Apple ushers in a new era of VR with the launch of its mixed reality headset Vision Pro for $3,499

Move over, Oculus. After many months of speculations, Apple has now entered the world of XR which includes augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Apple on Monday unveiled its MR headset at its 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The $3,499 headset is called Apple Vision Pro, its first major product since 2016 after AirPods.

The Vision Pro is also “Apple’s first spatial computer,” a revolutionary spatial computer that seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world while allowing users to stay present and connected to others.

“This marks the beginning of a journey that will bring a new dimension to powerful personal technology,” Cook told the crowd. Apple revealed the cost will start at $3,499 and won’t be available to order until “early next year.”

During the announcement, Apple said the Vision Pro is an innovative technology that revolutionizes the way people interact with digital content. It offers an expansive canvas that goes beyond the limitations of traditional displays, providing an infinite space for apps to thrive.

At the core of Vision Pro is visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system. This groundbreaking system allows users to engage with digital content in a manner that feels tangibly present in their physical space. With Vision Pro, the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds blur, enabling a truly immersive and interactive experience.

What sets Vision Pro apart is its fully three-dimensional user interface, which seamlessly integrates the most natural and intuitive inputs: a user’s eyes, hands, and voice. Apple Vision Pro introduces an entirely new input system controlled by a person’s eyes, hands, and voice to enable user navigation and interaction with spatial content.

“Users can browse through apps by simply looking at them, tapping their fingers to select, flicking their wrist to scroll, or using voice to dictate,” Apple said on the product page on it website.

The Vision Pro also features an ultra-high-resolution display system, boasting an impressive 23 million pixels spread across two displays. The exceptional clarity ensures that every visual encounter feels as though it is unfolding right in front of the user’s eyes, in real time. Moreover, Vision Pro incorporates custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design, guaranteeing seamless performance and responsiveness.

However, with a starting price tag of $3,499, the cost of the product may restrict its appeal to a relatively small segment of individuals, namely avid video game enthusiasts and affluent technology enthusiasts.

The Vision Pro also has the potential to join the ranks of the company’s legendary innovations, even though Apple has not always been the first to venture into a specific device category.

Apple’s history of groundbreaking products dates back to Steve Jobs’ introduction of the first Mac in 1984, followed by milestones like the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, the iPad in 2010, the Apple Watch in 2014, and the AirPods in 2016.

However, if the new headset ends up catering to a niche market, it would put Apple in a similar position as other major tech companies and startups that have attempted to market headsets or glasses equipped with technologies that transport users to artificial worlds or overlay digital imagery onto their actual surroundings, a concept known as “augmented reality.”