Apple Vision Pro Review: Release Date, Details, and More

Hello there, my financial wizards!

Let's talk about the elephant in the room - Apple. Yes, those guys again. (You've got to hand it to them, they certainly know how to make a grand entrance.) So, they've decided to unveil their new baby, the Apple Vision Pro.

Apparently, the world wasn't exciting enough, so they decided to add another layer of awesomeness with their first spatial computer. It's like we're living in a sci-fi movie, except the popcorn is real (and, trust me, you're going to need a lot of it).

What's This New Toy About?

The Vision Pro is the latest addition to Apple's tech repertoire, taking the baton from the traditional Mac and iPhone. With it, we’re supposedly stepping into a new era of spatial computing, and as per Tim Cook, it's years ahead of anything we've seen before (Shocker, right?).

Meet visionOS: Apple's spatial operating system allows you to interact with digital content like it's physically present. You can control it with your eyes, hands, and voice (because apparently, touch screens are so passé).

How it Looks: Think 23 million pixels across two displays, and custom Apple silicon in a unique dual-chip design. They claim every experience feels like it’s happening right in front of your eyes in real-time. (My apologies to everyone who just bought 4K TVs.)

Vision Pro Features: Because, Of Course, There Are Features

Infinite Canvas for Apps: This system lets apps escape the confines of the screen to appear at any scale. Plus, it supports Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

Engaging Entertainment Experiences: Two ultra-high-resolution displays make any space your personal cinema. There are 180-degree high-resolution recordings with Spatial Audio and Apple Immersive Video.

Spatial Computing Games: New types of games are on the horizon that span a spectrum of immersion. And over 100 Apple Arcade games can be played on a screen as big as you want.

Immersive Environments: They call it Environments - landscapes that can grow beyond your room's dimensions.

FaceTime in 3D: With Vision Pro, FaceTime uses the room around you and the participants are in life-size tiles. Plus, there are Personas — a digital representation of you created with machine learning techniques.

An App Store: The new App Store for Vision Pro lets you discover apps and content from developers.

The Inside Scoop

Underneath the hood, visionOS runs on Apple's decades of engineering prowess in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. It's designed from scratch to support the requirements of spatial computing.

Plus, there's EyeSight, a feature that helps users stay connected with others around them while using the device.

Look & Feel

Apple has pulled out all the stops for the Vision Pro's design. There's three-dimensional formed and laminated glass, a custom aluminum alloy frame, and a modular system for a tailored fit.

Comfort hasn't been ignored either; the Light Seal is a soft textile, and the Head Band is designed for cushioning and breathability.

The Hardware Details

Display & Audio: They're using micro-OLED technology to pack those pixels, along with custom catadioptric lenses for sharpness and clarity. There's also an advanced Spatial Audio system, with two individually amplified drivers in each audio pod for personalized spatial audio.

Eye Tracking System: This feature uses high-speed cameras and LEDs for responsive input.

Battery: Designed for all-day use when plugged in, and up to two hours with its external, high-performance battery.

Privacy & Security

Salt and I are huge fans of Apple products. Reliability has always been there but another great perk is the (seemingly) impenetrable fortress of privacy and protection. Plus, they seem to be getting better and better. So no worries from us on the safety front.

Optic ID: It's a secure authentication system that analyses the user's iris for unlocking Vision Pro. It's fully encrypted and never leaves their device.

EyeSight: Includes a visual indicator when a user is capturing a photo or video.

Pricing and Availability

The Vision Pro will start at $3,499 (U.S.), and will be available early next year on apple.com and at Apple Store locations in the U.S. And while we agree this seems a bit steep in comparison to other VR headsets, Apple promises this will be an epic showcase on all fronts. So the question is who’s going to fork over the cash?

Hmmm probably everyone if I had to guess. But seriously, they have created multiple ways for this new piece of tech to be in everyone's home by the middle of next year. Let me walk you through it:

• Option 1: If you have the cash, then these will be the group that purchases outright (smart move)
• Option 2: Apple’s new-ish buy-now-pay-later program will assist those that have begged their spouse “pretty please” and have gotten the coveted green light but don’t want to drain their cash reserves all at once.
• Option 3: The suckers who are on the FOMO train will inevitably opt into the Apple card in order to finance their new gadget at an extremely high-interest rate.

And if I had to put money on it, my guess is that Apple will be taking full advantage of options 2 & 3 to kill two birds with one high-interest stone. Watch out for the incentives and perks for buying Apple merch with Apple money.

Pros

1. Innovative Technology: Apple always does a good job of combining innovation with user-friendliness. The three-dimensional user interface and the world’s first spatial operating system - that's definitely pushing boundaries.

2. Immersive Experiences: Think about the infinite canvas for apps and turning any space into a personal movie theater. Not to mention the new FaceTime experience, which might just revolutionize our video calls.

3. Eye-Popping Design: A sleek, compact wearable gadget that’s comfortable, flexible, and breathable. What more could a tech junkie ask for?

4. Security: The introduction of iris scanning as a means of unlocking the device (Optic ID) is a pretty cool feature. And the fact that your data stays on your device is a definite plus.

Cons

1. Pricey: At a starting price of $3,499 (U.S.), it's a pretty penny to shell out. Not everyone might be willing (or able) to cough up that kind of cash.

2. Battery Life: A two-hour battery life when unplugged? That might not cut it for folks planning on using the Vision Pro on the go.

3. Potential Privacy Concerns: Even though Apple has stated that eye-tracking information won't be shared, it does leave one wondering about the potential for misuse. Not to mention the fact that others can tell when you're capturing a photo or video.

4. Learning Curve: The transition from traditional displays to a three-dimensional interface might be quite a leap for some users. And while Apple's track record for user-friendliness is solid, the new input system might pose a challenge.

Pepper’s Takeaways

So there you have it - the good, the bad, and the spatial. Weigh it all before making the leap.

But mark my words that Salt & Pepper said it first, there will be a coming wave of Apple incentives to get users to sign up for Apple financing. Either through their buy-now-pay-later program or the Apple card.

Purchasing Apple merch with Apple credit keeps all the balls in Apple's court which means that stock is likely about to go through the roof. Just my thoughts though.