Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not

Intro (00:00:00)

• Apple Vision Pro is Apple's first headset computer.
• It starts at $3,499 and is marketed as the beginning of spatial computing.
• Apple claims it's different from VR headsets, but it functions similarly.
• The Vision Pro has been compared to the Meta Quest 3, a $500 headset with a large game library.
• Apple has focused on AR (augmented reality) rather than VR, but the Vision Pro is a full-fledged computer with real apps.
• The Vision Pro has significant trade-offs, including a bulky design and the need to wear it on the face for extended periods.

Spatial computer or a VR headset? (00:02:00)

• Apple markets the Vision Pro as a spatial computer, but it's essentially a VR headset.
• It uses spatial tracking to create the illusion of looking through the device, but it can also display various levels of immersion.
• The Vision Pro's hardware is impressive compared to other VR headsets, featuring magnesium, carbon fiber, and an aluminum enclosure.
• It appears smaller in person than expected and has a familiar design language reminiscent of other Apple products.

EyeSight and front display (00:02:59)

• The front display on the Vision Pro is a marketing feature that appears bright and shows the user's eyes to others.
• In reality, it's a dim, low-resolution OLED covered in reflective glass, making it hard to see in normal to bright lighting.
• There's no indication of what others see on the front display, and the eyes displayed can be creepy and off-putting.

Hardware and accessories (00:03:38)

• The Vision Pro has various cameras, sensors, an M2 processor, and an R1 spatial co-processor under the cover glass.
• It features a Digital Crown for volume and immersion adjustment and a camera shutter button for taking 3D photos and videos.
• Two headbands (solo knit and dual loop) are included, both of which attach and detach magnetically.
• Custom Zeiss lens inserts can be used for those who wear glasses.
• The speakers provide good spatial audio but are loud and can be heard by others unless headphones are used.
• Bluetooth headphones can be used, but AirPods Pro offer additional features like lower latency and lossless audio.
• The Vision Pro is heavy, weighing more than an 11-inch iPad Pro and close to a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
• Apple opted for an external battery to reduce weight, but it only provides around two and a half hours of battery life.
• The external battery means the Vision Pro's weight is front-loaded, making it uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.

Displays & field of view (00:06:38)

• The Vision Pro uses tiny microOLED displays with high pixel density and resolution.
• The displays are expensive and contribute significantly to the device's cost.
• The field of view is limited, smaller than the Meta Quest 3's 110 degrees, creating a binocular-like experience.
• There's color fringing, distortion, and vignetting around the edges of the lenses, further reducing the usable field of view.
• Glancing to the side is not possible due to the displays not being sharp edge to edge, requiring head turns.
• Highlights can be seen reflecting in the lenses when viewing high-contrast content.
• These display issues are common in VR headsets, but Apple's high price point and claims of perfect reality representation create a disconnect between expectations and the actual product.

Video passthrough (latency, dynamic range, motion blur) (00:08:27)

• Apple's video passthrough on the Vision Pro is impressive.
• Low latency of 12 milliseconds between camera input and display output.
• Good dynamic range, but some exposure issues in low light.
• Motion blur and reduced sharpness in low light due to camera limitations.
• Limited color reproduction compared to human vision.

Personas and FaceTime call with Marques Brownlee (@mkbhd) and Joanna Stern (@wsj) (00:11:41)

• Apple's Personas feature allows users to create 3D models of themselves for video conferencing.
• The 3D models are created by scanning the user's face and head.
• The models are still in beta and have some limitations, such as occasional glitches and unnatural movements.
• Spatial audio helps enhance the experience by providing directional sound.

Eye tracking (00:14:29)

• The Vision Pro's eye tracking system is impressive and feels like a superpower at first.
• It allows users to control the interface by looking at and tapping with their fingers.
• However, the eye tracking can become distracting and imprecise at times.
• The controls are designed for slightly more precise eye tracking than the system actually provides.

Hand tracking (00:16:26)

• The Vision Pro's hand tracking system is also impressive but has limitations.
• Cameras track the user's hands, but they must be within the cameras' field of view.
• Hand tracking can be inconsistent and may not work well in certain situations, such as when hands are out of sight or in low light.
• The onscreen keyboard is not practical for extended use due to its small size and imprecise input.

VisionOS (apps and window management) (00:17:41)

• VisionOS is based on iPadOS with customizations for spatial computing.
• It offers a wide range of features and apps, including native VisionOS apps, iPad apps, and the ability to connect a Mac.
• VisionOS allows for free-floating window chaos, with apps from different operating systems running simultaneously.
• Window management tools are limited, and users may need to actively manage windows to avoid clutter.

Secondary Mac display (00:19:27)

• Mac display sharing works well.
• Apple ecosystem tricks like Handoff and Continuity are useful.
• Can copy in Mac and paste in vision OS.
• Can drag the mouse off the screen to control the Vision Pro with the Mac's trackpad and keyboard.
• Only one single 2560 by 1440 Mac display in visionOS.
• Cannot have multiple Mac monitors floating in space.

AR & MR (00:20:22)

• Not a lot of AR (actual interaction between physical objects in space and digital ones) in visionOS.
• Three true AR things:
  • Connect display button above Mac for screen sharing.
  • Text preview window when typing on a Bluetooth keyboard.
  • Loading screen of "Super Fruit Ninja" (throw a strawberry at a pig running on the floor).
• A lot of MR (mixed reality) where virtual objects float around in real space.
• Many great VR features since the Vision Pro is fundamentally a VR headset.

Watching movies with Vision Pro (00:21:25)

• Watching movies on the Vision Pro is enjoyable, especially in immersive theater mode.
• Virtual environments like Mount Hood reflect colors from the screen onto the landscape.
• Can be seen as a very expensive TV with capabilities no other TV can match.
• True 3D movies with separate images to each eye.
• Trade-offs:
  • Weight of the Vision Pro can be noticeable after a while.
  • No HDMI input, limited to Apple's game situation.
  • DRM can block capturing content from streaming services like Disney+.
  • Watching TV alone.
  • No real VR games or fitness apps.
  • No guardrails against VR motion sickness.

Spatial videos (00:23:18)

• Spatial videos taken on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and watched on the Vision Pro have a ghostly white haze.
• Can relive memories but the experience is solitary.
• Cannot currently shoot iPhone video in spatial at both 1080p 30 fps and 4K resolution.
• Not recommended to shoot photos with the Vision Pro cameras unless necessary.
• Photos are 2560 by 2560 stills (about 6.5 megapixels) from the left main camera.
• Videos are 2200 by 2200 square videos at 30 fps, slightly better than photos but still compressed.
• Excess motion from head movement in videos and screen captures.
• Vision Pro buyers likely own iPhones with great video capabilities, so using the phone is recommended.