Apple Vision Pro Reviews and Unboxing Videos Shared Ahead of Launch

[karranz]

Things in this product have to change ASAP. What I see (no pun intended) is the same apps and experience that you have on your iphone, iPad or Apple TV but with a heavier super expensive vr head set, which is pretty dumb because for that you can just stay at home and save 3.500 dollars or 4.500 euro. They rather go back to the drawing board and change it or this will be a massive flop.

 

[klasma]

FYI: Siri works as a calculator.

Only momentarily. For example, you can’t have running total you successively add to if you do anything in between. Siri is also limited in what functions it supports. For example, it doesn’t seem to understand logarithms with different bases. Luckily there’s Pcalc.

 

[gnipgnop]

You're the one comparing pricing of a 100" OLED to an AVP, not me.

Why did I do that comparison? Because of people claiming the AVP was too expensive. The audio/visual aspect alone is less expensive than what currently exists on the market. And, as I've point out before, the number of people that are going to be watching the TV is irrelevant to how it's priced. The price will be the same regardless.

 

[gnipgnop]

Only momentarily. For example, you can’t have running total you successively add to if you do anything in between. Siri is also limited in what functions it supports. For example, it doesn’t seem to understand logarithms with different bases. Luckily there’s Pcalc.

Original post wasn't asking for a scientific calculator. Just a calculator.

 

[vipergts2207]

Why did I do that comparison? Because of people claiming the AVP was too expensive. The audio/visual aspect alone is less expensive than what currently exists on the market. And, as I've point out before, the number of people that are going to be watching the TV is irrelevant to how it's priced. The price will be the same regardless.

It's too expensive versus other VR headsets. This is what folks are comparing it to to say it's too expensive. They aren't comparing it to other product categories that people would own alongside this anyway. I mean the AVP is cheaper than a Tesla, so I guess it's actually a bargain??

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

The guy from Toms Guide's avatar is terrifying

 

[gnipgnop]

It's too expensive versus other VR headsets. This is what folks are comparing it to to say it's too expensive. They aren't comparing it to other product categories that people would own alongside this anyway. I mean the AVP is cheaper than a Tesla, so I guess it's actually a bargain??

Why would you say it's a different product category when you get both functions in the same product? That makes no sense.

 

[subjonas]

Quite often, you'll look at a target and move your cursor or finger over it, but by the time you actually click it, your eyes have already moved on to a different target. Like I'll hover over the "Post reply" button while giving this post I'm writing one last check for errors before I press the button—without directly looking at it.
Or, you may hover over a "next" button that you know you'll be clicking multiple times. On other devices you don't have to look at the button each time you click it.

It’s much more in lock-step with the AVP than with keyboard and mouse. Yes, you look at where you want to move the mouse. But much of the actual movement of the mouse happens asynchronously, and you also don’t have to look at the spot that you click at the exact moment that you click. (And I suspect that one often doesn’t.)

More generally, most actions we take with our hands, like when putting clothes on or tying one’s shoes or fixing a meal, are only very loosely connected to where we look at. Or think of using the volume controls on an iPhone or similar device. You don’t look at the buttons when you so that. Likewise when hitting Escape to dismiss a dialog, or similar generic keyboard actions or shortcuts.

I can very well imagine that it becomes somewhat exhausting if every single action you take on the AVP requires you to look at a relatively precise spot at exactly the time where you pinch your fingers.

It’s much more in lock-step with the AVP than with keyboard and mouse. Yes, you look at where you want to move the mouse. But much of the actual movement of the mouse happens asynchronously, and you also don’t have to look at the spot that you click at the exact moment that you click. (And I suspect that one often doesn’t.)

More generally, most actions we take with our hands, like when putting clothes on or tying one’s shoes or fixing a meal, are only very loosely connected to where we look at. Or think of using the volume controls on an iPhone or similar device. You don’t look at the buttons when you so that. Likewise when hitting Escape to dismiss a dialog, or similar generic keyboard actions or shortcuts.

