Apple Vision Pro is expected to launch later this week, according to reports from “people familiar” with Meta and its operations. Mark Zuckerberg’s The company plans to become an Android competitor to Apple as it enters the XR world.
Just as smartphone users are typically forced to choose between iOS or Android devices, some experts believe the headset market will reach the same level as Apple and other major companies investing in XR devices.
“Meta folks see Quest and its software ecosystem emerging as a major alternative to Apple, taking over the role Google’s Android plays in smartphones,” the report says.
With RealityOS, the operating system that powers the Vision Pro, already in the hands of developers, Apple’s spatial computing vision is already seeing social media hype around productivity and entertainment uses such as streaming media.
On the other hand, the Android operating system is already home to many XR headsets, such as Meta’s Quest lineup. So what will perform best in 2024? A new wave of spatial computing applications or a reliable Android framework.
Who will be the XR leader?
Meta, with all the attention focused on Vision Pro, includes Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, etc.
According to this report from the Wall Street Journal, executives like Zuckerberg are optimistic about Apple’s Vision Pro debut. This is because it will validate the immersive industry goal that Meta first launched at Connect 2022, attracting more customers into the space. Potentially driving the next mainstream era of XR.
Additionally, according to the report, Vision Pro could “enable” Meta’s Metaverse campaigns, which “have not yet been widely embraced by consumers.”
The report also says that the upcoming fight between Meta and Apple could have a crushing impact on the software maker. OS immersive application developers will likely be able to help advance the XR devices of their choice by creating them and driving adoption thanks to their lineup of services.
But on the other hand, the report suggests that Mehta may have been more influenced by Apple than he admits. The report highlights how Meta transitioned from a Metaverse concept to an MR application. Meta also unveiled the Quest 3 MR headset just a few days before announcing the first Vision Pro.
More about Vision Pro
Apple plans to launch the new MR headset on February 2nd, and said earlier this month that pre-orders will begin on January 19th. The device will initially only be available in stores and online in the U.S., with subsequent availability in other regions.
The Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 for the 256GB storage model. Apple is also offering additional accessories at an additional cost to increase accessibility for people who need prescription glasses. Apple is working with ZEISS to introduce optional optical inserts into its products, with “Readers” coming soon for $99 and prescription standard optics for $149.
Additional accessories for Vision Pro include Solo Knit Band, Dual Loop Band, Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, Apple Vision Pro Cover, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charging Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter. These accessories ensure maximum comfort and usability for the user.
The device also features 2 hours of battery life, an immersive camera to capture spatial audio/photos/video for peer-to-peer sharing, iPhone/iPad/Mac sync, light seal, LiDAR scanner, and TrueDepth camera. The device runs on VisionOS, a custom operating system specifically designed for MR applications.
At launch, Apple will launch an accompanying App Store so Vision Pro users can quickly download immersive solutions for productivity, peer-to-peer collaboration, reference viewing, and more. The App Store includes over a million space applications that work with iOS and iPadOS products, allowing users to leverage their devices alongside familiar Apple products.
Vision Pro devices also come with a custom M2 Silicon chip and Apple’s purpose-built R1 graphics processor, both of which support MR applications. Apple, unlike its Android competitors, did not use Qualcomm technology in these processors.
The device boasts a high-resolution 23-megapixel display with two micro-OLED lenses and high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG) output.
Vision Pro pre-orders sold out
Apple recently began taking pre-orders for its upcoming Vision Pro MR headset. The headset sold out quickly despite concerns about its high $3,499 price point, with approximately 180,000 models sold exclusively to online customers in the United States. Apple plans to launch the device in stores and online next Friday, and expects to ship about 500,000 devices by the end of the year.
Initial pre-orders will likely come from Apple and XR enthusiasts, but it will be interesting to see whether a wider audience will show interest in the Vision Pro in the coming months. A more enthusiastic demographic may be waiting for the next wave of Vision Pro devices, testing their popularity after the first wave got their hands on them.
Apple hasn’t confirmed when the Vision Pro will launch outside the US, but it may announce additional details at WWDC later this year. CEO Tim Cook The Vision Pro has been called the most advanced consumer electronics product ever made and believes “the era of spatial computing has arrived.”