Exclusive details revealed! Can't wear Apple Vision Pro for half an hour?

Before spending $3499 on the Vision Pro, you may want to have a more comprehensive understanding of this "best and most expensive headset".

The Vision Pro will start pre-sales at 5 am local time on January 19th (this Friday) and will be officially released on February 2nd.

On the day of pre-sales, various Apple retail stores will start providing Vision Pro demonstrations. Well-known tech blogger Mark Gurman has experienced the demonstration process in advance and revealed many preparation details in his latest article. In addition, tech media outlets The Verge and Engadget have also had early experiences with the Vision Pro.

The most powerful headset ever?

Based on reports from The Verge's tech journalist Victoria Song and Engadget's journalists Cherlynn Low and Dana Wollman, the Vision Pro can provide users with the following experiences.

• Hardware configuration

The top right crown can be used to adjust the main screen and switch between real and virtual environments.

The system is equipped with a dual-chip processor combining Apple and the new R1. There are a total of 12 cameras, a LIDAR sensor, a TrueDepth camera, and an infrared flood illuminator around the headphones to capture hand movements in low-light environments.

As for the screen, it is equipped with a Micro OLED screen with 23 million pixels, and each eye will "have" a 4K display.

The dual speakers of the Vision Pro also perform well in reproducing cinematic spatial sound.

• Operating experience

After wearing the headset, users will follow the system prompts to set up eye tracking, which is said to be faster and smoother than devices like the Quest Pro.

Interaction can be done through hand gestures, eye movements, and voice commands. At the same time, the Eyesight feature ensures that users are not isolated from the outside world during use, and their gaze can "see through" the device to the external environment.

Most iOS apps can be used internally on the Vision Pro, and in the virtual environment provided by the newly launched Disney+ app, the immersive experience of watching movies is fully realized. By looking at and pinching the thumb and index finger, you can activate the virtual keyboard. Although the experience is quite novel, there may be difficulties in operation and low accuracy. Dana believes that this is "one of the most frustrating aspects of the demonstration."

In addition to experiencing the basic functions of the app, users can also experience the immersive "meditation" function of Vision Pro, and can also have a close encounter with dinosaurs. Apple has also launched an app called Apple Immersive Video, which provides 180° 3D videos and adds more new features to Vision Pro.

In summary, Cherlynn believes that Vision Pro is the best among all the VR, AR, and MR devices she has tried in her career, but it is not very useful in daily life and is too expensive.

Song also stated that although Vision Pro is easier to use than she imagined and has the potential to become a universal device, she is still exploring its practical applications in real life.

Here's what you might need to know before attending the pre-sale demonstration

Unlike the iPhone and Apple Watch, Vision Pro seems to face a completely different market situation.

Gurman pointed out that the most important challenge comes from marketing - how to sell a device that is "priced at $3499, has limited battery life, a slightly clumsy design, and lacks killer apps" to users?

Before the demonstration, the staff will scan the user's face to select the appropriate size of accessories. While assembling Vision Pro, employees will explain the working principle of the interface to the users.

The 20-25 minute demonstration that follows mainly includes the following:

• Viewing static images and 3D images through Vision Pro;
• Learning a series of operations to use Vision Pro as a replacement for a computer or iPad, such as locating multiple apps in space and browsing web pages in Safari;
• Watching immersive 3D movies through Vision Pro.

"Comfort" may be an area where Apple needs to improve. Gurman stated that the longer he wears it, the less comfortable it becomes, and his view was confirmed by several employees who also said that they felt dizzy and sweaty after using it for about half an hour. Cherlynn also pointed out that "comfort" is a key factor in the appeal of Vision Pro, and her personal experience is not comfortable: "Even if it is the best display in the world, it will be useless if it cannot be worn for a long time."

The complex and cumbersome wearing process may also undermine the user experience. Gurman said that if the "device is not properly installed on the head" or "lacks the appropriate lenses," the entire experience could be "ruined," and Apple could permanently lose $3,499 in sales.

Dana said, "It took a long time to assemble—I once doubted for a minute whether I was the only one with a head that doesn't fit this device."

In addition, Gurman also tweeted about Vision Pro:

"The packaging box of Vision Pro comes with an external display cover... It can easily break if it falls or hits a wall."

"I can't imagine how facial scanning can accurately match the right size for Vision Pro. I wonder what the online ordering process is like, whether it can be modified at an Apple store, and whether it can be verified for suitability upon pickup."

"I hope Goldman Sachs feels excited. If 300,000 people use Apple Card to purchase Vision Pro in installments, it's equivalent to a $1 billion loan."

Can Vision Pro turn the tide?

The release of Vision Pro is a severe test of market confidence for Apple, which is still facing headwinds this year.

Currently, institutions expect Vision Pro's first-year sales to be between 500,000 and 1 million units. Previously, Wallstreetcn analysis believed that based on Apple's pricing and the market's shipment expectations, it would be difficult for Vision Pro to become the next revolutionary product.

Previously, Ming-Chi Kuo believed that if Vision Pro cannot be sold out instantly, it would be below expectations and would impact Apple and the industry's stock prices. The market response to Vision Pro is the focus of observation for Apple's industry chain this year. Yesterday, Guo Mingchi, an analyst at Tianfeng Securities and self-proclaimed "the strongest Apple analyst on the planet," wrote an article stating that Apple may release the Vision Pro in markets outside the United States before the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).