Apple has announced that its highly anticipated Vision Pro augmented reality (AR) headset will be available in the United States starting February 2nd. The device, aimed at challenging Meta Platforms’ dominance in the AR headset market, marks Apple’s most significant venture since the debut of the iPhone over a decade ago.
Priced at $3,499, the Vision Pro is more than three times the cost of Meta’s priciest headset in its line of mixed and virtual reality devices. Pre-orders for the Vision Pro will commence on January 19 at 5 am PST, with the device featuring a new chip named R1 designed to process information from its sensors rapidly.
Despite being a formidable player in the market, the Vision Pro enters a space filled with devices struggling to gain traction among consumers. Apple’s headset will directly compete with Meta, following years of disagreements between the two companies on issues such as user privacy and control of developer platforms.
One notable feature of the Vision Pro is its requirement to be connected to a power source at all times. To address this, Apple has integrated an external battery to reduce the headset’s weight, allowing it to run for up to 2 hours. In comparison, Meta’s top-of-the-line Quest Pro mixed reality device offers a similar battery life directly on the headset without an external battery pack.
This launch follows Apple’s introduction of a new series of iPhones in September, featuring a titanium shell, a faster chip, and improved gaming capabilities. Notably, Apple refrained from raising prices amid a global slump in the smartphone market.
TechDzone 