Vision Pro Hands-On: Reviewers Comment on Weight, Disney+ Experience, Virtual Keyboard and More

[Realityck]

What's surprising, though, is that Apple isn't showing us the way forward. @eicca poses a very valid question. What problem does this solve? I agree with your take as well, but it's quite surprising that Apple themselves didn't jump in and show us a whole new way of doing something. Everything they've demoed has been obvious and predictable, more about eye candy and parlor tricks than how this amazing "spatial computer" can solve <pick your problem> better than other computing tools.

I was thinking that if you owned more Apple devices (iPads, Macs, Apple TV4K) you would be less inclined with buying something new that doesn’t improve the way you work or be entertained. So someone with just a iPhone might be more likely perspective to pitch to.

 

[NT1440]

Yeah, but that keyboard is going to be on a desk at a specific place in your home. If you have to fall back on a Bluetooth keyboard frequently enough, then effectively you’ll just end up sitting at your desk whenever you use it. At that point, isn’t it effectively a desktop computer? Really kinda fizzles out the whole “spatial computer” concept.

What do you mean “fall back”? If your intended use case is long term typing, use the tool that’s *meant* for the job. Apple has explicitly shown pairing to a Magic Keyboard, and even helpfully included text below it to tell you that’s the correct input device for the task.

Why do people here insist on willfully misinterpreting what this device does and how?!? I’ve been here forever and every year this place gets filled with more and more “hot takes” that aren’t based in anything other than being snippy about their own intentional misinterpretations. Truly infuriating.

 

[akidokraja]

Possibly stupidest product Apple has ever released that has potential to be really great in approximately 50 years.

 

[reyesmac]

It would be nice if 3rd parties could create real objects that can be used in the virtual world. A keyboard would be one of those. They can have their own economy, its like the Wii had for a while, but better, with find my built in the object so you can see it through the walls of your house if you are trying to find it. Or even ways to place objects around your home that act as anchor points in the VR space to allow for more accurate objects. Maybe for playing miniature golf in your house. The possibilities are endless when Apple isn't walling things off from developers.

 

[cardfan]

Wow this really is just a glorified Quest headset. Sure it's absolutely the best headset out there, it still remains to be seen if it becomes the next "hit." It's interesting how I've pointed out comfort as a major gripe and instantly have the VP fanboys jump on me. Shame Apple didn't just go with AR glasses.

Resolution aside there’s nothing about this that is much better than the quest. And then consider quest has controllers, games, apps, a much better price, etc.

The real question is if a quest doesn’t interest you then why would this?

 

[spinedoc77]

Resolution aside there’s nothing about this that is much better than the quest. And then consider quest has controllers, games, apps, a much better price, etc.

The real question is if a quest doesn’t interest you then why would this?

The quest is actually better in some ways because of its lower resolution. It's my understanding that the M2's graphic power is only slightly better than the Quest 3's Snapdragon XR2, which means the VP is going to struggle with 4k games. I'm really surprised Apple didn't spring for the M3 in this. So you can kind of cross one thing off your lists, games, which are arguably the killer app for VR headsets. Couple that with Apple's long history of being out of tune with the game industry, oh sure we'll get Candy Crush in full 3d glory and an occasional Capcom title, but I really doubt it's going to have anywhere near the support the Quest line has (and even that is sparse).

 

[cardfan]

isn’t the current rumor that they’re working on both?
It would not surprise me if we see AR glasses within the next decade, but they’ll definitely be a lot more Google glass than mini Vision Pro.
At least I hope that’s what they do

In fact vr seems to keep getting in the way. Quest is vr all the way. Apple was supposed to make AR the next big thing but can only demo vr stuff that the quest has been doing for years.

We’ve not seen anything from apple is AR specific that can suggest it’s a breakthrough. Category defining and whatnot. Vr can’t be along for the ride if the goal is glasses or whatever.

I’d even go as far to say most are interested in avp for its vr.

 

[sphark]

The comments here are kind of laughable given that none of you have actually tried it. Who’s to say that devs won’t create some amazing AAA games? Maybe the tracking is so good that you don’t NEED controllers. Etc…

 

[Surf Monkey]

No because I have seen a movie, watched a video from family, etc. I know what you are saying and I know what she was trying to say. It's just...very silly. But yes if you think the AVP is a holodeck then you will feel excluded. For those of us that dont expect to be included in videos it will feel as expected.

Begs the question: how many people want a device that isolates them from both the outside and inside?

 

[raindogg]

I know Apple is trying to sell this as Spacial Computing, but that won't be the reason I ever get one. I would want it for fantasy, not work.

I always wanted to play Madison Square Garden. Since that will never happen, it be cool if I could throw on a head set and be on stage at the Garden. Let me be Iron Man, not Tony Stark.

 

[dumastudetto]

The future of the new world is truly about to get started. I'm so excited to meet everyone in Vision Pro.

 

[Eso]

What do you mean “fall back”?

Meaning: how often while using the Vision Pro do you need to type something in, and using the floating keyboard is enough of a pain point that you would rather use a hardware keyboard.

