following requirements:

• Account Holder in the Apple Developer Program
• Provide details about your team’s development skills and existing apps
• Agree to the Terms and Conditions

Once your application is submitted, Apple will review it and, if approved, you'll receive Vision Pro and you can start to test it out with your app.

But once you get the headset, it has to be in a private place, "accessible only by you and your authorized developers,” and Apple will check in to make sure it's being used, as you said in the application form.

It's not clear as yet if there will be a fee for this, as there was for the Apple silicon Developer Kit, which was $500, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a $1000 fee for Vision Pro to gain access to it as well.

Regardless, it should be an interesting time as developers will start to try out and judge the headset, and it could also spur many to create brand-new apps they never considered before.

Apple's Vision Pro headset will go on sale in the early knockings of 2024 according to the company but there's one app that buyers won't be installing — a dedicated Vision Pro Netflix app.

That's according to a new report which claims that Apple's headset will have to make do with a retooled iPad app instead. Vision Pro has been confirmed to run iPad apps when required, and the report suggests that's exactly what Netflix is going to have people do.

The move means that anyone hoping to enjoy a VR-specific version of Netflix is going to be left out, but they'll at least be able to watch content even if it isn't built with the headset in mind.

A Netflix reality

This is all according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman who mentioned the streaming giant in his weekly Power On newsletter.

"I’m told that the company has no current plans to develop a native app for the Vision Pro," Gurman said. Of course, Netflix will still let its iPad app run on the headset unmodified.

Netflix isn't thought to be the only company set to take the easy route out, but competitor Disney Plus is set to be one that will put the work in. The same can also be expected of Apple TV Plus for obvious reasons, and Apple is already said to be working on special VR versions of content to get the most out of the headset when it ships.

As for the rest of the App Store, pricing will determine how popular apps actually are among people who have just forked out $3,499 for the headset itself. Gurman suggests that pricing will be around $20 depending on the app.

"I wouldn’t be surprised if $20 is the new $1 for most Vision Pro apps," Gurman posits. "And we could see many of them costing between $50 and $250, especially in the graphic design or productivity categories." As for gaming, that's anyone's guess right now. "Games on the Vision Pro may even be priced closer to their console equivalents, somewhere in the range of $40 to $60, compared with much lower levels on the iPhone and iPad," Gurman offers.

With Apple's headset still potentially as far as 12 months out, at least developers will have plenty of time to get their apps ready.

We're still months away from the Apple Vision Pro headset going on sale but its WWDC 2023 unveiling ensured that developers will have plenty of time to work on their apps and games. And building the latter just took a big step forward.

That's because Unity has announced that developers can now sign up to get in on the beta for its PolySpatial development platform for visionOS — the software that will power the Vision Pro headset.

Access to PolySpatial will give developers new tools to build games that can run on the Vision Pro headset. Games were surprisingly lacking from the big Vision Pro unveiling, but it did confirm that Unity would be involved in development.

Spatial computer gaming

Unity announced the new beta in a press release sent to iMore, confirming that the PolySpatial beta launches today. "Featuring integration with the Unity editor, creators can build experiences that run in visionOS, and leverage the amazing features of Apple Vision Pro," the press release reads." The release goes on to say that "by combining Unity’s new PolySpatial technology with Apple’s RealityKit-managed app rendering, content created in Unity will have a unified look and feel, alongside other apps in visionOS."

Unity says that developers can start to build new experiences or port existing ones over to visionOS now, "previewing from the Unity Editor directly to Apple Vision Pro for quick iteration."

Triband, the team behind the popular What The ...? games series, has already been using Unity PolySpatial to port the WHAT THE GOLF? game to Vision Pro.

“Unity’s multi-platform support and comprehensive development tools allowed us to leverage our existing Unity knowledge and repurpose content from our games to create a fun experience that works great on Apple Vision Pro,” said Peter Bruun, CEO of Triband via Unity's statement. “With our game, WHAT THE GOLF?, we're looking forward to bringing our comedy, silliness, and surprises to visionOS, and can’t wait for users to experience it.”

Apple hasn't confirmed exactly when we can expect the Vision Pro to go on sale, but it did say that we will see it arrive in early 2024.

Apple recently entered a new product category with the Apple Vision Pro headset. It's a new thing for the company, and it appears it's taking a different approach with this product. According to Mark Gurman (via the latest Power On newsletter), Apple has established a division within the company to handle Vision Pro and other parts of the ecosystem moving forward.

