Apple Vision Pro review roundup

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With Apple Vision Pro out this week, the reviews are beginning to roll in. Let’s take a closer look at some hands-on experiences in our Apple Vision Pro review roundup.

We’ve taken a look at the Initial assessments of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, by those granted early access. Let’s find out if Apple can rival the likes of Meta and Microsoft with its unique take on “spatial computing” that seeks to go beyond the standard mixed reality setup.

The headset, exclusively available in the US and initially introduced in June last year, is packed with cutting-edge features, including front-facing 3D cameras for video capture, the ability to seamlessly merge the real and virtual realms through hand and eye tracking, and a front display presenting a representation of the wearer’s eyes.

However, with a price tag of $3,499 (approximately £2,760) in the US, the Apple Vision Pro faces a considerable challenge in convincing both consumers and developers that it is more than just an expensive novelty for tech enthusiasts. If you’re after Apple’s anticipated headset, make sure you know where to buy the Apple Vision Pro.

“It sounds amazing, and sometimes it is”

In terms of the feel of the product, The Verge speaks highly about the Vision Pro: “The Vision Pro is stunning compared to other VR headsets, which are largely plastic and often downright goofy-looking” writes Editor-in-chief Nilay Patel. “The Vision Pro, by contrast, is built of magnesium and carbon fiber in an aluminum enclosure that feels like a natural extension of Apple’s familiar design language. There’s a little iPhone 6 in there, a little AirPods Max, a little Apple Watch. It is the cutting edge of technology in a package that seems instantly familiar.”

But he also says that “the Vision Pro also represents a series of really big tradeoffs — tradeoffs that are impossible to ignore. Some of those tradeoffs are very tangible: getting all this tech in a headset means there’s a lot of weight on your face, so Apple chose to use an external battery pack connected by a cable.” The tradeoffs that he’s talking about here are referring to the heaviness of the headset, the heat, and the battery.

Essentially, The Verge has suggested that the Apple Vision Pro is not as Apple wanted it to be. Patel did describe some of the positives such as the strong magnesium and carbon fiber build, and the “huge leap forward in display technology’. However, he addresses some of the fundamental downfalls of the product. Some of these downfalls include the Apple Vision Pro messing up your hair, which is no doubt subjective but other issues like the heaviness of the device appear to be more universal.

“There’s nothing quite like the Apple Vision Pro”

Mark Spoonauer of Tom’s Guide highlights the impressive technology of the Apple Vision Pro and talks about its revolutionary features. Spoonauer says “‘The Apple Vision Pro feels revolutionary because of how easy it is to operate. There’s no controllers to deal with. You just use your eyes to look at the element you want to select and then tap your thumb and index finger together to “click.”

The weight of the Apple Vision Pro is almost as heavy as the 12.9 inch iPad Pro (682g) and substantially heavier than the Meta Quest 2 (503g) and 3 (515g). Spoonauer claimed that after 30 minutes, he could feel it weighing on his cheeks. However, Spoonauer wrote “After wearing the Vision Pro on and off for several hours, I didn’t find it uncomfortable to wear, but I did feel like taking periodic breaks because of the heft. I also got some light red marks on my cheeks.” Something to keep in mind as it’s a lot of weight for your head to carry. Patel from The Verge stated that ‘in a very real way, it’s an iPad for your face’.

Spoonauer addresses the exciting tools of the Apple Vision Pro such as the cinema environment where it ‘feels like you’re watching a 100-foot screen’ and the ‘4K display that renders text crisply’. However, he too, acknowledges its drawbacks such as the incompetencies of the floating keyboard in that there’s no tactile feedback so typing can be tedious.

Over at CNET, Scott Stein shares a similar opinion to Spoonauer that the Apple Vision Pro has a revolutionary feel. Whether in a positive way or not, he acknowledges that the Vision Pro is ‘Apple’s wildest and strangest device’ yet. He wouldn’t, however, recommend it to friends or family because of the extortionate price.

“Apple’s wildest and strangest device yet”

Stein also commends the display.’The display quality and the finessed interface make the Vision Pro feel like it’s in a whole other class, though. The dual 4K micro-OLED displays, a technology that will make its way to other headsets in the future, are rich, vibrant and way above what competing devices offer. Apple’s hand and eye tracking is always on, and often fantastic (but not always). Also, the Vision Pro requires no room setup at all. The depth mapping and spatial awareness happen invisibly, something I haven’t seen before either.

‘Every interaction is done with your eyes and hands, or via speaking to Siri using the built-in microphones. Hand and eye tracking even works in the dark — light is needed for room tracking, but not for hand tracking. Lying in bed one night, I watched movies on my bedroom ceiling.’