Continuing on, I experienced the most astonishing feature of all, the 3D spatial camera. This is one of the brand new features exclusive to the Vision Pro, not found in other VR headsets.
Introduction of the 3D Spatial Camera Feature
The capture button, apart from the digital crown, is the only button available, highlighting its importance.
I believe it has the potential to change everything.
As soon as I saw the spatial photos, I couldn’t help but exclaim how lifelike they were. Even though they were just photos, I could feel the vividness of the moment they were captured. When I slightly moved my body from side to side, the photos rotated accordingly, which felt intuitive.
Then I saw the spatial videos, and without exaggeration, I was deeply moved to the point of tears. It depicted a scene of a mother blowing birthday candles with her children.
The 3D effect was so immersive that it felt like it was happening right in front of me, although the people in the footage were not my wife and children.
Emotional Connection to Captured Moments
I could strongly feel how happy that life scene must have been.
Immediately, I thought about how wonderful it would have been if this technology existed a few years ago, allowing me to capture footage of my deceased dog happily running on the grass. I would have had an great memory that lasts forever.
I consider this feature futuristic, like the prototype of the Alakazam in “Cyberpunk 2077,” allowing people to momentarily forget about time and immerse themselves in the most beautiful moments of the past.
Of course, what I saw were spatial photos and two video clips provided by Apple. I couldn’t personally capture and experience it myself. I am very curious about how the footage we capture in reality would turn out without movie-grade lighting and set designs.
I will have to wait until I purchase it in the future to find out. I believe this spatial camera feature not only allows me to capture footage for personal viewing but also provides an opportunity for the Vision Pro to become the most user-friendly VR video creation tool, directly transforming into a productivity tool.
From this perspective, its high price might be justified.
Display Performance
Then there is the display performance – Vision Pro sets itself apart from other headsets in terms of viewing experience. It offers a single-eye ultra 4K resolution with sufficient brightness and accurate, vibrant colors. It is indeed the most outstanding among all the current headsets.
Superb Visual Experience
the software experience is also as user-friendly and comfortable as Apple’s. By simply tapping on the side menu, I can select the cinema mode, which automatically adjusts the screen to the appropriate size and position.
The scene transforms into a fully immersive VR movie theater.
Interestingly, I can even choose my own seat in the cinema, with options for the front row, middle, and back row. I watched a clip of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ in the front row seat, and the most convincing way I can describe it is that at that moment, I mentally compared Vision Pro not to a TV or a monitor, but to my memories of watching movies in an actual theater.
Immersive Cinema Experience
Then, I watched two conceptual demos. The first one was a 180-degree video shot with professional equipment, featuring scenes underwater, high in the sky, on cliffs, and in a stadium.
It made me feel like I was the camera itself, sometimes a drone, sometimes surveillance. The first-person perspective was quite different.
The other demo was a dinosaur popping out of the screen, perfectly aligned with the real-world surroundings. The dinosaur itself looked very realistic and even reacted to my head movements, occasionally biting at me.
I believe these two demos provide directors with new inspiration to shoot innovative 180-degree videos and create more interesting 3D interactive experiences. All of these enhance the enjoyment of watching movies.
Office Productivity
One of the main use cases for Vision Pro is office productivity. For example, when paired with a Mac, you can instantly expand the Mac screen to a larger display.
Additionally, you can use office software such as Office iWorks. However, during my 35-minute experience, I did not get to try out these features, which was a bit disappointing.
Lack of Mention of VR Gaming, Surprising Focus on Apple Arcade
Another aspect I thought would be a highlight, VR gaming, was barely mentioned by Apple. They only demonstrated the use of controllers to play flat games within Apple Arcade.
I was very surprised by this because VR gaming is currently one of the main reasons why consumers are willing to invest in VR headsets. I wonder if more game developers will join in the future.
Weight, Battery, and Connectivity
Asked about the weight of Vision Pro, the role of the Type-C port, and Apple’s staff revealed that Vision Pro weighs a little over 1 pound, approximately 500 grams.
To be honest, this weight is not light, similar to Quest 2, but much lighter than Meta Quest Pro, which weighs over 700 grams.
In actual experience, the straps can effectively balance the weight of the front goggles, so it doesn’t feel top-heavy.
It’s a clever design. During my half-hour experience, I didn’t feel any discomfort. The staff told me that she could comfortably watch a three-hour movie with it. Vision Pro doesn’t have any interfaces on the entire device, except for the Type-C port on the battery, which doesn’t support data transfer.
Weight and Balance
- Vision Pro weighs a little over 1 pound (approximately 500 grams).
- It is not as light as Quest 2 but lighter than Meta Quest Pro.
- The straps effectively balance the weight of the front goggles, providing a comfortable experience.
Battery and Connectivity
- Vision Pro doesn’t have any interfaces except for the Type-C port on the battery.
- The Type-C port does not support data transfer.
- Vision Pro is not suitable for use with PCs or external gaming consoles.
- Streaming software may be the future option for playing console games.
- The Type-C port allows for external power connection, extending battery life to “play as long as you want.”
- The angle of the power cable doesn’t cause inconvenience when sitting or walking around, but carrying an external battery is a compromise.
- Some pants may not have pockets large enough to accommodate the battery.
Is VR headset the future after smartphones?
Excitement for the Future: Vision Pro and Potential Developments
From the current announcement to the early release next year (2024), developers still have around half a year to develop unique applications for Vision Pro. I am very much looking forward to this future.
As the first-generation product of Apple’s brand-new product line, it undoubtedly bears the responsibility of exploring uncharted territory, while simultaneously collecting product data to make better iteration.
Early Impressions of Vision Pro
Even at this early stage, many first-party experiences of Vision Pro are already in a fairly advanced state. The interaction is extremely elegant and concise, and the hardware performance is far ahead of the market.
However, the price of $3,499 is simply too expensive.
Of course, it is not aimed at ordinary consumers.
The Future Possibilities
While developers have time to create unique applications for Vision Pro, they are also exploring more potential uses.
The integration of Vision Pro’s advanced features and functionalities opens up new avenues for innovation and development. Additionally, the collection of user data will contribute to the improvement and evolution of the product line.
The anticipation for Vision Pro and its subsequent impact on the market is high. Despite its initial high price, I speculate that after Vision Pro matures, some of its technologies will permeate into more affordable products, possibly called Vision Air.
I am looking forward to that time.