This division is named Vision Products Group, or VPG, which is a brand new nomenclature for the division. It has actually existed since 2015 as the Technology Development Group or TDG and has been renamed recently to reflect what the group will handle.

Vision Products Group is a self-reliant division within Apple

Gurman shared some interesting insights on the division, and how it's unlike what we've seen from Apple. To begin with, Steve Jobs had done away with the usual product development structure, and this division deviates from how he ran Apple. 

For example, Apple doesn't have dedicated divisions to develop for its best iPhones, or the iPad, but instead has broader teams that handle different parts of development for all products. However, with the Vision Products Group, things are different. 

Gurman wrote, "The group doesn’t depend on Apple’s main software and hardware engineering and other departments. It has its own versions of those teams, reporting to Rockwell, in addition to ones for strategy, computer vision, content, app development and project management."

It's still linked to the rest of Apple, though, and will work in tandem with other segments of the company. Gurman explained, "It works with the design and operations teams overseen by Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, and the Johny Srouji-led chip unit that makes M2 and R1 processors. It also relies on frameworks and other building blocks created for iOS and macOS by Federighi’s group, which is responsible for some of the headset’s developer tools as well. And it gets a helping hand from the main hardware organization."

It was apparently expected to be dissolved and integrated into other divisions of the company upon launch of the Vision Pro, but Apple seems to have chosen to keep it. It will be intersting to see how different the development on Vision products ends up being, as a result.

Apple recently entered a whole new product category with the Vision Pro mixed reality headset. At WWDC 2023, the company announced the new headset with a price tag of $3,499. There has been a lot of talk about how this high price point will hold back sales, and it looks like Apple has plans to sell it accordingly.

A new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that Apple is planning a slow and appointment-only rollout for the Vision Pro. The headset was unveiled recently but won't begin shipping until early 2024, and it appears Apple is planning a different sales strategy for this product.

Buying the Vision Pro will be an extensive in-store experience

Apple will have an extensive store experience for folks looking to buy the Vision Pro headset. The device is going to get a staggered launch, Gurman wrote.

"The company will designate special areas in the stores with seating, headset demo units and tools to size accessories for buyers. While the device will be sold at all of Apple’s roughly 270 US locations, the company is planning the sections for the Vision Pro initially at stores in major areas — such as New York and Los Angeles — before rolling them out nationwide, according to people with knowledge of the plans."

The staggered rollout also means the headset won't immediately release in every region worldwide at the same time. Gurman says Apple is considering the UK and Canada for the initial launch, with Asia and Europe soon after. The headset is being localized for France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.

That doesn't mean it will be an offline exclusive, though, as the Vision Pro will also be available online. However, the offline experience will be a lot more extensive.

"Apple will ask in-store buyers to make an appointment to purchase the Vision Pro. That follows a strategy the company used for the Apple Watch in 2015. The driving force behind the idea is to ensure customers walk out with a product that fits properly. If applicable, the company will ask users for their vision prescription for lens inserts via an online portal."

The Vision Pro will be a tricky debut for the company, with logistical challenges stacking up. With a launch set for early 2024, we can expect the headset to sell alongside Apple's best iPhones later in the year.

Apple is still yet to give an exact release date for its Vision Pro headset, only saying that it will arrive sometime next year. Now, the AR device’s manufacturing and supply woes come to light in a report from the Financial Times, albeit with little movement on that release window/

In part, this looks to be due to the massive complexity of the device, with its next-gen screens packed into an absurdly small enclosure. Apple reportedly is "unhappy with the supplier's productivity," especially with the "yield of micro-OLEDS that are free of defects."

Vision Pro suffering

Those micro-OLED screens in the prototype devices that Apple had available for WWDC attendees to try, came from Sony and TSMC, or Taiwan Semi-Conductor. The screens are used on the inside of the device, giving users their view of the outside world and overlaying the user interface on top. They're also on the outside of the device, displaying the unnerving image of the user's eyes to those around, making sure that they can see where the user is looking in augmented reality.

The Financial Times says that "two people close to Apple, and Luxshare" have said "it was preparing to make fewer than 400,000 units in 2024." Two other unnamed manufacturers are pegged to make a further 150,000 and 130,000 units over the year – a far cry from Apple's initial internal 1mn sales target for the first year. This is just another step in the lengthy story of Vision Pro, after suffering setbacks over the course of its development.

The second generation of the headset has also now be reportedly pushed back, as the more affordable version – although both aren't doing much to allay manufacturers' fears that the device is going to do little to their bottom line. One analyst, Eddie Han from Taiwan-based research company Isaiah Research, says to the Financial Times that "Apple has not made a better product than the industry imagined . . . the manufacturers’ confidence is not high."

