People have been speculating about Apples entry into the world of virtual and augmented reality headsets for the better part of a decade. At WWDC 2023, it finally revealed the Vision Pro, which will launch as the first visionOS device on February 2nd.The Vision Pro starts at $3,499 with 256GB of internal storage, while optional prescription lenses from Zeiss are available for $149.In our review, we said the Vision Pros display is a technical marvel, with hand and eye tracking thats a leap forward beyond what previously existed, however, those controls can be inconsistent, and in our experience, Apples Personas virtual avatars could be uncanny and somewhat terrifying.The new headset uses two Apple Silicon chips (M2 Ultra and R1) and can be used for up to two hours with a tethered battery pack or for as long as you want if its plugged in. It also uses natural control with hand and eye tracking as well as voice commands. Users can switch between AR and VR using a digital crown-style dial, and depending on what theyre viewing, it displays their eyes on the front so that others know the person wearing it can see them.Read on for all our coverage so far on Apples Vision Pro headset.HighlightsAn hour agoRichard LawlerApples next Immersive concert experience for Vision Pro features Metallica.If The Weeknd wasnt enough to convince you to pick up Apples $3,499 headset (or at least stop by an Apple Store to try one out), now the company will offer a 25-minute virtual trip to the Mexico City finale of Metallicas M72 World Tour, which will also be available as an EP on Apple Music.Filmed on 14 cameras in ultra-high-resolution 180-degree video and Spatial Audio to give viewers unprecedented access to James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, it will be available as an extended preview in Apple Store demos beginning Friday.Feb 21Wes DavisThe Vision Pro is getting easier to share with guests, and adding a new iPhone appThe Vision Pro app for iOS will let you find new content and queue up downloads for the headset. Images: AppleOne of the big problems with a VR headset is that anything you want to do, you have to do inside it. Apple is looking to tackle that and other Vision Pro pain points with visionOS 2.4, which will offer improvements to the guest user experience and two new apps for finding new things to do and watch, whether youre wearing the headset or not. The visionOS 2.4 update rolling out in beta to developers starting today also adds Apple Intelligence features to the headset.Read Article >Dec 16, 2024Wes DavisBlackmagics Vision Pro immersive camera can be yours for only $29,995Blackmagic has announced that its URSA Cine Immersive commercial camera for shooting high-quality 3D immersive video is now available to preorder direct from Blackmagic Design Offices, with the first deliveries going out in early 2025. The camera, which could enable more immersive content for the Vision Pro, costs $29,995 or a mere 8.6 Vision Pros.First revealed in June, the Cine Immersive will let cinematographers shoot 90fps video in stereoscopic 3D at 8160 x 7200 resolution per eye or more than twice the estimated per-eye resolution of the Vision Pros screens. Theyll be able to edit the footage using the proprietary Apple Immersive Video format in DaVinci Resolve Studio, which Blackmagic plans to add support for early next year.Read Article >Dec 11, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pros ultrawide Mac display is very close to being a killer appMy favorite dynamic wallpaper floating in the desert. Screenshot: Mac Virtual DisplaySince its release, Ive mostly used Apples Vision Pro like a movie theater. The VR headset is an amazing way to watch Dune but beyond that, it hasnt really lived up to its potential as a general-purpose computing device.Today, thats finally starting to change. With the update to visionOS 2.2, Apple is seriously upgrading the headsets ability to work with a Mac. Its probably the closest thing the Vision Pro has to a killer app.Read Article >Dec 8, 2024Wes DavisApple and Sony are working on Vision Pro support for PSVR 2 controllersSonys PSVR2 controller support may be coming to the Vision Pro through a special partnership. