[Tested] Apple Vision Pro with M5 Chip: Front-Row Concerts and a Journey to Jupiter from Your Living Room

Apple's New Vision Pro Set to Launch in Korea on the 28th
Priced at Around 5 Million Won
An 8K Stage Unfolds Before Your Eyes
Lack of Dedicated Netflix and YouTube Apps Is Disappointing

I found myself standing in the middle of a snow-covered field. Snowy mountains stretched out in all directions, everything blanketed in white. The scene was so vivid that I almost felt the chill in the air. In reality, though, I was seated at a cafe near Gwanghwamun in Seoul. The snowy landscape was a virtual space created by the Apple Vision Pro, an extended reality (XR) device worn on my head. Ahead of its domestic release on November 28, I had the chance to experience the new Vision Pro firsthand, and its realism was impressive enough to make me think, "This is really possible." This is thanks to the upgrade with the next-generation M5 semiconductor chip.

The new Apple Vision Pro components include a new dual knit band, Light Seal, device front cover, polishing cloth, battery, USB-C charging cable, and a 40W dynamic power adapter (up to 60W). A color manual is also included. Photo by Yoojin Park

The newly introduced dual knit band provides a comfortable cushion. Its structure wraps around both the top and back of the head, evenly distributing the weight. The pressure is balanced across the forehead and cheekbones, so even after extended use, there is no discomfort on just one side. You can conveniently adjust the tightness by turning the dial. While the device still feels hefty at 600 to 650 grams, it is lighter than expected when worn.

The most notable feature of the Vision Pro is its control method. There is no need for a controller or buttons. What you look at becomes the cursor. Pinching your thumb and index finger together acts as a click, and grabbing and moving the corners of the screen visible in the air allows you to zoom in or out.

A reporter wearing the Apple Vision Pro. Clicking is done by making the thumb and index finger into a pinching shape, and zooming in or out can be done by grabbing and moving the corners of the screen visible in the air. Photo by Park Yujin

I opened the Photos application. Ordinary photos taken with an iPhone appeared before my eyes, and pressing the cube icon transformed them into three-dimensional images. The people in the photos appeared to have depth, as if they were actually present. Panoramic photos were even more impressive. Icelandic landscapes unfolded in 360 degrees, making me feel as though I was truly standing within them.

The video experience was equally immersive. Playing "Apple Immersive Video" content on the Apple TV app produced 8K quality video spanning 180 degrees. Watching a three-minute concert video, it genuinely felt like I was right in front of the stage. Sound came from all directions, and when the singer moved to the left, the audio shifted accordingly. It was, quite literally, a "front-row concert experience from home."

Turning the dial (Digital Crown) at the top right changes the surrounding environment. Starting from the snowy field, you can also experience the environment of Jupiter, a planet in the solar system. A massive Jupiter appears before your eyes, and by selecting between day, sunset, or night, the environment changes according to the chosen time of day. It truly feels like being transported to a completely different world.

It is also suitable for work purposes. When connected to a MacBook, the laptop screen appears huge right in front of you. Selecting "ultra-wide" mode creates an expansive workspace, as if you have two 5K monitors side by side. You can continue using the MacBook’s keyboard and trackpad, so there is no inconvenience. Voice commands are also possible-if you tell Apple’s AI voice assistant Siri to "open the Files app," the app will launch accordingly.

When the Apple Vision Pro is connected to a MacBook, the laptop screen is implemented as a virtual display. Image provided by Apple

The Safari web browser features "spatial browsing." Photos on web pages pop out three-dimensionally, and for long articles, Apple’s on-device artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Apple Intelligence, provides summaries in Korean.

Compared to the Galaxy XR, which is priced at 2.69 million won, the Apple Vision Pro (4.99 million won) is certainly expensive. However, in terms of display quality, response speed, and user experience, it is clearly a step above. The screen is brighter and clearer, and it responds instantly to eye movements, eliminating any sense of lag. The display quality through the Zeiss lenses is also excellent. However, it is inconvenient that there are no dedicated Netflix or YouTube apps, so you have to access them through the browser. While there is plenty of Apple TV and Apple Arcade content, the absence of widely used services like Netflix and YouTube is disappointing. The AI features also fell short of expectations. While it can handle voice commands and provide summaries, advanced features such as inter-app integration are still limited.