Apple’s Vision Pro Headset Shows the Future of Computing Is Bulky and Weird
I spent a little more than 30 minutes wearing the Apple Vision Pro today, and I saw the future of computing. The impressive technology in Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset lays the groundwork for what's to come, but I am at a crossroads. I'm not sold on the bulky headset.
Apple announced the Vision Pro at its Worldwide Developer Conference last year. It's a $3,500 wearable computing platform you don over your head. Preorders start tomorrow, January 19, and it goes on sale on February 2, which is when you'll be able to demo it at Apple Stores worldwide. My time with it today showcased a final version of the official hardware with some new experiences.
The Vision Pro operates completely independently, so you don't need to pair it with another device. Once you're wearing it, you'll be interfacing with visionOS, Apple's new spatial operating system which offers a unique software experience that somehow feels familiar. It's kind of like iOS but suspended in midair. You can watch movies, revisit memories in the Photos app, play games, and even do some work.