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeThe Vision Pro could gain support for Sony PSVR 2 controllers soon, according to Mark Gurman in todays Power On newsletter for Bloomberg. Apple and Sony apparently planned to announce support for the controllers weeks ago but have pushed back the rollout. Under this rumored partnership, Apple would begin selling Sonys controllers, which arent currently available on their own.Sony has apparently been working on adding the support for months, while Apple has asked third-party developers if they would take advantage of Sonys VR controllers. Thats potentially great news for Vision Pro owners who wish the headset had more gaming chops. (There are precious few good, native visionOS games Thrasher, a mesmerizing game where you fling a giant worm / dragon thing around a psychadelic space using just hand movements, comes to mind.)Read Article >Nov 13, 2024Wes DavisBelkins Vision Pro strap should just come with the headsetPhoto: Wes Davis / The VergeThe Vision Pro VR headset is such an Apple product meticulously designed and packed with incredible tech, but designed to be used Apples way, whether you like it or not. For many, that means the headset is aggressively uncomfortable to wear due to its weight distribution. For the last several days, though, Ive been testing a solution Apple now sells thats so simple, so obvious, that Im actually miffed at Apple for not including something like it from the very beginning: the Belkin Head Strap.Belkins strap works in tandem with Apples Solo Knit Band. The Solo Knit Band wraps around your head with an elastic cushion, clamping the headset to your face but putting a lot of strain on your neck. Belkins strap gives you more support by distributing some of the Vision Pros weight to the top of your head.Read Article >Nov 4, 2024Wes DavisApples latest visionOS beta update wraps you in macOS.The company just released the developer beta for visionOS 2.2, which brings with it wide and ultrawide curved virtual display options for the Vision Pro, 9to5Mac reports.Beta users will also finally be able to output their Macs audio on the headset while using the virtual display with this update. (Before, the audio would only come from the Macs speakers.)visionOS 2.2 adds new Wide and Ultrawide settings for Mac Virtual Display, more[9to5Mac]Nov 3, 2024Wes DavisApple is preparing to sell a Belkin-made Vision Pro head strap.The strap, which is listed on Apples store for $49.95 but not yet available, combines with the Solo Knit Band, giving wearers over-the-head support that looks nicer than fiddling with the Vision Pros included Dual Loop Band.As 9to5Mac notes, its similar to an accessory that appeared in materials when Apple announced the headset, but was never something you could buy.How it should have been all along. Image: AppleOct 25, 2024Jay PetersAnother tiny new reason to use your Vision Pro.Safari will support spatial photos and videos starting later this year, PetaPixel reports. That means youll be able to see photos and videos with depth if youre browsing a website that builds support for the feature though, of course, youll need to be using a Vision Pro, which may not be selling very well.Apple is Adding Spatial Photo and Video Support to Safari[PetaPixel]Oct 23, 2024Richard LawlerApples reportedly slowing down Vision Pro production, for nowPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeA new report from The Information cites multiple people involved in making parts for Apples Vision Pro headset to say that production plans have been scaled back in recent months. This follows a Tim Cook interview published this weekend by WSJ. Magazine, where he said, Obviously Id like to sell more, but acknowledged that At $3,500, its not a mass-market product.That aligns with The Informations previous report from this summer, saying Apple has shifted its strategy to focus on making a cheaper headset, which could ship as soon as next year.Read Article >Oct 7, 2024Wes DavisWatch this one-minute preview of Apples first scripted Vision Pro shortApple just released the trailer for Submerged, the first scripted immersive video for the Vision Pro. The short, written and directed by Edward Berger, is set inside a WWII submarine as its crew deals with a harrowing torpedo attack.The trailer for Submerged consists of behind-the-scenes shots and fisheye-looking clips from the short, along with a voiceover from Berger, who claims that the immersive format will change the future of filmmaking.Read Article >Sep 18, 2024Wes DavisWith visionOS 2, Apples Vision Pro comes into focusPhoto: Nilay PatelApple rolled out updates to all of its major operating systems this week, and the Vision Pro was no exception. With visionOS 2, the company has a chance to show the relative few who bought its spendy headset and those who might yet that its still committed to the new platform.After a few months of using it in beta, visionOS 2 isnt a dramatic change its more like a smoothed-out version of the software the headset launched with. The addition of things like new gestures, better