Apple Vision Pro Review: A New Era for Smart Glasses
Apple Vision Pro offers groundbreaking features like micro-OLED displays, spatial audio, and eye tracking, starting at $3,499.
Apple Vision Pro is undeniably impressive but what exactly are we supposed to use it for? This question has been echoed by many tech journalists and early reviewers of Apple’s $3,499 headset. They praised its incredible eye and hand tracking, along with the smooth visionOS interface, but struggled to pinpoint how it could become a part of everyday life.
At first, I thought I had the answer: travel. As someone who travels frequently, I’ve noticed AirPods Max and AirPods Pro are already staples for drowning out airplane noise. It seemed logical that, in a few years, the Vision Pro might become the next essential travel gadget.
To test this theory, I decided to bring the Vision Pro on a JetBlue flight from JFK Airport in New York to Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica. I wanted to see if this headset could revolutionize the travel experience. However, my excitement may have been premature.
Here’s what happened when I took the Vision Pro on the trip.
Apple Vision Pro Specification
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 💲 Price | Starting at $3,499 |
| 🖥 Operating System | VisionOS |
| ⚙️ Processors | M2 and R1 chips |
| 📺 Display | micro-OLED with 23 million pixels (supports 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz) |
| 💾 Storage Options | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| 📷 Camera | 6.5MP 3D stereoscopic camera for spatial photos and videos |
| 🛠 Sensors | Tracking cameras, eye-tracking cameras, LiDAR, ambient light, and motion sensors |
| 🔒 Authentication | OpticID using iris recognition |
| 🎧 Audio | Spatial audio pods with dynamic head tracking, six-microphone array |
| 📡 Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 |
| 🔋 Battery Life | 2 hours typical use, 2.5 hours for video playback |
| ⚖️ Weight | Approximately 21.2 to 22.9 ounces |
Apple Vision Pro Review: Release Date, Price and Accessories
Apple Vision Pro is now available in several countries, starting at a steep price of $3,499. The base model offers 256GB of storage, while upgrades to 512GB and 1TB cost $3,699 and $3,899, respectively.
If you wear glasses, you’ll need ZEISS optical inserts. Reader lenses cost $99, and prescription lenses are $149. They attach easily to the headset using magnets. AppleCare+ is also available for $499, providing 2 years of unlimited repairs and damage protection.
For accessories, there’s plenty to choose from. $199 travel case is highly recommended for protecting your Vision Pro during travel or daily commutes, though it’s large and bulky. Other options include a $49 battery holder from Belkin.
Apple Vision Pro Review: Design and Comfort
Apple Vision Pro is sleek and stylish, with a curved glass front and a customizable design. However, it’s not lightweight. After about 30 minutes of wearing it, I could feel the weight on my cheeks.
When you order the Vision Pro, you’ll scan your face to create a personalized Light Seal. This helps block outside light for a better viewing experience.
Headset comes with two bands: the Solo Knit Band & Dual Loop Band. Solo Knit Band is stretchy and easy to adjust with a built-in knob. Dual Loop Band adds extra support with a strap over top of your head, making it better for longer use.
The Vision Pro weighs between 1.3 and 1.4 pounds, which is heavier than the Meta Quest 3 (1.1 pounds) but lighter than the Meta Quest Pro (1.6 pounds). While it’s not uncomfortable for short periods, I needed breaks during longer sessions, and I noticed slight red marks on my cheeks.
Digital crown on the right side lets you access the home screen, adjust immersion levels and control the volume. A button on the left allows you to capture photos, videos or confirm purchases.
The modular design makes it easy to swap parts like the Light Seal or bands, but the magnetic attachments could be stronger. Sometimes, the Light Seal detached when I picked up the headset, so it’s better to hold it by the frame.
Apple Vision Pro Review: Interface, Hand and Eye Tracking
The Apple Vision Pro is revolutionary in its simplicity. There are no controllers—just use your eyes and fingers. Look at what you want to select, then tap your thumb and index finger together to “click.”
During setup, you’ll follow a dot on the screen to calibrate the headset. Once done, you’ll see a floating home screen with iOS-style icons over your real-world environment. VisionOS blends digital content with your surroundings, thanks to a super-fast R1 chip that streams visuals to the microOLED displays in just 12 milliseconds—8x faster than you blink.
