Apple Just Announced Its First VR Headset: Here's Everything to Know
Apple's 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference is on! The annual extravaganza, a showcase for the tech giant's new products, has officially kicked off.
As expected, day one of the event witnessed the introduction of Apple's first virtual reality and augmented reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro — a release that offers a compelling alternative to the Meta Quest, one of the most popular mixed reality headsets on the market.
Murmurs of Apple's VR/AR headset emerged this spring, when Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in his weekly "Power On" newsletter that "The showcase at WWDC, the Worldwide Developers Conference, will likely include the headset itself, but also its onboard xrOS operating system, accompanying services, and — perhaps most critically — a software development kit and platform that will let developers write new types of apps."
Signs pointing to an Apple-branded mixed reality headset date back to August 2022, when the tech giant filed applications to trademark monikers including "Reality Processor," "Reality Pro," and "Reality One."
Confirming months-long speculation, Apple unveiled a first look at the innovation, dubbed "Vision Pro" at its WWDC on June 5, 2023.
The design that isn't too dissimilar to the Meta Quest — as revealed in an intro presented by Tim Cook himself, the headset is essentially a pair of goggles made of aluminum, glass, and carbon fiber outfitted with a soft, stretchy strap.
"It's the first Apple product that you look through, not at," Cook declared. "You're no longer limited by a display — your surroundings become an infinite canvas," he added, referencing the headset's ability to both integrate apps into the user's surroundings and immerse the user in games and other virtual experiences.
Unlike the Meta Quest, which comes with a pair of controllers, the Vision Pro is controlled using one's own hands, eyes, and voice. The headset also has the ability to capture photo and video.
The Vision Pro will drop in early 2024 and retail for $3,499, though a more affordable version is reportedly in the pipeline. (Meta's third-generation Quest, slated to launch later this year, will price at $500.)
$3.5k is a steep price to pay for a VR headset — but given the premium customers are willing to shell out for Apple's sleek design and branding, we wouldn't be surprised if the Vision Pro becomes next year's biggest tech hit.
