Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset called Vision Pro in California on Monday. The glasses show either a virtual reality (VR) or a fusion of virtual and real world, called augmented reality, AR. It costs from 3500 dollars, works autonomously without a smartphone, but requires an external battery pack connected by cable. The combined AR/VR glasses should not only appeal to gamers, but also be suitable for virtual meetings and many new services. Apple says it's the most important announcement ever made, an all-new platform and a "revolutionary new product." The glasses are, in the words of Tim Cook, "the beginning of a journey for a new way of dealing with personal technology."

Michael Spehr

Editor in the "Technology and Engine" department.

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Virtual reality and augmented reality have been a big topic for years. Many companies already supply similar computer glasses, and now Apple is also taking a first step in this direction. VR glasses create a completely artificial world. AR glasses, on the other hand, enrich the real world with artificial elements, they are superimposed on reality, so one's own environment remains visible.

The now unveiled headset made of aluminum, carbon fiber and curved, laminated glass looks like futuristic ski goggles. The design is based on the Airpod Max headphones. The front is a display, so that the eyes and facial expression of the wearer are visible when you adjust it. Vision Pro is equipped with numerous camera modules, also for taking photos and videos, and high-resolution micro-OLED displays. It delivers 23 million pixels for both eyes and at least 4K for each eye. Further information, such as brightness, was not provided.

Switching from VR to AR, i.e. from a completely virtual view to one that incorporates the real environment, is done with the digital crown on the glasses. Then the external image is let through. The Apple Watch also has a digital crown. The Vision Pro also dispenses with the usual controllers that are held in the hand and used to control applications. Rather, Apple relies on a control system that evaluates the eye and hand movements as well as the voice. For example, you fix a virtual app with your eye and start it by squeezing your thumb and index finger, a kind of virtual mouse click. Siri, microphones, speakers, and IR and lidar sensors are also on board. At the beginning of next year, the glasses will initially only be available in America. Due to the slim design, it is not possible to wear additional conventional glasses while using the headset. The Vision Pro uses Zeiss lenses that are used to compensate for visual impairments of their wearer.

The Vision Pro uses an M2 chip from Apple's computers, plus an R1 chip that takes photos from 12 cameras and five microphones. The external battery provides power for a runtime of around two hours. The weight was not communicated.

The headset gets a standalone operating system, it's called Vision OS. Right at the start, a number of well-known Apple apps are running, including Facetime video telephony, which is taken to a new level with the headset.