Awesome tech at a painful price.
Source: Apple
Apple’s Vision Pro is a fantastic piece of technology. No question. No debate. It has the potential to further revolutionize how we work and play and interact with our digital lives.
By all accounts, it’s the perfect VR headset for those who want to work in 3D space with the Apple ecosystem.
But.
That price tag.
$3,499.
Ouch.
While I have no doubt that the Vision Pro’s price is deserved, I have concerns about its future since it’s so far out of reach for the average user. Are those concerns justified?
Why does the Vision Pro cost so much?
The Vision Pro is hardly the first virtual reality or — sorry — “spatial computing” device on the market. Someone looking for a virtual reality experience has no shortage of options from which to choose.
So why is Apple’s so expensive?
For one, the Vision Pro is packed full of custom components, as Andrew Zuo points out. Apple’s headset has a custom display, custom lenses, and more. Plus, as Andrew points out, the Vision Pro packs a full M2 chip — the same as what’s found in Macs and some iPads.
Unlike some headsets which need to be connected to a computer, the Vision Pro is a computer. It features its own processor, GPU, memory, display and inputs. But it’s not just a computer. It’s loaded with an array of sensors and other impressive tech.
And that explains the price — but does it justify it?
Who is the Vision Pro for?
I think to answer that question, we first need to understand just who Apple imagines will buy the Vision Pro. Who is this $3,499 device for, exactly?
The potential applications for Apple’s headset are too many to list — from medicine to manufacturing to those who just want more screen real estate than their standard monitors allow.
I could see it being used in industrial work as a real time HUD or in medicine as a way to quickly overlay important information for doctors and medical staff.