 |
| (Image: © Tom's Guide) |
Product Review
Pros
- Amazing eye- and hand-tracking interface
- Jaw-dropping 3D movies and Apple Immersive Video
- Impressive Spatial video and photos
- Works magically with MacBooks
- Great AR apps and experiences
Cons
- Super expensive
- Big apps missing like Netflix and YouTube
- Personas need work
- Tethered battery can be annoying
"What on earth is going on?" As I spun two albums in front of me with a cross-fade knob and special effects I could manipulate with my hands in midair, I told myself that. I simply extended my hand to touch them.
I just glanced at my MacBook to connect and enlarged its display on the wall in front of me, and it gave me a similar WTF moment—in a nice way. Next, I positioned Slack on the right side of my desk and the Apple Music app on the left. Apple defines "spatial computing" as this.
And when I saw a 3D spatial video of my three dogs approaching the camera, I was practically dumbfounded. Because it's so engrossing, you might feel a little emotional. Oh, and Apple TV+ lets you view standard 3D movies that far surpass those in your neighborhood cinema.
With its impressive eye and hand tracking interface, the Apple Vision Pro is a technological marvel that surpasses its competitors. However, this revolution also brings with it some very strange things and early flaws, such as a strange digital Persona of oneself that might show up during FaceTime talks.
The Vision Pro, with a starting price of $3,500, is unreasonably pricey and exclusive to early adopters who can afford it. However, it is the most inventive gadget Apple has produced in more than ten years and an intriguing glimpse at the convergence of entertainment and computing into a single, svelte container. Here are my current advantages and downsides along with how it feels to use.
Apple Vision Pro Cheat Sheet
- Supersize your Mac display by looking at it.
- Use and pin multiple apps around your space.
- Capture and view 3D photos and videos.
- Watch 3D movies.
- Experience AR apps.
- Play games.
THE RELEASE DATE, PRICE, AND ACCESSORIES OF APPLE VISION PRO
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The Apple Vision Pro will launch on February 2 and is now available for pre-order.
Although this headgear starts at an eye-watering $3,499, it may be able to follow your eyes with incredible precision. The base model costs $3,699 for 512GB and $3,899 for 1TB, and it has 256GB of storage.
Put on eyeglasses? Prescription lenses cost $149 and the ZEISS optical inserts for readers cost $99, but I do enjoy how effortlessly they magnetically connect to the Vision Pro. For an extra $499, you can get two years of limitless repairs and damage protection with Apple Care+.
Although there are many accessories available, I highly suggest the $199 travel case since it protects the Vision Pro whether you're traveling by plane or simply commuting to and from the workplace. It's large and cumbersome. An additional accessory is the $49.00 Belkin battery holder.
Apple Vision Pro Specifications
OVERVIEW OF APPLE VISION PRO: WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
The Light Seal that is customized for your face, the Solo Knit Band and Dual Loop Band, the Light Seal Cushion, and the actual headset all arrive in a sizable package with the Apple Vision Pro.
Additionally included are a 30W USB-C power converter, a second, thicker Light Seal Cushion, a cleaning cloth, and the Apple Vision Pro battery, which is permanently attached to the headset.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The Apple Vision Pro is without a doubt the sleekest headset to date, with a curved glass front panel and a modular architecture that allows for extensive wearer customization. It's certainly not bright, though. I noticed it heavy on my cheeks after thirty minutes.
When you buy your Vision Pro, you will be asked to scan your face (much like when setting up Face ID) in order to receive a personalized Light Seal that blocks light from entering your field of vision.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The Vision Pro is packaged with two bands. The Dual Loop band and the Solo Knit band are two examples. With the integrated knob, you can easily tighten and relax the fit. The former is pliable, making it very simple to put on and take off the Vision Pro.
Because the Dual Loop Band has a strap that crosses both your back and top of your head, it offers greater stability. Since there is more support for what is a very heavy headset, I think this one is preferable for longer Vision Pro sessions.
