The Apple Vision Pro was released this past weekend. I finally got to try it for the first time on Friday at my local Apple Store. This product has been on the horizon for many years. But it is finally here, and after trying it myself, reading about it, listening, and observing every opinion. I’m not afraid to say it: this is the best consumer product the world has ever seen.
So many times, I can recall seeing something great and knowing quickly that it is the best in the world. I remember in 2002 when I saw Lebron James play in high school. It didn’t take more than five minutes to know that he was the best player in the world. I can recall seeing the first iPhone in person for the first time. And within 5 seconds, you can automatically know it is the best phone ever made. And that is the same sense I got when I put the headset on. This is the best consumer product ever made. Some truly great things don’t need to be compared to validate; it’s obvious.
Now, Apple Vision Pro is not without its flaws. I can hear other VR headset owners complain now. “The Quest 3 can do 80% of what the Vision Pro can do for a third of the price.” And that’s true. But most Americans, I would summarize, will never get to or want to try another VR headset. There is no Meta Store; there are barely any Microsoft Stores to try on another headset. Also, those devices are for other markets, such as gaming or enterprise. But I digress; Apple’s ability to demo this product in-store is something no other product can boast. The product’s capabilities and its target audience are all the reasons why this device sets itself apart.
The Apple Vision Pro also targets an entirely different set of problems. Its three killer features are its ability to capture memory and immersion, and, lastly, it is an Apple product.
This is the best consumer product the world has ever seen.
Capturing your Memories
One of the first things you try in the demo is pulling up the Photos app and looking at photos and videos. And normal pictures and videos looked incredible on the Vision Pro. But Spatial Video is something I have never seen before. During the demo, they will ask you to click on a child’s birthday party video. The video appears, but it is in 3D, and the birthday cake is right in front of you, and you feel like you can reach out and grab it. They blow out the candles on the cake, and smoke comes towards you. It was a visceral experience. It is by far the best feature of the Vision Pro. You can only imagine what it would be like to capture memories of people you love. Also, it is not a leap to say this: if you had enough spatial videos, you might not take this headset off; you will sit there living in memories for hours on end. This is the danger and potential of this device.
Immersion
You will hear every reviewer mention this one-word, “immersion,” and this is where no screen capture or clip can show you. Even trying to explain what the immersion is like is hard without you trying the device. But another core feature of this device is the turn dial on the top. You turn this dial, and your VR landscape appears. Mine was by the lake. Now, your whole field of view is blocked but also blocks sound in the room. The spatial audio on the device does a good job surrounding you with sound from the environment or when you are playing audio. Many reviewers have complained that you can lose track of time in there. People have started adding a clock window to remind yourself to take it off. I immediately thought there was no way I could put this on at home because it was so dangerous. There is no way I can hear or see my son or family.
Apple Ecosystem
Can another company create a similar product to the Apple Vision Pro now? Absolutely. But one thing that will not be possible to duplicate is the Apple Ecosystem. The Apple Ecosystem is unbeatable. The Vision Pro can quickly turn your Macbook into a 27-inch monitor floating in space. It can connect to your messages, FaceTime, and phone photos. Your personal Apple Ecosystem comes to life and is entirely private to you when you put on the headset.
What’s Next?
The Apple Vision Pro isn’t perfect, and there are some general limitations regarding the device form factor. It is heavy, its field of view inside the headset is not great, and some of the controls and pass-through are not perfect. These are all common issues with a first-generation device. But the question will be, will it be able to win over customers and change the way people look at headsets in the long term? Either way, putting all that aside and even the enormous price point, this device, pound for pound, is the greatest consumer product to have launched since the iPhone, and it’s not even close.
