Apple Vision Pro: wildly impressive or wildly overpriced? Tell us for $2

Massively overpriced Apple garbage...They've seen other products get popular and said "lets do that but not as well!".

don't really have much else to say on it.

I’m going to play devil’s advocate and argue that the Apple Vision Pro is wildly overpriced, a stance that should spark some interesting discussions (I hope).

First, let's consider the history of augmented reality. My research indicates that the concept dates back to 1936 with the introduction of holographic gunsights. Subsequently, aircraft pilots began using tactical UI projections on glass. The 1990s saw many attempts to use helmets and various goggles/visors for data projection.

In 2016, Microsoft introduced the HoloLens, a fairly compact consumer AR device. When comparing the HoloLens with the Apple Vision Pro, they seem similar in size and functionality. However, it's important to note that the HoloLens was developed a decade ago using completely different semiconductor device fabrication processes (28 nm vs. today's 2-3 nm), and there have been several revolutions in battery cells and controllers since then. So, why is the Apple Vision Pro still so bulky, and what technology justifies its high price?

Another aspect to consider is the device's purpose. The initial concept of a gunsight/tactical overlay was to provide crucial data to operators without obstructing their view of reality. The Microsoft HoloLens targeted engineers and specialists, offering additional data to aid in solving complex problems or developing solutions 'on-site' with actual physical objects. However, it's less clear which specific problem the Apple Vision Pro is aiming to solve.

I am not keen on VR or augmented reality when using it in practice. A bit of background. I first tried out the Oculus rift dk1 at rezzed at the Birmingham NEC on surgeon simulator. The demo setup used some wierd Razer motion control thing if I remember right. It didn't work well.

A year or 2 later I gave the HTC vive a go at EGX proper and was wowed by it. The room scale demo was incredible!

Since then I have purchased the original Oculus rift at launch with the sensor cameras and tried again with the Oculus Quest. I just don't use them after the initial new experience wears off. In practice in the home they are inconvenient, uncomfortable and isolating to use. Plus you are left with marks on your face after from the pressure of them so you need time for that to go away post usage before you can nip to the shops or whatever.

So at last onto the Apple Vision.... I don't see anything different on offer. This headset is arriving years late into the market. Interest in these devices peaked years ago, probably around the time of the original PlayStation VR headset in my opinion (maybe stats would prove me wrong but that's my gut feeling). It is over engineered with expensive features that appear to offer little benefit v the cost of them. The overall cost is stupidly high. The weight of the headset takes the worst part of past devices, the weight of them on your face and takes it up to another level with heavy materials and even more weight on the front of your face. Despite the weight, they don't even have the battery in there and have the wire running to a separate one.

I agree with other comments here that they are maybe well suited for professional use such as an architect exploring a design or maybe an interior decorator/designer to preview designs in AR and show them off to clients.

*Caveat with the fact I haven't used the Apple Vision so don't have first hand experience...

Impressively overpriced!

Jokes aside - I think it looks great; but until the pricing is revisited, i think it will not take off in the home.

It all feels a touch minority report from first glance too! :D

I don't think it's overpriced. The tech inside of it is certainly worth a lot, and the R&D for it certainly isn't cheap. However I just don't think it's worth it, and honestly the launch has been both the most and least Apple thing ever. The attention to detail as always is great, but there are so many first-gen issues and the library of apps and actual use-cases are so small that right now it's just not an appealing product.

As someone who dislikes so much about how Apple does business, there is a part of me that this is a product that may make the spell break for a lot of Apple buyers, and help open their eyes to the type of company Apple is. But I highly doubt it. What's more, as someone who wants VR to finally go a lot more mainstream, Apple is probably the most likely company to make that happen, and build upon what Meta have done in improving the market size.