The weight of the Vision Pro is greater than that of an 11-inch iPad Pro on your head, weighing between 1.3 and 1.4 pounds, depending on the Light Seal and head band arrangement. For comparison's sake, the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro weigh 1.1 and 1.6 pounds, respectively.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
I didn't find the Vision Pro difficult to wear after wearing it for a few hours on and off, but due of its weight, I did occasionally feel like taking a break. On my cheeks, I also developed a few faint red markings.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The digital crown, located on the right side of the Vision Pro, allows you to access the home screen from any location. In addition to controlling the volume, turning the crown increases the immersion in any environment you're viewing (more on that later). You may confirm purchases and take images and movies in three dimensions with the top button on the left side of the headset.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The modularity of the Vision Pro design definitely appeals to me. By tugging on little orange tags, it's simple to switch between the two band options for the Light Seal and Light Seal Cushion, which connect magnetically to the gadget. However, I believe there is room for improvement in the magnetic connection; on a few occasions, the Light Seal came loose as I was lifting up the Vision Pro. Therefore, it would be best if you held it by the metal and glass frame.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
APPLE VISION PRO REVIEW: HAND AND EYE TRACKING, INTERFACE
The simplicity of usage of the Apple Vision Pro makes it feel innovative. Controllers are not an issue. All you have to do is stare at the piece you wish to pick with your eyes, and then "click" by tapping your thumb and index finger together.
I quickly get used to the input when setting up the Vision Pro since you have to follow a dot around the screen and choose it as part of the calibration procedure. Then, a home screen with icons that resemble those on iOS appears in front of your view of the room you are in.
Since the goal of Vision Pro is to enhance rather than replace your surroundings with digital material, Vision OS begins with your current perspective. Additionally, the video pass-through is incredibly lifelike since the Vision Pro's microOLED displays can receive pictures from the specialized R1 processor in just 12 milliseconds, which is 8 times quicker than human blinking.
Although my iPhone 14 Pro Max's frame rate was a little slow, I had no trouble utilizing the Vision Pro while moving about the house or using it for other purposes.
Icons light up and become available to be picked as you gaze around the home screen display and move your eyes from icon to icon. Using the Vision Pro's downward-facing cameras to monitor your hands in your lap, this is a really straightforward, calming, and pleasant task.
Because the eye tracking is so accurate, OpticID—which checks your pupils for security—uses it to verify you. Consider Face ID for your eyes, then. It functions well when it does, but throughout my testing, it occasionally stopped working. Additionally, I found it irksome that you occasionally had to use a floating keypad to input your PIN code in order to activate OpticID.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
What about body language then? By clenching your fingers together and dragging in the desired direction, you may quickly navigate from left to right and up to down. It's simple to enlarge a picture or webpage by pinching and then releasing your fingers with both hands. It's all very Minority Report.
Just so you know, I tested the Vision Pro in total darkness, and it warns you that you won't be able to see your hands. On the other hand, you can still view movies in bed because the hand- and eye-tracking interface is functional.
APPLE VISION PRO REVIEW: WORK AND SPATIAL COMPUTING
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
What then is the potential of the Vision Pro? The OS is run on an integrated M2 processor, which makes it a multitasking powerhouse. For instance, I opened Safari in the middle of my workspace, then I requested Siri to open Slack, and the app materialized. After that, I clicked on Apple Music to play it in the background by turning to the right of Safari.
Even better, you can resize applications by focusing on the lower right corner and dragging it with your finger, and you can easily move them about in your virtual area by picking the bar underneath the app. You may ask Siri to close all applications or just look at the X under the window to close a particular app. Additionally, you may always long press the digital crown to return home.
You may access the Control Center at any moment by just glancing up and selecting the downward-facing, floating arrow. You may switch between environments, activate guest mode, use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, initiate screen recording, and more from this menu.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Connecting to your Mac is one of the choices available in Control Center, but you can also use the Vision Pro to see your Mac desktop. My MacBook Pro 14-inch's screen went blank as I squeezed my fingers in response to a Connect button I noticed hovering above it. Instead, it appeared on the wall in front of me.
Although there aren't any multiple desktop views, the 4K display is incredibly bright and sharp, with text shown with clarity. Its canvas can be made to be quite large, dwarfing the majority of the finest displays. There is no delay and your keyboard and mouse continue to function as they always do. If you'd want, you can even utilize your keyboard with Vision Pro programs. Undoubtedly, only Apple could pull this off, and I could easily envision utilizing the Vision Pro while traveling for work and returning to my hotel.
Review of Apple Vision Pro: Environments
The ability to select from a variety of Environments is one of the special features of the Apple Vision Pro. Consider them as high-powered 3D desktops. There are a number of choices, from the Moon to Haleakalā and Yosemite.
The amount of realism as I approached Mount Hood astounded me; there was intricate rock and sand underfoot, shimmering river in front of me, and a soaring peak in the distance. Additionally, by rotating the digital crown clockwise (more) or counterclockwise (less), you may adjust how immersive the environment is.
Additionally, there are Environments that are exclusive to particular apps. For example, before a program or movie begins, you may utilize Disney+'s The Avengers Tower as your backdrop, replete with an assortment of Iron Man outfits, or Apple TV+'s own theater environment, which simulates watching a 100-foot screen.
