Could you take it with you on the bus? Can you watch movies and TV shows while driving? What about ordering coffee and food at the counter while reviewing your emails? IT Logs’ editorial team had so many questions going into this review of Apple’s shiny new toy called Vision Pro, which was brought to us thanks to Augment IT.
The Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset which officially launched in the US in February 2024. The product marks a departure from its previous offerings, and for many gives a glimpse into the future of technology and immersive experiences.
Of course, whenever there is a new Apple product, it comes with lots of hype – so this time we had to test it ourselves and see whether the excitement over the headset is justified and what is the actual experience that the Vision Pro brings to the table and how does it differ from its competitors.
Game-changer for AR/VR
“As a tech enthusiast and neither an influencer nor an Apple fanboy, I find the Vision Pro to be a cool product, but with some evidence of it being a first generation product that still needs polishing. The “spatial computing” concept, or AR as we all normal people call it, is most definitely a mind-blowing game changer – we are yet to see how specifically… I really feel it has a strong power to change education and training experience,” shared Damjan Dano, founder of Aqtos – a business operating system as a service startup, and co-founder of CTRL+ALT+DEL Media.
Damjan further adds that the hardware design is impressively sleek, and that the premium feeling with its aluminum alloy build is clearly setting it apart from “plastic” competitors like the Meta Quest.
“However, its weight and the annoying cable connected to a detached battery detract from the overall experience,” Damjan says.
For Bojan Stojkovski, IT Logs’ editor in chief, trying out the Vision Pro was pretty much a novel experience when it comes to the AR/VR world.
“As someone who hasn’t really, or has barely tried any AR or VR headsets, I have to say that this was a mind blowing experience and that my first impressions from the device are very much positive. I tried out a few apps and just the feeling of how you can pinch something in the air and see how it unfolds on the virtual screen gives you the “wow” effect.” Bojan explains.
“The part where you have a butterfly flying onto your hand and where you get to pet and play with dinosaurs is a very good example of the immersive and interactive potential of virtual reality experiences,” he says, while adding that “the design of the headset is definitely impressive and is very much a continuation of Apple’s signature aesthetic, blending sleek sophistication with intuitive functionality.”
Practical use and user experience
When it comes to the practical everyday use and what we could see from videos posted by many influencers on various social media channels, Bojan argues that it would be very much difficult to use the headset in your everyday life, while commuting or going to bars and restaurants.
“You can for sure use it while you are at home, but if you do try to walk with the moderately heavy headset on, you could probably last for half an hour max. Also, after using the headset for a while be prepared to be dizzy and to experience mild discomfort and headaches. It’s quite the feeling when you have to go back into the real world after using the Vision Pro, so this would also be one of the pain points – the stark contrast in experience that can prove to be a potential drawback for users transitioning between the two,” Bojan says.
For Damjan, the passthrough view that the device offers is something that is falling short of his expectations.
“I was surprised to learn that the passthrough view, while innovative, delivers a pixelated and slightly distorted reality, falling short of expectations – don’t believe all those people on the street walking seamlessly with Vision Pro strapped to their head – they are doing it with EXTRA effort. I personally believe that the UX can be much better – typing is tough and requires a lot of practice, there are no natural swipe motions to close the screen,” Damjan points out.
On the upside, watching videos on a per-your-wish scalable screen in your room is a great experience, showcasing one of Vision Pro’s strengths.
“This is amazing. I love the ecosystem integration – Apple are geniuses at this. I also loved that there is no motion sickness, but there is some slight pressure felt upon wearing it for a bit, as it is HEAVY,” Damjan adds.
Furthermore, according to him, for now the user experience is underwhelming; basic interactions like gesture recognition and screen navigation are frustratingly imprecise.
“The introduction of the ‘persona’ feels more like a jab at competitors rather than a meaningful feature, and its execution is less than appealing. Despite these drawbacks, Apple’s prowess in creating a seamless ecosystem shines through, with excellent connectivity and the smart branding of ‘spatial computing’ rather than augmented reality.” he adds.
For Bojan, while the device has its shortcomings, it is definitely something that offers a new take on our everyday digital experiences.
“To summarize the impressions – it’s something new, something very much exciting, something that will definitely change the industry, but also something that will take time to adjust to and that needs to be improved before it could be fully integrated into our daily lives.” Bojan adds.
