Apple’s New Augmented Reality Headset Falls Short of Expectations
In April, I expressed high hopes for Apple’s new augmented reality headset and even contemplated switching back to the iPhone if it met my expectations. However, the recent announcement of the Apple Vision Pro left me disappointed.
The Sticker Shock: Outrageous Price Tag
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the exorbitant price of $3,500. As a writer, I’ve owned cars that cost less than that! It’s hard to justify spending such a hefty sum on a headset. Even if we assume that prices will drop by half each year, it will still take four years to reach a more reasonable price point of around $200. And if it’s not a phone replacement, we’re looking at a five-year wait.
Patiently Waiting: Unavailability Until 2024
Adding salt to the wound, Apple won’t make the headset available until 2024. That’s a long three-year wait. By the time it finally arrives, it might be outdated, making the long wait even less worthwhile.
Size Matters: Too Bulky for Comfort
The size of the Apple Vision Pro is a major disappointment. I had hoped for a sleek and compact design like a pair of sunglasses. Instead, it’s a cumbersome device connected to a battery pack via a cord. If there’s going to be a cord anyway, why not connect it to a phone or a separate processor pack to make the headset more lightweight?
The Creep Factor: Unsettling Eye Display
One of the most disconcerting aspects of the Apple Vision Pro is the eye display feature. The headset’s exterior functions as a display screen showing the user’s eyes. To me, this is simply creepy. If I wanted to see someone’s eyes, I would prefer a clear-glass headset rather than a screen projecting eyes.
Pass-Through Camera Fails to Impress
Augmented reality should enhance your surroundings, not obstruct them. The Apple Vision Pro’s opaque lenses, coupled with a pass-through camera, doesn’t align with my expectations. I envisioned a transparent headset that overlays augmented reality onto the real world. The lag between real-time movement and what’s displayed in the headset is another disappointment.
Replacing Your Phone? Not Quite
Given the headset’s bulkiness, short battery life, and lack of portability, it falls short of being a suitable phone replacement. It’s not the type of wearable you can easily whip on and off like sunglasses. Consequently, I anticipate using it infrequently, similar to my current VR headsets. Infrequent usage leads to forgetting how it works, rendering it a decorative paperweight rather than a functional device.
Overall, the Apple Vision Pro fails to meet expectations. If Apple can address the deficiencies by offering a more reasonable price, utilizing clear-glass technology, and improving responsiveness, it may regain my interest. As it stands, I remain disappointed by this iteration of Apple’s augmented reality headset.