Is Apple's Vision Pro the 'Computer Replacement' the Company Suggests?
Another VR contender enters the fray, and it's bringing its friend, AR
During Apple’s annual WWDC keynote event, CEO Tim Cook unveiled the rumored Apple VR headset, the Vision Pro. A step beyond virtual reality, the Vision Pro is a mixed-reality device that, according to Cook, will bring “spatial computing” to the common consumer. Instead of focusing primarily on virtual reality like Meta’s Quest line or the PS VR2, the Vision Pro integrates a seamless transition into augmented reality with the turn of a dial.
Coupled with Apple’s new three-dimensional operating system, VisionOS, the Vision Pro is expected to create a boundary-free workspace. Unlike the Quest 2 and Quest 3, and similarly to the pricey Quest Pro, the Vision Pro XR headset isn’t a gaming device, though it will play a library of titles. Apple’s M2 and R1 chips will create a fluid, controller-free experience where the simple wave of a hand or a pinch of a finger can manipulate the AR screen in front of your eyes. Feasibly, it’s a whole new way to manage tasks and keep your office running.
But is it a full replacement for a laptop? Apple definitely thinks so. I’m not so convinced.
Currently, the Vision Pro only responds to hand gestures, which is questionable considering hand-tracking has been spotty at best with current hardware. The R1 chip uses 12 cameras and five sensors to match the user’s movements to the screen, but there are variables, such as lighting and the user’s own understanding of how the tech works, that can get in the way. But there are other factors that may keep the Vision Pro from being a full-office and media replacement.
One of the most glaring concerns that came from Cook’s presentation is the two-hour battery life of the bulky external battery pack. Yes, it’s an external battery, and according to Apple, two hours was achieved while using video playback, browsing “20 popular websites,” testing FaceTime, and using the device’s spatial video capture. When you think of a full day of work, that’s maybe a fraction of the tasks one would need to complete. So that two-hour battery life is largely an overestimation of what users will actually get, meaning to use the Vision Pro for anything substantial, they’ll need to be tethered to a power source.
At that rate, you’re already limiting the freedom the tech is intended to provide, and all you’ve really done is enlarge the Macbook’s screen, overlay it onto the space you’re occupying, and move it uncomfortably close to your eyes. Even with mouse and keyboard support, which the Vision Pro has via Apple’s Bluetooth accessories, the headset will still remain a supplement to the casual consumer. Eye fatigue and overall discomfort will plague users as they attempt to read through a day’s worth of emails or compile reports.
The biggest roadblock to Vision Pro’s success, though, is its price tag. At a hefty $3,500 on release, this is among the most expensive consumer-level headsets on the market. After the keynote event, it seems Apple created the device it thinks users want, which is a “go everywhere, do anything” virtual reality headset. It’s not a practical concept, though, especially at this size and with this battery life.
The Apple Vision Pro won’t replace our current conventions, and this vision of turning VR headsets into viable workstations still comes across as a pipe dream. Does the Vision Pro look like it advances on other headsets like the Quest 2? Yeah, absolutely. The new OS looks sleek and the dual chips will deliver on performance, but whenever a company introduces a VR headset as the do-all device every family needs, I’m skeptical. You can thank Google Glass, Microsoft HoloLens, and all other failed implementations of similar tech for that.
To me, these headsets will always be niche, and they’ll continue to struggle to reach the massive market they’re allegedly made for. The irony of it all, though, is that I absolutely want one and can’t wait to see it in person.