I can very well imagine that it becomes somewhat exhausting if every single action you take on the AVP requires you to look at a relatively precise spot at exactly the time where you pinch your fingers.

Looking at a button then looking away when you actually click was what I was alluding to when I said “even for a moment”. You still have to look at it. So for VP, you don’t have to bring the cursor to the button during which you would look away, you would just immediately finger tap the moment you look at it. I think it might be that with the brand new interface, the reviewer(s) were too consciously looking, staying looking, then finger tapping. Over time I imagine it will be a natural fast glance like you would when using a mouse or touch, and finger tapping at the same precise moment. Assuming the eye/hand tracking can keep up that fast.
However, that’s true for multiple taps on the same button, having to look each time is a disadvantage. Hopefully, there is or will be some solution to that, or a workaround with a keyboard shortcut.
Also true, with buttons that you’re familiar with you don’t always have to look so directly at with a mouse or touch. Keyboard shortcut would probably be the only workaround for that.

 

[vipergts2207]

Why would you say it's a different product category when you get both functions in the same product? That makes no sense.

Are an iPad and a MacBook two different product categories? They can both play video and have similarly sized screens.

You certainly don't get all of the functions that each one has. Can the OLED be used as a general-purpose computing device? No. Can you play the PS5/Xbox/Switch with friends and family on the AVP? No.

If you want to continue with the pointless claim of "well the AVP is cheaper than a 100" OLED," let's throw a Meta Quest Pro into the comparison as well and see that you can have a similar experience for way less than either of them. Or a Meta Quest 3 for way, way less. Hell, you can outfit the whole family with Meta Quests for less than a single AVP. Get two Pros for mom and dad, a couple 3's for the kids and you've got $500 plus tax left over to spend on games or other content.

 

[spinedoc77]

I've felt all along that the AVP money being spent is much better spent on a large OLED TV

Maybe, it depends on the application. But if all you want is a VR headset with 4k OLED panels and a 100" screen there are much cheaper options in much better packages: https://www.visor.com/

 

[ApostolisApo]

Looking at a button then looking away when you actually click was what I was alluding to when I said “even for a moment”. You still have to look at it. So for VP, you don’t have to bring the cursor to the button during which you would look away, you would just immediately finger tap the moment you look at it. I think it might be that with the brand new interface, the reviewer(s) were too consciously looking, staying looking, then finger tapping. Over time I imagine it will be a natural fast glance like you would when using a mouse or touch, and finger tapping at the same precise moment. Assuming the eye/hand tracking can keep up that fast.
However, that’s true for multiple taps on the same button, having to look each time is a disadvantage. Hopefully, there is or will be some solution to that, or a workaround with a keyboard shortcut.
Also true, with buttons that you’re familiar with you don’t always have to look so directly at with a mouse or touch. Keyboard shortcut would probably be the only workaround for that.

Several reviewers found that this feature does not work with 100% precision all the time. You 're just speculating but these experienced reviewers actually tested it thoroughly. The worst is with busy websites where even if they stare at a link sometimes another element is selected by accident.

 

[Saludos]

hello, Apple Newton. Again

 

[bigjnyc]

I have a feeling there's going to be an unprecedented amount of returns on this thing. There's going to be the people who can't really afford it but slapped it on a credit card anyways to try it out... There are going to be those who find it too cumbersome and unpractical, those who get bored of it after a few days... and those who just plainly won't see the justification in spending that much money on it.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Maybe, it depends on the application. But if all you want is a VR headset with 4k OLED panels and a 100" screen there are much cheaper options in much better packages: https://www.visor.com/

I was replying directly to someone who mentioned their application

 

[spinedoc77]

Looking at a button then looking away when you actually click was what I was alluding to when I said “even for a moment”. You still have to look at it. So for VP, you don’t have to bring the cursor to the button during which you would look away, you would just immediately finger tap the moment you look at it. I think it might be that with the brand new interface, the reviewer(s) were too consciously looking, staying looking, then finger tapping. Over time I imagine it will be a natural fast glance like you would when using a mouse or touch, and finger tapping at the same precise moment. Assuming the eye/hand tracking can keep up that fast.
However, that’s true for multiple taps on the same button, having to look each time is a disadvantage. Hopefully, there is or will be some solution to that, or a workaround with a keyboard shortcut.
Also true, with buttons that you’re familiar with you don’t always have to look so directly at with a mouse or touch. Keyboard shortcut would probably be the only workaround for that.

