Apple unveils sleek, $3,500 ‘Vision Pro’ goggles. Will they be what VR has been looking for?

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Apple has revealed its highly anticipated headset, called “Vision Pro,” at the annual developers conference in Cupertino, California. The sleek goggles aim to bridge the gap between virtual and real worlds, showcasing Apple’s ability to introduce innovative devices that capture the public’s attention. CEO Tim Cook expressed excitement about the new technology, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize personal tech. While Apple provided a detailed preview of the headset’s features, consumers will have to wait until early next year to purchase it at the hefty price of $3,500.

Apple’s track record of groundbreaking products includes the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. The company drew upon its decades of design experience and over 5,000 patents while developing Vision Pro. The goggles boast impressive specifications, such as 12 cameras, six microphones, and various sensors for intuitive control using hand and eye movements. Apple has also developed technology for lifelike three-dimensional representations during video conferencing.

The success of the Vision Pro is crucial for Apple, as it aims to avoid the fate of other companies that failed to popularize similar headsets or glasses based on virtual and augmented reality. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, has pushed for the “metaverse,” an alternate digital reality, but the concept has yet to gain widespread adoption. Apple executives refrained from using the term “metaverse” and instead positioned Vision Pro as the company’s entry into “spatial computing.”

The response to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality has been underwhelming so far, with some devices, like Google’s internet-connected glasses, facing ridicule and consumer backlash. Magic Leap, a startup with ambitious mixed-reality technology, struggled to market its first headset to consumers and shifted focus to other industries. Microsoft’s HoloLens also had limited success, but the company remains committed to the technology.

Apple’s goggles are expected to answer critical questions regarding functionality, design, comfort, and pricing. Despite anticipation, the high price point has tempered expectations. Analysts predict Apple may sell around 150,000 units in the first year, significantly fewer than its flagship iPhones. However, it’s worth noting that even the iPhone faced modest sales in its initial year. Market projections for virtual- and augmented-reality devices suggest slow growth, with sales estimated at 11 million units this year and gradually increasing to 67 million by 2026.

Before unveiling the goggles, Apple announced updates to its high-end computer lines, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, which will feature the company’s own chip. Additionally, a preview of the upcoming iPhone operating system, iOS 17, highlighted new personalization and location-sharing tools, set to release as a free update in September.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about virtual reality headset

More about virtual reality headset

• Apple Newsroom: Apple unveils sleek, $3,500 ‘Vision Pro’ goggles
• TechCrunch: Apple’s Vision Pro headset: A new leap in spatial computing
• The Verge: Apple’s Vision Pro: Everything you need to know
• CNET: Apple’s VR headset: A closer look at the features
• Forbes: The future of VR and AR: Apple’s Vision Pro and the metaverse