Apple’s New Headset & What It Means for You 🧑‍💻

Hey fam!

Yesterday was a big day in the world of technology. 

Apple hosted their 2023 WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) where they highlighted all of the new products and features that are coming our way with their updated operating system. We’re talking everything from voicemails on Facetime, to transcribed voice memos, to a larger MacBook Air model. 

But the one product that stole the show? The Vision Pro headset.

Does it slightly give Black Mirror vibes? Uh, yeah. 

But is it also pretty damn cool? Absolutely. 

This week, we’re diving into everything you need to know about this headset and our take on what it means for you moving forward. 

Vision Pro - Unveiled

Apple placed a gigantic bet on the user experience, aiming to transform the way we interact with digital content everyday. Combining the power of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), Apple is taking a huge leap into the realm of mixed reality with Vision Pro, a new cutting-edge headset. Here’s some details:

• Features & specs: The headset has a TON of sensors, cameras, and high-resolution displays. One of the coolest specs - the headset has two micro-OLED displays with a resolution of more than 4K per eye, bringing 23 MILLION pixels to the screen.

• What can we do with it: A lot. This device lets users explore by overlaying digital content onto our physical environment. Imagine being able to visualize and manipulate 3D objects in real time, collaborate remotely with holographic telepresence, and navigate augmented maps. 

• How does it work: You don’t need any extra equipment - just your hands and eye motions to control the screen. And it uses spatial audio to project sound, almost like you’re hearing it in the surrounding area

• Price & availability: The headset will retail for $3499 and early 2024 is the expected timeframe for the release

Apple’s Vision Pro vs. Meta’s Oculus

When it comes to headsets like this, Meta's Oculus has long been synonymous with VR innovation. And it’s true - with a rich history in the VR space, Meta has leveraged its expertise to create an impressive lineup of immersive headsets, getting people comfortable with experiencing the virtual world. But for many of us who are still new to the space, it’s not 100% clear what the difference is between the two. So let us break it down:

• The core distinction: Apple's Vision Pro is an AR headset that overlays digital content onto the real world. While Meta's Oculus focuses primarily on virtual reality (VR), fully immersing users into a virtual environment.

• Features and specs: Apple’s model uses a bunch of sensors, cameras, and high-resolution displays to create their AR experience. Meanwhile, Meta's Oculus is a lineup of headsets catering to different levels of immersion, performance, and price.

• Price: Compared to Apple Vision Pro’s price tag of $3499, Meta's Oculus comes in a range of prices from $299-$1499.

At the end of the day, though Apple and Meta are approaching mixed reality from different angles, their ultimate goal remains the same - to push the boundaries of technology and enhance the way we interact with the digital world

What does this mean for us?

Alright, so now that we’ve given you a rundown of what Apple’s Vision Pro headset is and how it compares to some of the current headsets out there, now it’s time to get into the nitty gritty of what this means for people like us. 

Apple is a company that many of us know and love because they create products that we didn't even know we needed until we had them. Every product they’ve launched was met with some level of hesitation because of how revolutionary and “ahead of its time” their products are. But people bought it because, well, it’s Apple!

Apple making a decision to enter into the VR/AR headset lane is a signal that immersive spaces, metaverses, and digital words are all worth paying attention to right now, and that they are likely here to stay, so buckle up friends. In a few years, we’re going to be living in a world full of enhanced immersive experiences– from work, to concerts, to education, to your personal life, and beyond. 🙂 

However, before this can reach mass adoption, there are two barriers to entry that we see with this current model:

1. Design & Style: Let’s be forreal. The goggle/Kidney bean looking device is not something you’ll see a lot of people rocking anytime soon. The features are super dope, but if we want to reach a critical mass of people wearing them, it might take a few more iterations. We’d love to see something sleeker, almost similar to what they were trying to do with Apple Glasses.  

2. Cost: Now how can we expect people to pay $3500 for something that only lasts 2 hours before dying? We could book our trips to Ghana for Detty December for this! Unless the Vision Pro is teleporting us there, it might not be in the budget right now. On a more serious note, we also hope the price of this doesn’t perpetuate inequities that already exist for underserved communities. Would hate to see people get left behind because Apple couldn’t design a more affordable product.

The good thing is that if we know anything about Apple, it’s that with every new version they get better & better. We can only imagine what the 5th or 6th generation in 2027 will be like. Let us start saving our money now because the future is here and Apple will likely be paving the way to mass adoption if they get these two barriers above in check. 🙏

Let us know – would you buy this when it launched next year? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

– Kendall & Chad