Apple Vision Pro Battery Supports Up to 2.5 Hours of 2D Video Playback

[MacRumors]

Under cover of its Vision Pro headset launch date announcement, Apple has revealed that the external battery supports up to 2.5 hours of 2D video playback, half an hour more than it offers in "general use" on a single charge.

Apple quietly updated its product page for the device with the extra detail, qualifying its claim of 2.5 hours of "video playback" based on tests "in conjunction with an Environment, using 2D movie content purchased from the Apple TV app." Environments let users transform the space around them, and Cinema Environments can turn a room into a personal movie theater.

The company defines "general use" as performing tasks that include video playback, internet browsing, spatial video capture, and FaceTime.

This is the first time Apple has said anything about the Vision Pro's external battery pack being optimized to run for longer when watching 2D video content, with Apple previously saying only that the battery lasted two hours on a single charge. Apple also previously said the Vision Pro could be used indefinitely if the battery was itself plugged into an external power source, but that text has been removed from the Vision Pro product page.

Apple says Vision Pro users will be able to watch movies and TV shows from Apple TV+, Disney+, Max, and other services on a screen that feels 100 feet wide with support for HDR content. Elsewhere, within the Apple TV app, users will be able to access more than 150 3D titles.

Pre-orders of the Vision Pro start on Friday, January 19 and the device goes on sale in the United States on Friday, February 2.

Article Link: Apple Vision Pro Battery Supports Up to 2.5 Hours of 2D Video Playback

 

[sunny5]

lol. 2.5 hrs of battery only on video playback? In reality, that would be really short to use.

 

[coffeemilktea]

I hope there's a way to charge it while watching, or I'll never be able to finish enough cat video compilations on YouTube to be happy. 😿

 

[darngooddesign]

I will be surprised if the headset doesn't contain a small battery which gives you a short time to hot swap the main battery pack.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

Really poor battery life - given an iPhone is rated for what? 27 hours video play back and that translates to about 7 hours mixed use? I’d expect about less than an hour actual Vision Pro usage.

 

[oofio2461]

You can't even watch a 3-hour movie with a battery pack you always have to carry around!

 

[Zachari]

There goes my dream of watching extended LOTR on Apple Vision

 

[Jankie]

Fortunately, most will only need 8 minutes of charge 😉

 

[jonnysods]

I wonder what its like to use with a mac - as in how many monitors could it mimic. I use 5 at home, one is a 27" Thunderbolt Display and I'll have to replace it with an apple monitor at some point - wonder if I could use something like this instead of any monitors....

 

[mukiex]

Oof. Oofy woof. That's... really rough. Video playback is supposed to be the absolute easiest thing.

I'm guessing the baseline for this device of just passthrough operation is CHUGGING battery. This is definitely going to be one of those devices that really shines on a 2.0 product.

 

[Born Again]

It’s a sleek good looking battery pack.

 

[MacLawyer]

These are the ones you want.

 

[arkitect]

I wonder what its like to use with a mac - as in how many monitors could it mimic. I use 5 at home, one is a 27" Thunderbolt Display and I'll have to replace it with an apple monitor at some point - wonder if I could use something like this instead of any monitors....

Same here.

It is, right now, the only thing that has me interested: Can I use this as an external monitor on my Mac.
Considering I use a Wacom tablet to draw and paint — and am not good at touch typing — I am curious… I still need to see things outside the screen.

Anyway, time will tell I guess.

 

[izyreal]

Hmm... 2-2.5 hours is really short. It's not even long enough for my average flight. I am certain Apple could have included a larger battery. Because of this, I am wondering if the limit is heat dissipation. After two hours, will my face be cooking?

 

[a m u n]

You can't even watch a 3-hour movie with a battery pack you always have to carry around!

If you’re watching a movie, you’re most likely near an outlet. However, I probably couldn’t keep the Vision Pro for more than 2 hours on my head.

 

[Adreitz]

So on fully 3D content, like a game, we're talking 30 minutes? If that?

 

[izyreal]

Will Apple allow larger 3rd party batteries?

 

[erikkfi]

They should call this "great, tenth-of-a-day battery life."

 

[d686546s]

I wonder what its like to use with a mac - as in how many monitors could it mimic. I use 5 at home, one is a 27" Thunderbolt Display and I'll have to replace it with an apple monitor at some point - wonder if I could use something like this instead of any monitors....

I guess the question is whether you'd want anything like this instead of monitors in the long run, rather than in addition to.

I could see using this for specific things, but having to wear it every day whenever I want to use the computer just sounds tedious.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

My first Powerbook G4 (priced at about this same level after configuration preferences- much higher adjusted for inflation) had a 2-hour battery pack. Knowing I might want to use it for longer than 2 hours in a stretch, I did the craziest thing: I bought 2 more battery packs. It solved all power problems using that Apple product for life of device.

Give this up to 20 years of evolution and it may eventually have no external battery pack and run for 18 hours. I'm glad Apple didn't give up on laptops when that old G4 could only run for 2 hours. It would be a sad world in 2024 without MacBooks.

"Think different"

 

[robbietop]

That's innovation for you....2.5 hours is amazing....hold on....let me get out my 18 hour battery life on my laptop....or the 24 hour battery life on the iPhone Pro Max or my AppleTV which plugs into my 75" TV, or a 24"-36" dual monitor setup for my Mac mini or iMac.

Again, how does this replace a device? I am only seeing ANOTHER device to add....it's not portable....it has a laughable battery life with a battery that is bulky and HARDWIRED to the machine.....and has only a niche functionality that at the end of the day a vast majority have no need for.

And before you retort, what are the combined sales of PSVR/PSVR2, Meta's Quest, and other VR scuba masks in the space? And then look at iPhone sales per year and ask if the ScubaVision Pro Max replaces any functionality. Even if you look forward at an iterative evolution over time, you get sunglasses....

And I can tell you that 90% of smartphone customers don't wanna sit on their couch and move their hands around in the air when they could lay on their side or lay back on the couch and use their hands for a far more convenient and ergonomic experience.

 

[miiwtoo]

cable in the office, battery in the plane and vacations

 

[GMShadow]

Really curious how long people expect to wear this thing - I feel like the battery’s about the max I’d want a headset on my face, personally.

And yes, most people would like better battery life. Find someone to give us better batteries or accept that there’s only so much tech companies can do.

 

[a m u n]

Same here.

It is, right now, the only thing that has me interested: Can I use this as an external monitor on my Mac.
Considering I use a Wacom tablet to draw and paint — and am not good at touch typing — I am curious… I still need to see things outside the screen.

Anyway, time will tell I guess.

You have the answer here:

 

[vegetassj4]

Battery capacity not enough? Get the Vision Pro Mag Safe compatible extended battery: