Rumors of Apple’s impending entry into mixed reality have circled for years. But concrete details remained clouded as to exactly when or how the presumed “Apple Glasses” would materialize. Now after countless leaks and speculation, the tech giant’s Vision Pro headset is not only real – it finally has an official launch target!
Just days before the annual Consumer Electronics Show technology confab kicked off, Apple crashed the augmented and virtual reality party. In a rare pre-CES announcement, CEO Tim Cook confirmed the Vision Pro headset would launch in the United States on February 2 carrying a steep $3,499 price tag.
The timing coincidence was no accident according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. He indicates Apple deliberately announced its headset on the eve of CES 2024, the massive Las Vegas expo which Apple infamously never attends. Call it a flagship power move by Cupertino!
So what details were unveiled about this long-fabled machine meant to pioneer a new computing platform? For starters, the Vision Pro design looks almost like a slimmed-down Oculus Quest with wraparound visor and headband rather than bulky goggles. The slick white finish bears Apple’s trademark minimalist aesthetic.
Hardware specs are impressive for a first-gen device. The Vision Pro sports ultra-high resolution 4K displays for each eye delivering immersive visuals augmented by spatial audio speakers. On-board processors and custom silicon provide snappy response without being tethered to an iPhone or Mac.
As for actually using the headset, Vision Pro supports inputs ranging from hand tracking and gestures to Siri voice commands and a dedicated remote. Apple is launching with robust software too – loaded with mixed reality apps for gaming, media viewing, collaboration tools and more.
Apple made clear though this is only Gen 1. The more lightweight, stylish smart glasses to potentially replace iPhones are still years down the road. But after secret development and supply chain prep, the Vision Pro paves the way as Apple’s opening salvo into spatial computing.
The limited February rollout focuses on US customers first. Apple employees are already undergoing extensive training on the headset and demoing use cases ahead of launch day. Racks of Vision Pro inventory also began appearing in Apple stores across the states.
Global expansion to markets like Canada, Mexico, Japan and various European regions is slated later in 2023. No word yet on Vision Pro hitting Apple Stores in China due to geopolitical tensions. But the head-mounted device finally becoming purchasable reality completes a long journey since rumors first bubbled up nearly six years back in 2018.
Given the sticker shock surpassing even the highest-end iPhone 14 Pro, Vision Pro likely remains a luxury purchase for early adopters and enterprise customers at launch. The question now – can Apple make mixed reality computing accessible and indispensable to the mainstream in the years ahead?
Share your thoughts on Apple’s Vision Pro entrance into spatial computing. Is the headset’s debut living up to the hype or should Apple have waited longer? And what killer apps could convince average consumers to strap a screen to their face? Let us know what this immersive new product means for the future!
