'Open Apps with Eye Movement and Scroll with Wrist'.. Apple’s Ambitious MR Headset Success Hinges on Price

'Spatial Computing Platform'

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the 'Vision Pro' at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held at the company's Silicon Valley headquarters on the 5th (local time). The Vision Pro, a mixed reality (MR) headset, is new hardware unveiled by Apple after nine years. MR is a technology that extends augmented reality (AR), which overlays virtual objects onto the real world. Apple expressed its intention to implement computing functions, previously done on computers and mobile devices, in three-dimensional space through the Vision Pro.

CEO Tim Cook said, "Today marks the beginning of a new era in computing," adding, "Just as the Mac opened the era of personal computing and the iPhone opened the era of mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro provides us with spatial computing."

Resembling ski goggles, the Vision Pro is divided into a front part that includes the display and a rear band. The front houses five sensors, twelve cameras, six microphones, and two micro OLED displays with 23 million pixels each. The brain of the device contains a dual-chip semiconductor structure with Apple's proprietary M2 chipset and the newly developed R1 chip. The R1 chip streams new images to the screen within 12 milliseconds, eight times faster than the blink of an eye.

The Vision Pro can be controlled without separate controls, using eyes, hands, and voice. Users can simply fix or move their gaze to open apps and select apps by pinching with two fingers. Scrolling can be done by nodding the wrist up and down or by voice commands. To support this, Apple developed its first spatial operating system (OS), VisionOS. The entire space can be expanded up to 100 feet (30 meters). Apple explained, "Digital content feels as if it physically exists in the real space," and "It dynamically responds to natural light and casts shadows to help users perceive the size and distance of the space."

There is also an EyeSight feature. When someone approaches a person wearing the Vision Pro, the device becomes transparent, allowing the user's eyes to be visible. The user can also see the people around them. It provides visual indicators to others showing what the user is focusing on.

To reduce weight, the battery is separated from the main body. When powered by an external battery, the maximum usage time is two hours. The frame is made of ultra-light aluminum to keep it light. Speakers are placed near the ears on the sides, providing sound that feels as if it is coming from the surrounding environment.

When making FaceTime calls on the Vision Pro, all participants are represented as life-sized tiles, and spatial audio is applied. Apple explained that users will feel as if the voice is coming from the location of the person they are talking to. Users can watch movies together, browse photos, or collaborate on presentations.

However, the high price is expected to limit its mass appeal. The Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 (4.57 million KRW), making it the most expensive MR headset currently on the market. Earlier this month, Meta Platforms introduced the MR headset 'Quest 3' priced at $499 (660,000 KRW). The product will be released starting early next year in the United States.

Mac Studio and Mac Pro

Meanwhile, Apple also unveiled new desktop models Mac Studio and Mac Pro equipped with the highest-performance chips, M2 Max and M2 Ultra. The newly revealed M2 Ultra, known as the 'monster chip,' is Apple's highest-performing chip. It offers a CPU that is 20% faster and GPU performance improved by up to 30% compared to the M1 Ultra. The Mac Studio equipped with the M2 Ultra is up to three times faster than the previous generation Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra. It is up to six times faster than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac. It features a 24-core CPU, up to a 76-core GPU, and up to 192GB of memory with an ultra-fast 800GB memory bandwidth. The new Mac Pro, based on the M2 Ultra, is equipped with a 24-core CPU and up to a 76-core GPU, offering at least twice the expanded memory and SSD storage. The Mac Studio starts at 2.99 million KRW. The Mac Pro tower model starts at 10.49 million KRW, and the rack-mounted model starts at 11.19 million KRW.