VOICE INPUT AND TYPING REVIEW: APPLE VISION PRO
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Although you may type on a floating keyboard with the Apple Vision Pro, it's not a particularly gratifying experience. For starters, even though you hear clicks as you type, there is no physical feedback. Additionally, typing is slower than it should be; it's more like peck-peck-peck with one or two hands.
It's nice that you can use your voice to input text. To visit TomsGuide.com, for instance, all you have to do is speak the website's address into the address bar while using Safari. This will send you directly there.
Remember that pairing an Apple Vision Pro with a Bluetooth keyboard makes text entry simpler and quicker.
A review of Apple Vision Pro including immersive video, audio, and 3D movies
From the outset, the Apple Vision Pro is a top-notch entertainment gadget that will convert even the most skeptical person to 3D cinema.
Hundreds of 3D films are accessible on Apple TV+, and I was astounded by how stunning "Man of Steel" seemed when seen with the Vision Pro. It seemed like Superman soared directly over my shoulder when he initially took off.
The characters in the more current "The Super Mario Bros." film seemed to burst right out of the screen as Mario flew around in his raccoon costume while being pursued by an enormous bomb.
Now is a good moment to point out that the Apple Vision Pro has surprisingly superb sound quality. Two integrated audio pods in the strap, placed in close proximity to your ears, produce well-balanced and detailed spatial audio. For instance, when they spoke, I could hear Princess Peach on the right and Mario on the left of the screen.
The vocals were really clear and there was a lot of punch in the percussion when listening to SZA's "Kill Bill" on Apple Music. It's important to note, though, that when you listen, the audio will leak out of the Vision Pro; thus, if you want to keep things private, use AirPods.Your best option is the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C as they allow lossless audio.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Immersive Video is a new format that uses 8K recordings with a 180-degree field of view to create a 3D experience for anyone looking to elevate their entertainment experience. For instance, I was so close to passing out when I witnessed a female highliner in Norway try to almost walk a tightrope between two mountains 3,000 feet above the ground.
I was enthralled with the scenery as she described her mental process, the intensity in her blue eyes, and the veins that protruded from her bare feet as she crossed the abyss. In another immersive video with Alicia Keys, I had the impression that I was practicing with her in the studio, looking over to the right to see her backing vocalists and left to see the instruments and speakers.
Apple has provided other examples of how Immersive Video may be used, such as a goalie's viewpoint during a soccer match. Given that Apple owns the rights to broadcast MLB and MLS games, I think this could revolutionize the way that people watch sports. Basically, you may see the action from wherever you want to sit.
REVIEW OF APPLE VISION PRO: IMAGES AND Spatiovisual
Spatial images and movies are a major selling feature of the Apple Vision Pro. With the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can record spatial films (not still images) or snap 3D stills and videos directly from the headset.
In our sunroom, I captured a three-dog family in a spatial movie. As the dogs approached the camera, they were really lifelike, and my golden retriever even handed me his chew toy that looked like a Christmas stocking. If your subjects move while you remain mostly motionless, you'll get the finest results; when I rotated my head to follow them around, I lost the immersive feeling.
Using the top button on the left side of the headset to record a spatial video with the Vision Pro makes me feel like a total nerd. You can count on your relatives and friends to make fun of you.
Additionally, by wrapping panoramic shots around you, the Vision Pro adds a new dimension to the images. As a result, you appear to be in the middle of the image. For instance, I was totally engrossed in the picture when I captured this panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline from the balcony of a Bronx apartment building. I saw everything, including the tall buildings peeking through the overcast background and the Coca-Cola truck on the left side of the frame and the bridge in the middle.
You will be motivated to shoot more panoramic pictures if you possess a Vision Pro. However, as you go through your collection in the Vision Pro, even ordinary photographs come to life. Reliving the photos I shot of my kid and I visiting Niagara Falls and the Buffalo Bills game was a lot of fun. When I see his smile this large at the game, it's priceless.
REVIEW OF APPLE VISION PRO: APPS
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
At launch, the Apple Vision Pro is compatible with over a million iPhone and iPad apps, which is great, but exploring the genuinely native Vision Pro apps piqued my curiosity more. Although Apple claims that there are already 600 native Vision Pro applications available, the variety is still very small, and some of the experiences are truly astounding. Some programs for Vision Pro appear less like full-fledged apps and more like tech demos.
