Apple Vision Pro

The slickest mixed reality headset yet, from hardware to software, but it will need truly killer apps to justify the price

- MARK SPOONAUER

PRICE US only (available early 2024), $3,499 from apple.com

According to Apple, the Vision Pro is no mere AR headset: this is a "spatial computer", the "most advanced personal electronics device ever". That's a hefty claim when you already make the iPhone.

Available early next year, initially in the US with the UK to follow, the Vision Pro is indeed powerful, with an Apple M2 and a new R1 chip designed for real-time data processing. It offers eye tracking, hand control and voice control. Nor has Apple ignored usability, with a lightweight headset married to the slick new VisionOS.

What will you do with this $3,499 spatial computer? Apple promises enhanced productivity with your Mac, a new way to FaceTime, immersive video watching and gaming, and more.

I tried the Vision Pro across a wide range of experiences, and came away impressed with its ease of use and early apps. But I also have concerns.

Sleek for geeks

In the flesh, the Apple Vision Pro looks like a high-tech pair of goggles, and I mean that mostly in a good way. The 3D-formed glass is smooth and polished, the aluminium alloy frame suitably sturdy, and the "Light Seal" between the headset and your face is soft and comes in multiple sizes.

The first part of my demo was a vision check that involved handing over my reading glasses, which were scanned as part of a mini-interview about my eyesight. Apple fitted the headset with customised lenses to correct for my vision, something all Vision Pro owners will experience thanks to a partnership with Zeiss.

I then did a quick Face ID-like scan with an iPhone to customise my Light Seal. I'm happy to report there was no light leakage during my demo. The spatial audio experience comes from two audio pods on either side of your head, tuned to your ears in a way that AirPods users will be familiar with.