APPLE’S first-ever “spatial computer” is finally going on sale for Brits.
The Apple Vision Pro headset launched was announced last summer – and hit stores in February this year, but only in the United States.
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Now the premium (and very expensive) Apple goggles are coming to Britain’s shores for the first time – with a big upgrade you’ll definitely want to try.
Apple’s UK fans will be able to snap up the headset from Friday, July 12 – with pre-orders on Friday, June 28.
I’ve had the chance to try out Vision Pro several times, and it’s like stepping into the future. It’s the closest thing we’ve got to a time machine.
You can read all about my early Vision Pro thoughts here – but here’s a quick recap on what the Vision Pro headset does, and why it matters.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
For the most part, we interact with the digital world through screens: the smartphone in your hands, the laptop on your desk, or the TV on your wall.
But in the future, the digital world will be all around you. Movies will float in front of you on giant hovering displays. Apps will break free from the screen and live wherever you want them.
Except it’s not in the future. It’s right now. And it’s thanks to the Vision Pro.
OK, so admittedly the Vision Pro is using screens. But they’re so close to your eyes that they may as well not exist.
It’s augmenting your vision to see an invisible layer on the world that no one else can.
This has endless uses.
The obvious one is that you could stick a giant 100-inch cinema screen on your ceiling without having to worry about hoisting it up, having it fall on you, or footing the bill for such an enormous display.
These virtual screens aren’t good for just movies, but playing video games and exploring immersive virtual worlds too.
Not only that! The headset can let you work on your laptop with floating windows in front of you – taking inputs from your actual keyboard and mouse.
Virtual Reality v.s. Augmented Reality – what’s the difference?
Here’s what you need to know
- Virtual reality involves using a headset to simulate a virtual world.
- In a VR world, everything you see will be computer-generated
- Popular VR headsets include the HTC Vive and Meta’s Quest and Quest Pro.
- Augmented reality lets you see the real world, but “augments” (or adds on) computer-generated elements.
- This means you’ll be able to see computer images overlaid onto your real-world view.
- For instance, you could wear glasses that overlay directions onto the road in front of you.
- This is what Meta’s Quest headsets also offer, as well as Microsoft HoloLens.
- There’s also the term “mixed reality”, which blends virtual, augmented, and real world visuals that can be changed on the fly.
- Apple also has its own term for its headset’s mixed reality tech called “spatial computing”.
- That’s why it describes the Vision Pro headset as a spatial computer.
It works exceptionally well, and lets you turn your home or office into a Minority Report-style floating workspace.
The headset also functions as a “spatial camera” that lets you take immersive 3D photos and videos.
And you can use the headset to feel as though you’re back in that moment in an eerily realistic way.
The quality of the visuals are impressive, with a custom display system that delivers more pixels than a 4K TV to each eye.
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Power comes courtesy of a battery pack that promises around two hours of use.
But you can also use the headset while charging the battery.
The biggest downside is that it’s expensive. UK pricing is set at £3,499 – roughly equivalent to the US version, which was priced at $3,499.
GOING PRO
It’s incredibly moving to step back into a treasured memory.
Haley Allen
Apple also announced some minor updates to the visionOS software that powers the headset.
One of the big upgrades is the new ability to turn your existing snaps into Spatial Photos.
Through the use of some computing wizardry, your Vision Pro will be able to transform standard 2D images into stunning 3D versions.
And that means you’ll be able to “relive” those moments like never before inside the headset.
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“It’s incredibly moving to step back into a treasured memory,” said Apple’s Haley Allen.
She added: “It’s so magical to reach into the past and bring your most treasured photos into the future.”
But those updates won’t arrive until the autumn, so Brits buying the headset at launch will still be using the original version of visionOS.