device support, and a couple of splashy features has removed a lot of the friction of using the Vision Pro and should give people who own it a reason to dust it off and take it for another spin.Read Article >Aug 5, 2024Wes DavisDisney Plus now takes you to Iceland.In the Apple Vision Pro, that is. Disney Plus has rolled out a National Geographic edition virtual environment for its visionOS app that lets you watch movies in a snowy corridor in Icelands Thingvellir National Park.The environment uses 3D models captured on-site using photogrammetry, according to Disneys announcement. When you watch a movie, it turns dark and shows you the Northern Lights!Sadly, it only works in the Disney Plus app. GIF: Disney PlusJul 18, 2024Emma RothLadies and gentlemen, The Weeknd (on Apple Vision Pro)Image: AppleApple is launching new immersive video content for the Vision Pro over the next few months, including one from The Weeknd, a close-up view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and the first scripted short film captured in Apple Immersive Video. The new series and film will come exclusively to the Vision Pro, allowing wearers to watch 3D video with a 180-degree field of view.The immersive performance from The Weeknd will arrive on the Vision Pro later this year, while you can expect a short film featuring events from the NBA All-Star Game this fall, such as the Rising Stars Challenge, the slam dunk contest, and the All-Star Game.Read Article >Jul 2, 2024David PierceApples Vision Pro: five months laterImage: Alex Parkin / The VergeThe Apple Vision Pro is many things. But for us, and for many other users, its one thing in particular: a really, really, really big screen. Since Apple started shipping its spatial computing headset five months ago today, weve tested the device as a TV, a computer monitor, a game console, a mega-chill way to relax on the beach, and much more.On this episode of The Vergecast, we talk about the past, present, and future of the Vision Pro. We chat with The Verges Wes Davis and Victoria Song about their experiences with the device, along with what theyve liked and what theyd like to change. It seems pretty clear that the first version of the device wasnt a groundbreaking, market-moving hit, so what next? Apple is reportedly working on a cheaper model with significantly lower-res displays, but does that dim the appeal of that really big screen? We have some thoughts and some ideas for Apple.Read Article >Jun 30, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pro will get Apple Intelligence and Go Deeper in-store demosPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeFor all its impressive technical chops, Apples all-singing, all-dancing Vision Pro hasnt set the world on fire. But its early yet, and the company continues to throw some weight behind the headset, and reportedly has plans to add AI features to visionOS and is readying an updated approach to in-store demos.Apple is working through the challenge of incorporating Apple Intelligence into the augmented reality interface of the headset, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported today. That could be a relief for Vision Pro owners who were disappointed that the company didnt mention it during the AI portion of its WWDC 2024 keynote presentation.Read Article >Jun 29, 2024Wes DavisThe Vision Pro follow-up may get lower-res displays.In its quest to build a cheaper headset, Apple has asked manufacturers for technical details needed to develop 2-inch or 2.1-inch displays with a pixel density of 1,700ppi (or about half the Vision Pros 3,386ppi), according to an Elec report cited by UploadVR yesterday.Assuming the same aspect ratio, the outlet pegs the resolution somewhere around 2600 x 2300, or just over two-thirds that of the current headset.Apple Asks LG & Samsung To Supply Micro-OLED For Vision Headset[UploadVR]Jun 23, 2024Richard LawlerApples rumored AR glasses are still a long way from reality.Mark Gurmans Power On newsletter looks at difficult trade-offs Apple has to make as it prioritizes a cheaper headset (including maybe relying on a tethered iPhone or Mac) and continues work on a second-gen Vision Pro.He also described details of Apples renewed efforts on the wear-all-day lightweight AR spectacles dream that Meta and Google are also chasing:Though a launch date around 2027 has been bandied about, no one Ive spoken to within Apple believes the glasses will be ready in a few years.Apple Vision Plans: Cheaper Model in Late 2025, Vision Pro 2 in 2026, AR Glasses[Bloomberg]Jun 18, 2024Jay PetersApples Vision Pro team is reportedly focused on building a cheaper headsetPhoto