The most amazing Vision Pro program I've used is called djay; it places you in front of a turntable and mixer. The realism of the table itself and the ability to interact with all the buttons, sliders, and needles as if they were genuine left me speechless, even though I had no idea what I was doing. Additionally, there are bizarre translucent boxes that you may reach through to create unique effects. This is absurd.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
With the help of the incredibly immersive app SkyGuide, you can experience a planetarium wherever you are. You may use a laser pointer to draw in the sky and identify constellations as you look up at the night sky. You know this app is fantastic since it made my teenage kid say "woah."
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
JigSpace is one of the other noteworthy Vision Pro applications I tried; it allows you to set 3D objects and animations in front of you, such as a Formula One racing car or an airplane engine, complete with realistic light reflections. And while you view real-time 3D pictures of planes taking off and landing at different airports, Voyager by ForeFlight gives you the feeling of being an air traffic controller. Carrot Weather was one of the less impressive applications.
The Apple Encounter Dinosaurs app is a heart-stopping demonstration of what the Vision Pro can do, even though it is a brief encounter. Before a massive dinosaur appears in the picture, detects your attention, and leaps out of the screen to plant his nose inches from your face, a butterfly truly soars and rests on top of your finger. Both exhilarating and frightening.
It's notable which apps, like Netflix and YouTube, are absent when the Vision Pro launches. Not even iPad applications are available at this time. The CEO of Netflix said, "We're in discussions with Apple about snubbing the Vision Pro," but the gadget is now "so subscale that it's not particularly relevant." Whoa.
However, some developers are coming out with some really good apps. TikTok is a clean, easy-to-use, and highly engaging app. The video player is prominently displayed, and it's simple to access comments; nonetheless, I wish spatial video capabilities had been included.See my reviews of the top Apple Vision Pro applications to date for further information.
REVIEW OF APPLE VISION PRO: GAMES
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Do the titles on the Vision Pro seem amazing? Not that I can see, although there's a decent selection of both iPad applications that you can enlarge and play with a controller, and native games that you can operate with your hands. Controlling the Jetpack Joyride is simple. To activate the jetpack, simply press your fingers together, and to control the character's flight, move your hand.
Much more ambitious is Synthriders, which may also be found on Meta Quest. To the beat of a song, you may avoid and duck obstacles as well as use your hands to touch vibrant floating balls and light beams that are coming at you. It's a wonderful illustration of mixed reality done well.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
What the Golf? is a lighthearted mini-golf game that you can play anywhere in the room by placing the virtual course and beginning to putt. You can strike the ball by putting your fingers around it, pulling back, and then directing the arrow with your hand. You should watch your ball head toward the pin as you release it. Even though my initial attempts at ball selection weren't always successful, I really like that I could travel the whole length of the course to gain a variety of perspectives and that the scenery never faltered.
I also tested a couple iPad apps, like SonicDreamTeam, that required a linked controller to play on the Vision Pro. Though it's primarily a 2D experience on a very large screen, the action and visuals were fluid. If your MacBook is strong enough, you may even play Mac games like Resident Evil Village with the Vision Pro.
In my opinion, more native Vision Pro games—like first-person shooters and fighting games—that make use of your hands would be great. For instance, Broken Edge, a fantastic sword-fighting game, may be found in the Meta Quest 3. One area where Apple is lagging behind is gaming.
A Review of Apple Vision Pro: Visual and Personal
 |
| (Image credit: Apple) |
Apple has created a couple technologies to keep you at least partially connected since they don't want users of the Vision Pro to be cut off from the outside world.
The first innovation is called EyeSight; when someone tries to interact with you while you're wearing Vision Pro, they can see a digital representation of your eyes. When someone walks into the room while you're watching material, they may see a shimmer of light on the front display, but as they go closer and engage in conversation, you'll notice that they can see your eyes and break into your field of vision. Although it has a delicate and rather eerie appearance, the effect works well.However, there's still no replacement for, you know, momentarily removing the headset.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Persona, the far more contentious feature, is still in beta and initially seems extremely un-Apple and metaversal. However, after using it to make FaceTime calls, I began to like it (a bit).
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Persona is a three-dimensional representation of yourself that you make by using the Vision Pro's front cameras to scan your face. Step-by-step instructions will walk you through the procedure, which entails holding the headset in front of you, moving your face up and down, side to side, grinning, furrowing your brows, and closing your eyes.
After that, the Vision Pro creates your Persona in just a minute. The outcome is striking technically and rather Uncanny Valley-like, reminding one of Madden or NBA 2K. It resembles me, but not exactly.
