Apple has unveiled further details of the design and features developed for Vision Pro as pre-orders begin this month. The tech giant described Vision Pro as a spatial computer that “transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories and enjoy entertainment.”
It will blend digital content with the physical world and unlock spatial experiences in visionOS, controlled by a user’s eyes, hands and voice. An all-new App Store provides users with access to more than 1 million compatible apps across iOS and iPadOS, alongside new experiences.
Apple Vision Pro will use micro-OLED technology to pack 23 million pixels into two displays, each the size of a postage stamp, with wide colour and high dynamic range, according to Apple. The headset also features an eye-tracking system that uses high-speed cameras and a ring of LEDs to project invisible light patterns onto the user’s eyes for “responsive, intuitive input”.
To help users stay connected to the people around them, there is a new feature called EyeSight. In a statement, Apple commented: “When a person approaches someone wearing Vision Pro, the device looks transparent — letting the user see them while also displaying the user’s eyes. When a user is immersed in an Environment or using an app, EyeSight gives visual cues to others about what the user is focused on.”
The display, audio experiences and eye-tracking system are powered by Apple silicon in a dual-chip design. An M2 chip delivers a standalone performance, while the new R1 chip processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors and six microphones to ensure that content “feels like it is appearing right in front of the user’s eyes.”
For privacy and security, Optic ID is a new authentication system that analyses a user’s iris to unlock Vision Pro, autofill passwords and complete payments with Apple Pay.