The Vision Pro remains with a 2024 release date, however – although an exact date has not yet been given.

Apple's Vision Pro headset looks incredible and it is definitely the biggest jump into the future I've seen for both virtual and mixed reality, but as it stands, the $3,500 price tag is not for me, which is why I'm looking at an alternative.

I've been thinking about the Vision Pro since Apple announced it back at WWDC at the beginning of this month. There's no denying it — Apple has created perhaps the most technically capable virtual and mixed-reality headset yet, and it will enable experiences previously impossible.

However, even with all of that in mind, I can't help but feel that the Vision Pro isn't for me yet and that, as much as it pains me to say, Meta will likely be getting my money for at least one more generation thanks to its upcoming Quest 3.

There's no denying Apple's headset is superior

When Apple announced the Vision Pro, I was immediately blown away by the visual quality alone. As someone who has used both the original Meta Quest and the Meta Quest 2, I'm used to seeing okay-but-not-amazing graphics. The headset, while cool, is certainly not like strapping an Xbox Series X or PS5 to your head in terms of what it can achieve graphically.

Apple's headset, in comparison, is like strapping two 4K TVs to your face. The sheer resolution of each display on the headset is a true feat of engineering and will enable truly high-resolution experiences not just when using the headset for work, but for gaming experiences as well.

Apple's mixed-reality experience also actually looks good — compared to the Meta Quest 2's extremely basic experience. I'll be honest — using the Meta Quest 2 to do anything in mixed reality feels like I'm seeing my apartment through a black-and-white television from the 50s. I would not trust walking around and doing things in my apartment with the headset on — I'd be afraid I'd trip over something and kill myself.

Apple Vision Pro's mixed reality, in comparison, looks incredible. Of course, I've only seen what Apple has shown in its promo videos, but those who have tried it say that the experience almost feels like actual reality.

The comment that stood out to me most was when The Verge's Nilay Patel said that he, while wearing the headset, instinctively picked up his iPhone and started taking notes. Being able to do things like that while wearing a headset is just not possible right now.

The ability to actually comfortably and confidently interact with the real world, whether you are in a mixed-reality experience or just in general, while wearing a headset is a real breakthrough.

The price alone will keep me away

However, even with all of those impressive specifications and the incredible experiences that they will enable, there is one thing and one thing alone that will keep me — and I'm sure a lot of other people — from ditching my Quest headset and jumping into the future. That thing, of course, is the price.

After showing off everything that the Apple Vision Pro could do and getting all of us completely hyped up, Apple threw a big wrench in everyone's dream of buying the headset by announcing the price. The Apple Vision Pro will cost a staggering $3,500 when it launches early next year.

Now, I can't say I'm surprised by the price. With all of the technological breakthroughs enabled by the headset and the truly insane specs that make it possible, a premium price is expected. Plus, by Apple giving it the "Pro" moniker, the company is openly admitting that it is starting with the more premium version of the headset.

With all of that in mind, and knowing that Apple is already working on a more affordable version of the headset that is expected to come out in the next few years, I'm going to have to skip the Vision Pro.

That doesn't mean I want to give up those virtual and mixed reality experiences, however. So, as hard as it is to pick anything Meta — especially over Apple — I think I'll be picking up the Meta Quest 3 when it comes out this fall. At $500, it is seven times less expensive than the Apple Vision Pro.

Of course, the Quest 3 won't have the specs or experiences that the Vision Pro will be capable of. But, with some impressive performance gains in its CPU and GPU power, as well as adding full-color passthrough for better-mixed reality experiences, it seems like a great upgrade from the Quest 2 and a perfectly good headset to hold me over until a cheaper Apple Vision Pro hopefully comes out in 2025 or 2026.

Apple recently entered a new product category with the launch of the Apple Vision Pro headset. Meta has been a leader in virtual reality over the years, thanks to its Oculus acquisition. With Apple now having entered the segment, it appears Meta has felt the need to switch up its strategies. The company has announced a new VR subscription.

The subscription, called Meta Quest+, costs $7.99 a month and will support the Quest 2, the Quest Pro, and the upcoming Quest 3, Meta announced. The subscription seems to be for VR titles, however, and doesn't include the hardware as a part of the perks.

Meta Quest+ is like Xbox Game Pass for VR titles

Meta is calling this a VR title subscription. The perks include two VR titles a month, which are yours to keep as long as you have an active subscription. So game ownership isn't really the perk here, quite like the Xbox Game Pass.

