Apple's long-awaited product debut in the immersive technology space arrived in February 2024 in the form of Apple Vision Pro. Designed primarily for
, in which real and virtual worlds can interact with one another, Vision Pro signals Apple’s entrance to what it perceives is the era of
. While alternative devices such as
and metaverse applications, Apple’s new standalone headset aligns with Tim Cook’s belief that augmented reality will become a vital tool in our lives, a technology that will aid creativity and collaboration.
Vision Pro is the company’s first foray into spatial computing
Apple Vision Pro can use any physical space around the user as
a canvas to display digital outputs, while users can move from augmented to more immersive VR experiences through the turn of a dial. As a result, it is apt that the company has termed the new device as a spatial computer, with Vision Pro allowing for a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the user’s eyes, hands, and voice. All of this is enabled through visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system,
powered by Apple silicon chips. Apple Vision Pro features an M2 chip for faster performance, while a brand-new R1 chip processes input from the 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones onboard the device.
Apple’s venture into mixed reality won’t come cheap
With Apple Vision Pro retailing at 3,499 U.S. dollars upon its release in the United States, this is undoubtedly a
significant jump from Meta Quest devices at both ends of the spectrum. Meta’s top-of-the-range device, Quest Pro, comes in at 999 U.S. dollars, while its latest device, Quest 3, retails at 499 U.S. dollars. Meta Quest 3 was announced by Mark Zuckerberg in 2023 and is the company’s next-generation immersive headset. The release of such a device serves as the latest bet on the metaverse by Zuckerberg, albeit despite
Meta’s Reality Labs segment facing numerous challenges as it reports significant operating losses.
A catalyst to drive mass adoption
Upon entry, Apple has historically had the ability to accelerate that market, just look at the impact the company had on the smartphone market with the release of the iPhone. The release of such a high-end piece of hardware could spur on other companies to pursue innovations in the
immersive wearable sector, with the likes of Microsoft and Google continuing to show interest in the field. Still, for Apple and Meta, the question remains whether spatial computing or the metaverse will come out victorious and become a true reality.
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