Apple Vision Pro – Review

If you think that the Apple Vision Pro is just another VR headset, then you are mistaken. It is a VR headset with pass-through video, eye tracking and hand tracking. It is a great product, but it is one that will be more viable in the future. Currently, it can only function as a media consumption device. It does have some ‘wow’ moments, but there are also shortfalls.

Incredible but limiting hardware

The Apple Vision Pro does look like the Meta Quest 3, or a similar competing headset, but the micro-OLED displays that Apple has used are downright excellent. They come with color depth, fidelity and dynamic range. Apple has pulled a lot of tricks to deliver this kind of display and it certainly shows. As far as tracking is concerned, it is somewhat like magic. All you do is look at something and it is highlighted immediately. As soon as you pinch your hand, it is selected.

You do not have to poke, or wildly swipe at the air, as the primary means of interacting with visionOS is ‘look and pinch’. It is very impressive, but also limiting because people have gotten used to multi-touch interfaces. The absence of tactile feedback is also a bit disappointing. As far as pass-through video is concerned, it is the best you will see right now, but it is still not good enough.

There are speakers integrated into the strap and their sound quality is surprisingly good. You can also use AirPods Pro to ensure no one else hears your content. The strap functions well, as the dual loop band distributes the weight of the headset more evenly. It weighs around 600-650g, which is not exactly heavy, but when it is hanging around the front of your face, it can feel heavy.

Early software

When it comes to software, the Apple Vision Pro can feel clunky at times. Considering that Apple is the most valuable and biggest tech company in the world, it can be frustrating to see how limited some of the interfaces and apps are. With the exception of some games and immersive video, everything seems like a floating iPad window. The third-party apps are also mostly iPad apps and there are less than thousand apps specifically made for visionOS. The ones that have been made are buggy and have gimmicky features.

You do not get a windows management feature, which can be quite frustrating. App management problems also apply to apps that are not running. They are not in alphabetical order, which results in confusion. You cannot change the settings, which is also quite frustrating. There is no dock, which is quit surprising, given that iPads, iPhones and Macs all do. Moreover, the visionOS 2.0 offers a completely new Home View and app management experience. But, the possibilities that it opens up do speak about the world of the future.