Say you’re just gonna browse the internet a bit, seems straightforward enough. But then maybe you want to post on the MacRumors forum, or comment in a YouTube video. Or you want to search for a particular phrase, and another, and another…

You may be underestimating just how much text input is used other than for “long form typing”, at least in frequency if not quantity. Try mimic the Vision Pro right now by doing what is described here: focus on each key (don’t forget the space bar and backspace) and then tap your fingers together. It’s not great.

 

[CBlakeston]

So a $3500 immersive movie machine??

Are you describing a headset or an OLED TV? Both are around the same price.

 

[MacKenzie999]

They need to make them light/comfortable/simple enough for elderly people to wear for extended periods while seated, as one potential use of these could be in nursing homes. I see problems with that usage too, but I'd have bought one of these for my grandmother if they existed at the time (and were any good).

 

[macduke]

In its current form, it is primarily a toy for people with a high degree of disposable income.

Things Apple needs to do to fix this thing:

• Reduce price
• Reduce weight
• Increase battery life
• Needs a killer app or use case

They could solve this all faster if they made it an accessory to the iPhone instead of an entire computer. I mean, it already has to run a cable down to a battery pack in your pocket. Why not just make it super light weight and plug into your iPhone in your pocket using USB-C? Then in a future iteration, make it wireless—although there is still the battery issue. But it should use less battery if the processing is handled by the iPhone.

 

[Aeolius]

I look forward to be being “inside“ Myst

It's been done.

https://www.oculus.com/experiences/app/2719294624823942/?utm_source=oculus&utm_medium=share

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It appears Apple innovated in a lot of amazing ways but did not innovate in a very important practical way...makling it lighter. Carbon fiber, get rid of the heavy glass front. They did move the battery to external which was very weight conscious but it wasn't enough. This thing sounds like it needs to be much much lighter.

In fact they should have reached out to Jonny Ive. His specialty is thinner, lighter. They could have used him for this.

Totally agree, although I think this is Johnny’s design.

 

[Ghost31]

Are you describing a headset or an OLED TV? Both are around the same price.

I can get a tv for $300 and the entire family can enjoy it

 

[Polinsky]

Why do people here insist on willfully misinterpreting what this device does and how?!? I’ve been here forever and every year this place gets filled with more and more “hot takes” that aren’t based in anything other than being snippy about their own intentional misinterpretations. Truly infuriating.

Excellent question. The reality, for whatever reason, is that the overwhelming majority of comments in all the AVP threads consist of insults and derogatory comments about the AVP and those who are buying it. Someone actually posted a request to find nasty names to call someone who wears the AVP outside. I now believe that these threads are of no real use to those of us truly interested in buying the AVP. There is nothing the haters can say that would alter my plans to pre-order the device and I'm no longer willing to waste time reading through the garbage to find a possible tiny nugget of useful information. Is this how forums are supposed to work?

 

[szw-mapple fan]

This gives me a totally unrelated idea: Apple should implement sign language detection in its devices (via camera) for dictation.

I agree. The VP definitely looks like it has the hardware to make it happen. Vivo has implemented this in their devices and it looks like it works really well in this review (turn on English captions) with Chinese sign language.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

…while also saying she’ll feel like a ghost. That paragraph was quite a contradictory read.

Vision Pro is kind of a contradictory product.

 

[sphark]

Meaning: how often while using the Vision Pro do you need to type something in, and using the floating keyboard is enough of a pain point that you would rather use a hardware keyboard.

Say you’re just gonna browse the internet a bit, seems straightforward enough. But then maybe you want to post on the MacRumors forum, or comment in a YouTube video. Or you want to search for a particular phrase, and another, and another…

You may be underestimating just how much text input is used other than for “long form typing”, at least in frequency if not quantity. Try mimic the Vision Pro right now by doing what is described here: focus on each key (don’t forget the space bar and backspace) and then tap your fingers together. It’s not great.

The pass-thru clarity is almost real world quality. What if in the near future you can hold your iPhone and a keyboard pops up that allows you to type on it?

 

[sphark]

I can get a tv for $300 and the entire family can enjoy it

But not a high-quality OLED TV. So it sounds like the Apple Vision Pro at this price point isn’t for you and your family 🤷‍♂️

 

[sphark]

Excellent question. The reality, for whatever reason, is that the overwhelming majority of comments in all the AVP threads consist of insults and derogatory comments about the AVP and those who are buying it. Someone actually posted a request to find nasty names to call someone who wears the AVP outside. I now believe that these threads are of no real use to those of us truly interested in buying the AVP. There is nothing the haters can say that would alter my plans to pre-order the device and I'm no longer willing to waste time reading through the garbage to find a possible tiny nugget of useful information. Is this how forums are supposed to work?

It’s called jealousy 😆

 

[jdawgnoonan]

It looks like a high-quality device, and I am sure that there will be many use cases for it. But if I want to use iOS or Mac OS style apps, I prefer not wearing a set of goggles to do that. To buy this thing just to watch movies makes no sense to me for myself.