> Hands–on with Vision Pro
Five things to be most excited about
I WON’T LIE, I was not a huge VR fan, but I can admit when I’m wrong. Vision Pro is arguably the most important device Apple has made since the iPhone stole BlackBerry’s thunder in 2007. Here are the five things to be most excited about.
> SPATIAL VIDEO. When Vision Pro was announced, I assumed Spatial Video was something you could capture through the headset itself, and I hated the idea. No matter how great the result, I firmly believe you should be in the moment rather than stuck behind a headset to capture a moment. But the release of iOS 17.2 made it possible to take Spatial Video with your iPhone. Trust me: you should take as many as your storage will allow.
I watched a Spatial Video of a child blow out birthday candles surrounded by family, and it brought me to tears. The detail was exceptional — I felt like I was right there in the room. Spatial Video is nothing short of incredible, and could be such an exciting prospect for people with loved ones far away. Expand that to a lost loved one and there are no words for the unique experiences Vision Pro can deliver.
> WATCHING CONTENT. I watched a short clip of Avatar 2 in 3D and it was exceptional. The detail is just so sharp, and the immersion of the cinema mode puts you in the center of the theater.
Vision Pro introduces a whole new way to watch sports too. It put me behind the hoop at a basketball game and behind the goal line at a soccer game, and both took place right in the center of the action. It’s a completely different experience than watching on your TV or even watching live sports.
> ENVIRONMENTS AND PANORAMAS. Being surrounded by Mount Hood is an impressive experience and one that is good for the soul. In Environments mode it’s possible to be fully immersed, or you can turn the Digital Crown on the Vision Pro to see your real environment with a slight overlay over the top, allowing you to dip in and out.
Vision Pro also allows you to view panoramas better than you could ever imagine. Wherever you took the shot, Vision Pro will transport you back there. Along with those Spatial Videos, take as many panoramas as possible.
> APPLE IMMERSIVE VIDEO. This was my favorite Vision Pro experience, but it is almost impossible to put into words. It can take you to places you may never go in real life, and offer experiences that are impossible in the real world. It first took me several thousand feet into the air on a tightrope, which was so realistic that my legs grew wobbly. I moved from a very intimate Alicia Keys concert to being surrounded by sharks, to having a butterfly land on my finger, to coming face–to–face with a dinosaur. It was phenomenal, and I don’t use that word lightly. The detail on the dinosaur’s skin was so incredible, the image remains ingrained in my mind. When
I say you should be excited about this, I mean it with every fiber of my being. > FAMILIAR AND INTUITIVE. For such a futuristic piece of tech, Vision Pro is surprisingly intuitive. Picking up how to interact with it is almost instantaneous, and that goes for the gestures too. Frankly, I am disappointed I can’t tap my thumb and index finger together to make things happen in real life. It works very well, with a great response time.
The interface is exactly what you would expect if you’re at all used to iOS or iPadOS, but on a much larger scale. Following setup, you simply look at an icon like Photos or Messages in front of you and Vision Pro will track your eyes and fire it up instantly. It’s so simple to navigate and understand, non–Apple users won’t find it daunting either.
The Apple Vision Pro is one of the most expensive pieces of tech set to launch in 2024, but if you do anything this year, try it out. It’ll blow you away.
PICKING UP HOW TO INTERACT WITH IT IS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS, AND THAT GOES FOR THE GESTURES TOO