by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeApple may no longer be working on a new high-end Vision headset amid slowing sales of the Vision Pro, according to a new report from The Information. Instead, Apple has apparently been finding ways to reduce the cost of components for the first model and is working on a cheaper Vision headset that it aims to ship by the end of 2025.The first Vision Pro came out earlier this year, and while its a very good VR headset, it has a lot of flaws inherent to many other VR headsets. Its also quite expensive, starting at $3,499, and what I noticed most when I tried the Vision Pro at an Apple Store pretty heavy.Read Article >Jun 16, 2024Wes DavisThe visionOS 2 beta enables web-based VR.Previously an experimental feature, WebXR support is on by default for Vision Pro beta testers, RoadtoVR wrote last week. The open standard allows for VR and AR experiences on the web, such as those listed on this GitHub page.However, the outlet writes that AR experiences do not seem to work quite yet, limiting it to fully-VR ones for now.With visionOS 2, Apple Vision Pro Supports WebXR By Default[UploadVR]Jun 11, 2024Wes DavisApple skipped over the best visionOS 2 updatesSome of the best features just got hints in the feature breakdown at the end. Image: AppleApple mentioned a few new features coming to the Vision Pro during its WWDC 2024 keynote presentation on Monday, such as the ability to turn your 2D photos into 3D ones and support for using the headset on trains. But the company glossed right over some of the most sorely needed features that its adding to visionOS and those quieter changes make for a much more exciting update.After the update arrives this fall, youll be able to see a Magic Keyboard while youre working in a virtual environment, use any Bluetooth mouse you want, and rearrange your homescreen icons including putting iPad and iPhone apps where you want. These are all features that probably should have been there from the beginning, and theyll improve the day-to-day experience of using the Vision Pro in meaningful ways.Read Article >Jun 10, 2024Antonio G. Di BenedettoApple is finally launching the Vision Pro outside the USPhoto by Vjeran Pavic / The VergeMuch more of the world will soon have the chance to buy Apples mixed reality headset. Apple announced today that its $3,499 Vision Pro will be sold internationally with a rollout kicking off on June 28th.The first countries outside the US to get the Vision Pro are China, Japan, and Singapore on June 28th, followed by Germany, France, Australia, the UK, and Canada on July 12th. The announcement comes after Bloomberg reported in May that Apple has been training its international employees on selling the high-end headset.Read Article >May 22, 2024Wes DavisMarvels What If...? Vision Pro mixed reality story will debut on May 30th.Marvel says What If...? An Immersive Story will have viewers (players?) casting spells, fighting battles with Marvel characters, and using the infinity stones. Judging from the trailer, that means making Doctor Stranges magic sparks with your hands.This edition of What If...? will be free for a limited time when the app is available on May 30th.May 15, 2024Sheena VasaniThe Apple Vision Pro is approved to go on sale in ChinaAn Apple wearable computer made by the Vision Pros manufacturer received the necessary quality and safety accreditation for it go on sale, according to the website of the Chinese product standards body that granted its approval.The report aligns with recent rumors suggesting the Pro will roll out internationally after WWDC on June 10th, though an exact date is still unknown.Vision Pro international rollout beckons as China approves release[9to5Mac]May 13, 2024Jess WeatherbedApple is almost ready to sell the Vision Pro outside the USThe Vision Pro could be available in some international regions shortly after Apples WWDC event next month. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The VergeApple is reportedly preparing to launch its $3,499 Vision Pro outside of the US for the first time, according to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, with the mixed reality headsets international rollout expected to start shortly after the companys Worldwide Developers Conference early next month. On Monday, Gurman reported that Apple has flown hundreds of employees from its international stores over to its offices in Cupertino, California, to show them how to demonstrate the device. Training sessions reportedly started last week, with courses taking up to four days to complete according to Gurmans sources.Read Article >More Stories