I don't know about that, I don't momentarily glance at my mouse at all, and rarely at my keyboard. Once Nilay pointed this out it makes sense why it might not be the best input method, although I'll reserve judgement until I actually have tested a VP out.

 

[neuropsychguy]

hello, Apple Newton. Again

The Newton became the iPhone and look what that's done for Apple and much of the world's population who use some smartphone.

 

[tomtad]

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Take this for what it's worth...

Marques, for now, has just showed the unboxing. And if you peruse the comments, there seem to be mostly warm and receptive comments about the AVP. So far, that video has 2,237,576 views.

Patel's video is definitely a harder review on the AVP, and the comments reflect much of the negativity found here on MacRumors. That video has 256,589 views so far.

 

[subjonas]

Here is what is surprising:

-Surprising that the reviews were more honest than I imagined
-The eye sight thing really sucks, like worse than I thought it would
-Digital Personas are weird but -slightly- better than I imagined
-The battery and how you charge it is stupid and I suspect there is some sort of tech in the battery that the headset needs to power on. That battery can be way bigger in that package
-It doesn't have as good of a field of view as I thought it would
-It doesn't do anything to make low light situations better for you

Not surprising:
-You are paying $4k to be a beta tester
-It has all the same caveats as all other headsets
-It's heavy and awkward
-You played yourself if you bought one

Anyone who only lists negatives is the same as iJustine—simply the other side of the coin.
Not as fun, but would have been fine—except you had to throw in that insult to everyone who bought one. That put you on a much lower level than her.

 

[hans1972]

Haha. “Reviews.” Can you actually call them reviews?

This tells me you didn't watch all the video reviews.

The Verge and WSJ versions were very balanced. The MKHBD was basically just an unboxing video.

 

[tomtad]

Take this for what it's worth...

Marques, for now, has just showed the unboxing. And if you peruse the comments, there seem to be mostly warm and receptive comments about the AVP. So far, that video has 2,237,576 views.

Patel's video is definitely a harder review on the AVP, and the comments reflect much of the negativity found here on MacRumors. That video has 256,589 views so far.

I don't know what this is supposed to mean?

The Verge has a full length review, Marques has a shorter unboxing video. Marques also gets higher views than The Verge.

You can't compare the two.

 

[hans1972]

These are essentially just marketing commercials, as the devices are sent by Apple and content is highly restricted. They can't actually give real opinions or risk losing their status with Apple, and therefore potential income from YouTube.

(Just an FYI for anyone new here.)

This just tells me you didn't watch all the video reviews mention in the article.
Some of them weren't glowing reviews and it seemed pretty honest to me.

 

[TVreporter]

Nilay Patel: "Listen to me, do you really want a computer that is always tracking your hands?"

😂🤣😂 If you know, you know.

Apple knew to toss in a fine polishing cloth...

 

[turbineseaplane]

The Newton became the iPhone and look what that's done for Apple and much of the world's population who use some smartphone.

So at least 9 more years until something great comes from the AVP work?

(1998-2007 is gap between Newton cancellation and initial iPhone release)

 

[gnipgnop]

Are an iPad and a MacBook two different product categories? They can both play video and have similarly sized screens.

If you want to continue with the pointless claim of "well the AVP is cheaper than a 100" OLED," let's throw a Meta Quest Pro into the comparison as well and see that you can have a similar experience for way less than either of them. Or a Meta Quest 3 for way, way less.

LOL..."pointless". You're aware that Meta Quest 3 has less than 5 million pixels per eye and is using a Snapdragon processor?