In his latest YouTube video, renowned tech reviewer and influencer Marques Brownlee shared his insights on Apple Inc.'s AAPL first-generation mixed-reality headset, Vision Pro headset, a product that has sparked intense debate due to its hefty price tag.
What Happened: During the Worldwide Developers Conference 2023, Apple unveiled the much-anticipated Vision Pro mixed reality headset. Priced at $3,499, the device’s value for money has been a point of contention.
The headset is set to release on Feb. 2. Pre-orders for the same started earlier this month.
Brownlee, known for his candid reviews, had the chance to test the Vision Pro headset and shared his experiences in a video.
The YouTuber started the video by saying, "This is easily one of Apple’s craziest, most radical, possibly dystopian products of all time. And I have a lot of thoughts here. I’ve been using it for about a week now. There are some parts of this thing that are absolutely incredible, and some other parts that feel weird, or borderline unfinished."
He said that its core, Vision Pro, is a high-end virtual reality headset, despite Apple avoiding using the term. The headset is made of metal and glass and features an aluminum frame, fans, buttons, and speakers. Notably, it includes an enormous piece of glass at the front, housing an outward-facing OLED display, sensors, and various cameras.
The headset weighed 638 grams, which Brownlee showed on screen, mentioning that it is lighter than the Meta Platform Inc.'s META Quest Pro but with a front-weighted design due to the absence of a back battery. The included 3,366 milliamp-hour battery offers two to four hours of usage, requiring a twist-and-lock cable connection for power.
Brownlee then said that what is unique to the Vision Pro is the absence of physical controllers, relying on eye and hand tracking for input. The calibration process involves adjusting lens distance, hand scanning, and a visual test. The headset provides a wide angle for hand tracking, allowing users to control actions within a 180-degree bubble.
Regarding the speakers' position, he said that they are "pointed straight at your ears and work surprisingly well," adding, "Though, of course, it also means that people around you can hear a little bit of what you’re hearing."
In conclusion, he said that after a week of using the Vision Pro, there are notable upsides and downsides.
On the positive side, the headset excels in immersion, spatial placement, eye tracking, hand control, passthrough functionality, ecosystem integration, and spatial audio.
However, there are downsides to consider, including the headset’s weight and comfort, the unusual feature of displaying eyes on the outside, limited app selection at present, relatively short battery life, and the higher price point.
Watch the complete video here:
Read Next: Despite the steep price, the Vision Pro headset seems to have found its audience. According to a review by tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, Apple sold between 160,000 to 180,000 Vision Pro units during the first pre-order weekend. The headset sold out “immediately after pre-order opened,” leading to extended shipping times for all models.
Previously, market commentator Jim Cramer weighed in on the Vision Pro’s price tag. He suggested that the high cost could be justified as it could pave the way for more affordable headsets of a similar type.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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