On Monday, June 5, Apple’s stock reached an all-time high of $184.27 following the unveiling of its new augmented reality (AR) headset, the Vision Pro, at the annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference (WWDC) in Cupertino, California, US, as reported by CNBC TV18. Priced at $3,499 and set to be available in early 2024, initially in the United States, the Apple Vision Pro represents a fusion of the real and digital worlds. CEO Tim Cook described it as the first Apple product you “look through” rather than “at.”
At the time of writing, Apple’s stock price dipped to $183.58
Resembling a pair of ski goggles, the headset offers a range of advanced features, including a separate battery pack and control through eye movements, hand gestures, and voice commands.
Running on visionOS, the Vision Pro is primarily positioned as an AR device but seamlessly transitions between augmented and full virtual reality modes using a dial. A unique feature of this controller-free headset is the ability to navigate rows of app icons simply by looking at them, with selections made through tapping and scrolling achieved by flicking, all while incorporating voice control. The headset also supports Bluetooth accessories and allows users to connect their Mac devices for use within the headset.
Apple emphasises that wearing the Vision Pro won’t disconnect users from the world around them. The EyeSight feature displays the user’s eyes, maintaining a sense of connection. In full virtual reality mode, the eyes are obscured by a glowing screen to indicate the user’s unavailability. The device employs passthrough video technology, enabling users to perceive the real world in vibrant colours. Additionally, it can project 3D objects into physical space, allowing users to bring objects from message threads into their actual environment.
For remote conversations, the Vision Pro offers spatial audio, enabling users to arrange FaceTime participants as video tiles in their virtual surroundings. The headset also features a 3D camera, enabling immersive video capture and playback. Apple highlights the availability of TV and Arcade content on the device, including premium offerings from Disney.
The development of the Vision Pro has been a long-standing project for Apple, involving multiple iterations and years of delays. CEO Tim Cook considers it a standout addition to the Apple product lineup. While entering a market that has yet to fully take off, the headset has received positive feedback from industry insiders.
Its primary competitor is expected to be Meta, known for its successful gaming-focused Quest 2 headset, although Meta’s more general-purpose Quest Pro has received mixed reviews.