Walking around or using your iPhone while wearing Vision Pro feels natural, though my iPhone 14 Pro Max’s frame rate seemed slightly slower. Eye tracking is precise, lighting up icons as you look at them. Hand tracking is also intuitive as downward-facing cameras can detect gestures even when your hands are resting on your lap.
For security- Vision Pro uses OpticID which authenticates you by scanning your pupils like Face ID but for your eyes. While it usually works well, there were moments during testing when I had to use a PIN instead, which was a bit frustrating.
Gestures are smooth and fun to use. You can scroll left, right, up, or down by pinching your fingers and dragging. Zooming in is as simple as pinching with both hands and spreading your fingers apart. It’s like something out of Minority Report.
Even in complete darkness, the Vision Pro works perfectly for watching movies in bed. Although you won’t see your hands, the hand and eye tracking still operate seamlessly.
Apple Vision Pro Spatial computing and work
Apple Vision Pro is great for multitasking, powered by its M2 chip. You can easily open multiple apps in your virtual space. For example, I opened Safari in the middle, asked Siri to open Slack on the left and started Apple Music on the right—all at the same time.
Moving apps is simple. Grab the bar under an app to move it, or resize it by looking at the corner and dragging with your fingers. To close an app, look at the X or ask Siri to close everything. You can return to the home screen by holding the digital crown.
Accessing settings is easy—just look up and click the arrow to open Control Center. From there, you can change Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, record your screen, or adjust your virtual environment.
You can also connect your Mac to the Vision Pro. Look at your Mac, click the floating Connect button, and your laptop screen moves to the Vision Pro. It becomes a giant 4K display in front of you. The text is clear, and your keyboard and mouse work with no delay.
This feature makes the Vision Pro perfect for work, especially when traveling. Instead of carrying a monitor, you can create a huge workspace anywhere.
Apple Vision Pro Exploring Immersive Features
Environments
The Apple Vision Pro offers multiple immersive environments, like Yosemite, the Moon, and more. For example, Mount Hood delivers realistic visuals with detailed landscapes and customizable immersion levels using the digital crown. Unique settings are also tied to apps, such as a cinema mode for Apple TV+ or Avengers Tower for Disney+.
Typing and Voice Input
You can type on a floating keyboard, though it lacks tactile feedback and speed. Voice input is more efficient; just focus on microphone icon & speak commands. Pairing a Bluetooth keyboard offers better input options.
3D Movies and Immersive Audio
Vision Pro excels in entertainment. Watching 3D movies like Man of Steel or The Super Mario Bros. feels lifelike with spatial audio enhancing experience. Built-in audio pods provide immersive sound, though AirPods Pro 2 are recommended for privacy.
Spatial Video and Photos
Capture 3D moments with the Vision Pro or iPhone 15 Pro. For example, spatial videos of pets feel vivid and interactive. Panoramic photos wrap around you for full immersion, making simple shots feel larger than life.
Apps and Games
Vision Pro supports 600 native apps and over a million iPhone/iPad-compatible ones. Highlights include:
- djay: Realistic virtual DJ setup.
- SkyGuide: A planetarium experience.
- JigSpace: Place 3D models in your environment.
Gaming options are fun but limited, with room for more advanced titles.
EyeSight and Persona
EyeSight displays your eyes digitally, allowing interaction with others. Persona creates a 3D avatar of you for FaceTime and collaboration, though its realism can feel uncanny. Updates are improving its accuracy.
Performance and Battery
M2 and R1 chips ensure smooth operation, though occasional bugs occur. Battery provides 2–2.5 hours of use, requiring frequent charging or connection to a power source.
Vision Pro delivers groundbreaking immersion, with potential for even more features and refinements in future updates.
- Huawei MatePad Pro PaperMatte Review
- Anker Solix C800 Plus: A Closer Look
- Sony A7R V Review: The Ultimate Mirrorless Camera
Conclusion
Apple Vision Pro is impressive but expensive at $3,500. It’s out of reach for most people including me, but after trying it, I think it’s Apple’s most exciting product since the iPhone.
Vision Pro has sharp displays, realistic video passthrough and an easy-to-use interface that tracks your eyes and hands. Its multitasking features are amazing, especially when paired with a Mac.
For entertainment, the 3D videos and photos are incredible, making memories and events feel very real. The available AR apps are also very convincing, though there aren’t many yet.
The downsides? The high price, a battery that can feel awkward to use, and digital avatars that still need improvement.
