Everything is accelerating on the Apple Vision Pro side. Available from February 2, 2024 in the United States, Apple’s first mixed reality headset has received new feedback from the press. Famous analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also suggested an international release window before WWDC 2024.
The latest feedback on the Vision Pro
To try out the Vision Pro, Apple offered American media and influencers new 30-minute hands-on sessions in New York. Bad news, the weight of the helmet is still an issue.
A mixed reality headset that is way too heavy
Despite a Dual Loop strap offering better distribution of the weight of the helmet on the head, Cherlynn Low Engadget said : “After 15 minutes, I started to feel weighed down by the device, and 5 minutes later, I was in pain”. For her part, Victoria Song of The Verge admits to feeling discomfort due to the weight of the headset at the end of the demo.
On Twitter/X, Marques Brownlee, who has already had three hands-on sessions since the Vision Pro was announced, is of the same opinion: “Damn, this device is heavy. The typing experience is also decent. There are some cool new apps to discover. But, wow. It’s so heavy.”
Intuitive handling, but a keyboard to review
In terms of use, Cherlynn Low, who tried out Apple’s mixed reality headset for the first time, is won over: “The eye tracking and hand tracking systems are impressively accurate. I quickly learned how to navigate the interface, so much so that I was ahead of the instructions given to me.”
For text entry, Apple seems to still have progress to make to offer an experience as efficient as a physical keyboard on the Vision Pro. “While there are several input options — pinching with your fingers, using eye control to select keys, or simply using Siri — none of them seem adequate for anything resembling extended use.”, explains Dana Wollman for Engadget. The journalist concludes this subject by stating that “the floating keyboard clearly needs improvement”.
Immersive experiences, but complicated for space videos
Journalists and influencers were then treated to immersive video content via Disney+.
Victoria Song and her colleague Nilay Patel also mention having seen space videos taken with iPhones. Unfortunately, both quickly felt nauseous from the camera movements.
An unconvincing EyeSight function
Finally, the media were finally able to try EyeSight, a feature judged to be “a little ridiculous” by Victoria Song. As a reminder, it displays an avatar representing the wearer’s eyes on the external screen of the headset.
More in-depth tests coming soon and an international launch before summer
More tips should be shared in the coming weeks. Mark Gurman also specified that new Vision Pro demo sessions will take place on January 23, 2024. We also learned that headsets were left with certain media, which suggests in-depth tests before the planned launch in the United States. as of February 2, 2024.
Concerning the arrival of Apple’s mixed reality headset in our region, Ming-Chi Kuo shared a report on Medium this January 16 providing some details. According to the analyst, the Vision Pro would be available internationally before the next WWDC, an event for developers taking place like every year in June.
He adds that Apple is launching the Vision Pro later for three reasons: “1) the limited initial supply of the Vision Pro, 2) the need to ensure that the sales process in the US market goes smoothly, and 3) the time required to modify the algorithms to comply with regulations in force in other countries”.