In addition, although I try not to be overly conceited, the Vision Pro accentuated the lines on my forehead. My spouse even commented that I appeared to have been through an aging filter. The good thing is that you can always reclaim your persona if you're unhappy with how you seem. Additionally, you may modify your Persona by modifying the brightness and skin tone, and you can select from a variety of Portrait-like effects. For example, contour is the most attractive.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Digital spectacles are another option for personalizing your Persona, but that's it. You cannot add accessories like jewelry or new attire, etc. I want to see further personalization choices. In order to achieve the greatest outcome, I wouldn't mind if Apple processed your Persona more slowly and scanned some of your selfies with your consent.
Apple is providing appearance changes for the Persona as part of visionOS 1.1, so you ought to appear a little more like yourself.
Collaboration is greatly enhanced by the ability to share your Vision Pro view and open applications during a video conference. Thus, Apple should be commended for that.
Review of Apple Vision Pro: Functionality
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Between its R1 chip for processing input from the camera, sensors, and microphones and its M2 chip for overall performance, the Apple Vision Pro has plenty of power. Generally, whether I was viewing 3D movies, playing challenging games, or pinning many programs to my workspace, I found the Vision Pro to be rather smooth and quick. To the touch, the Vision Pro also stayed cool.
But occasionally, I did run into some issues with the Vision Pro. For instance, the headset wouldn't launch the Photos app during one session even though I was glancing at and clicking on it. The issue was resolved by taking off and re-putting on the headset.
Another time, Siri opened some apps but refused to open others, including Apple Music and Slack. Though not a constant problem, it was nevertheless inconvenient. Even while I like that the headset will direct you to position it farther down on your head if you're off center, there was another session where the Vision Pro refused to recognize my OpticID for sign-in.
Review of Apple Vision Pro: Battery
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
It's not ideal that you have to carry the Vision Pro's metal battery about all the time in order to use the headset. It will thus need to be placed in your pocket when standing or beside you while seated. It weighs 12.4 ounces, which is more than the 7.8 ounces of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Even though the connection is usually long enough, you run the risk of unintentionally pulling the battery off a table or couch and onto the floor if you abruptly move while fully engrossed in a game or other activity.
Additionally, I dislike how the battery's wire might occasionally become a little knotted. I had to unplug the cord a few times until things straightened up.
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
Regarding endurance, the battery life of the Vision Pro is claimed for 2.5 hours of video playing and 2 hours of general use. During a two-hour period of on and off use, the Vision Pro dropped to around 60% and then to 40% after a few more hours.
You can always just put in the battery and use the provided USB-C power converter to use the Vision Pro continually. While having batteries incorporated into the headgear makes competing mixed reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro more comfortable, they also have lower power.
Updates to the Apple Vision Pro Review
February 7: "Appearance updates" to your Persona and the option to reset the Vision Pro on the device itself, without having to mail it back to Apple, are features included in the visionOS 1.1 beta for the Apple Vision Pro.
Feb. 6: JerryRigEverything's durability test of the Apple Vision Pro revealed that the front panel is quite prone to scratches, thus you should always use the cover and carrying case. Furthermore, according to YouTube, a specific Vision Pro app is being developed.
Feb. 21: During our hands-on experience, we discovered that the TikTok app on the Apple Vision Pro is amazing.
CONCLUSION OF THE APPLE VISION PRO REVIEW
 |
| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
The pricing of the Apple Vision Pro makes it simple to mock. And at $3,500, I very definitely cannot afford one. After putting it to the test and wearing one for a while, though, I think it's the most inventive Apple product since the first iPhone.
From the incredibly realistic video pass-through and razor-sharp microOLED displays to the incredibly user-friendly and entertaining interface that monitors your hands and eyes, there is an incredible amount of inventiveness on show here. The experience of spatial computing has also left me really impressed; it really elevates multitasking, especially when combined with a Mac.
The 3D video experience on the Vision Pro is unparalleled in terms of entertainment value, and immersive video in particular has enormous potential to transform our perception of anything from athletic events to concerts. Moving spatial films and images that give your recollections a hyper-real feel add even more 3D pleasure.
It is evident that the Vision Pro app scenario is still in its early phases because certain significant heavyweights were absent at debut. However, the really convincing AR apps I tried should encourage more developers to join the bandwagon.
What, therefore, is there to dislike about the Vision Pro? The extremely high cost is a significant factor, since it will significantly reduce this headset's initial attractiveness. There is no timeline for the reported lower-cost version, so some people might want to wait for it. The Personas are excellent, but they are also a little unsettling to look at, and I occasionally found the connected batteries to be bothersome. Thus, ideally, they will appear much better following the beta phase.
In summary, I believe that while the Vision Pro is innovative, it is still very much a work in progress.