Apple Finally Reveals Long-Awaited AR Headset, Vision Pro, Priced At $3,500

As part of Apple's WWDC 2023 event, the iPhone company formally announced its long-rumored augmented/virtual reality headset. The headset is called Apple Vision Pro. It's described as a "spatial computing" platform that is the first Apple product that users "look through and not at."

The Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,500 and will go on sale in early 2024. Apple CEO Tim Cook said Apple Vision Pro will "shift the way we look at technology." Cook said Apple Vision Pro is a "revolutionary product."

"Vision Pro creates an infinite canvas for apps that scales beyond the boundaries of a traditional display and introduces a fully three-dimensional user interface controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible--a user's eyes, hands, and voice," Apple said in a news release.

The experience is controlled through voice and gestures as opposed to a physical controller. Unlike other VR/AR headsets, the headset does not completely block out your vision. Users can see people and things in the real world and see a virtual overlay of apps and programs. As an example, you could sit down on the couch and watch something, and the projected virtual screen could be much larger than a physical TV you may already own.

The Apple Vision Pro also supports gaming, of courses, and there will more than 100 titles available at launch. Check out the image below to see what NBA 2K looks like on Vision Pro.

At work, users can wear the headset and run a number of apps to be a multi-tasking machine while staying in touch with people in the real world, apparently. For entertainment apps, Disney CEO Bob Iger appeared on stage to confirm that Disney Plus and other apps will be available. The company also released a sizzle reel of potential experiences, like using the Vision Pro headset to virtually attend sports matches.

In terms of battery life, Apple said it can be used all day when it's plugged in (of course) and up to 2 hours with an external battery that users can put in their pocket. The unit runs on a brand-new chip and uses an operating system built specifically for AR/VR. People with vision correction needs can use Zeiss Optical Inserts that are sold separately.

For lots more on Apple Vision Pro, check out Apple's full announcement post that breaks down all the key information.

Apple is just the latest entrant in the VR space, and the announcement of this new headset comes just days after Meta announced the Meta Quest 3 headset. The PlayStation VR 2 headset, meanwhile, launched in February.

Apple is one of the largest and most profitable companies on Earth. For the quarter that ended on April 1, the company made more than $24 billion in profit.