The blog post explained the early perks that you will get with the subscription.

"On the first of each month, you’ll get two titles to redeem, enjoy, and master. First up, we’re pairing Cloudhead Games’ physical action-rhythm FPS Pistol Whip with the nostalgia-fueled arcade adventure Pixel Ripped 1995 from ARVORE Immersive Experiences. And for August, you can look forward to a uniquely compelling social VR experience in Mighty Coconut’s Walkabout Mini Golf and some frantic weapon-crafting and shooter action in MOTHERGUNSHIP: FORGE from Terrible Posture Games.

You get to keep each title as long as you’re a Meta Quest+ subscriber, so the value builds over time. And you can cancel at any time for maximum flexibility. Even better, if you rejoin down the road, you’ll regain access to all of the titles from your original paid subscription period."

The cost is set at $7.99 a month, or $59.99 billed annually, which amounts to savings of 37%, and will work with the Quest 2, Quest Pro, and the Quest 3. While the Meta Quest headsets technically work with the best Macs out there, you may have to wait until Apple launches its own VR title subscription to get the best out of VR in your Apple ecosystem.

An Apple Vision Pro safety feature baked into its visionOS software means that you won't be able to move more than 1.5 meters during fully immersive experiences, a feature one industry player called a "super bummer" of a move. 

As noted by Hans Karlsson on Twitter, Apple Vision Pro will let developers create completely immersive VR experiences for users. Like devices such as the Meta Quest, these will come with a safety feature to stop you from colliding with objects in the room that you can't see because you're trapped in the metaverse. 

However, Apple's Vision Pro safety feature is much more restrictive, leading Karlsonn to suggest that Apple Vision Pro will be VR "for couch potatoes."

Apple Vision Pro and anti-collision

"When you start a fully immersive experience, visionOS defines a system boundary that extends 1.5 meters from the initial position of the person’s head," Apple's developer guidelines for visionOS state. "If their head moves outside of that zone, the system automatically stops the immersive experience and turns on the external video again. This feature is an assistant to help prevent someone from colliding with objects."

"I just learned that Apple has crippled VR so that it stops when you move more than 1,5 meters," Karlsson lamented. "So Apple VR is for couch potatoes. No real volumetric video possible then outside the couch zone. No table tennis, nothing that makes you move outside a small box. Super bummer."

He went on to describe his own 3m x 3m VR play space that was already too cramped to make good use of room-scale VR. Meta Quest 2, and we would assume the upcoming Meta Quest 3, offers a Roomscale guardian mode of up to 15 meters square for immersive VR that lets you wander around with your headset on, a key advantage for virtual reality. 

Some commenters agreed with Karlsson, describing the move as "boring as hell." "Knowing Apple they're just doing this out of spite, there's no practical or technological reason to introduce such an arbitrary limitation," another stated. However, some people said they agreed with the move, while others still suggested that this might be a preliminary restriction that could be changed at a later date. 

Personally, I'm all for anti-collision, as I'd rather not throw myself through a window or coffee table during a casual afternoon of No Man's Sky. 

Google reportedly canceled its own augmented reality headset after working on it for several years.

The headset, dubbed Iris internally, was thought to be closer to a pair of glasses than a pair of ski goggles, the format that most AR/VR headsets take today. That's also the format that Apple chose for its Vision Pro headset.

However, Iris is thought to have been more akin to Google Glass, a pair of augmented glasses that were ultimately canceled themselves years ago.

Focusing elsewhere

Business Insider reports that Google's attempts to get Iris to market included buying other companies. North, a Canadian startup that made its own AR glasses was picked up in 2020, and it's said that an early version of Iris was similar to North's product in terms of design.

However, Iris has now been canceled and Google is instead "focused on creating software platforms for AR that it hopes to license to other manufacturers building headsets," the report claims. "It's building an Android XR platform for Samsung's headset and has been working on a 'micro XR' platform for glasses, a person familiar with the plan said."

As for Apple's Vision Pro, that won't go on sale until the first half of 2024, and the company is already said to be working on two follow-up products. Vision Pro does indeed resemble ski goggles, but it's also thought to be working on its own Apple Glasses product that would more closely resemble the Iris product Google had in mind. Such a product is likely years away from being ready for sale, however.

Meta is also reportedly working on its own AR glasses, with developers expected to get their hands on an early version next year. Business Insider also notes that two Google employees suggested the company could have another run at getting Iris off the ground in the future.