Apple’s Vision Pro is designed to change computing, but will it make TVs and gaming headsets obsolete?
Apple caused quite a stir when it unveiled the Apple Vision Pro headset at WWDC 2023. The tech giant revealed it was targeting two key markets with the new gadget: the workplace and home entertainment. Now, the question on everyone’s minds is whether the Vision Pro can make TVs and gaming headsets obsolete. Or will it coexist with these existing technologies, each having its own unique space and usage?
Is Apple Vision Pro Ready for Prime Time?
The Apple Vision Pro has a lot of exciting features. Boasting micro-OLED technology that packs 23 million pixels into two displays for a 4K experience, 12 cameras to track hand and eye movements, five sensors, six microphones, and three-element lenses, it’s easily one of the most premium virtual reality headsets on the market.
But the question remains whether the Apple Vision Pro and its hefty price tag of $3,499 can be a viable replacement for our TV and gaming headset. Watching a movie or a TV show is typically a shared experience, something that the current form of the Vision Pro might not be best suited for.
Furthermore, practical issues such as limited battery life (just two hours), the need for a trailing cord to an external battery pack, and potential engineering issues associated with cramming so much tech into a small space may further hinder its acceptance as a full-fledged TV replacement.
Will it Replace Your Gaming Console?
Playing the PS5 on the Apple Vision Pro might present some challenges. The device doesn’t support direct hardwire connections, so you’ll have to depend on Remote Play. This requires a reliable local area network and a prayer that there will be minimal pixelation as your PS5’s stream is compressed to travel via Wi-Fi into your headset with minimum lag.
The scenario isn’t any better for the Xbox and other cloud gaming services. Apple’s contentious stance on cloud gaming on its iOS platform further complicates the situation. To get cloud gaming services working, you need to resort to using web apps. Imagine trying to enjoy a much-anticipated new game on a massive virtual 105-inch TV, only to be limited to a lower-resolution web app version. It begs the question – why go through the hassle when you can simply take off the headset, give your neck a rest, and play on a regular TV without the need for web apps and the compromise of severe compression?
Immersive Gaming and Sound Experiences
Apple has announced that the forthcoming Vision Pro will be equipped with innovative dual-driver audio pods. Details about these pods remain under wraps, yet it’s suggested they will surpass the audio quality of the existing AirPod Pros. These high-tech ear pods are unique to the Vision Pro, and each speaker will be individually calibrated and personalized to your preferences. Additionally, they will introduce a novel audio raytracing technology that considers the acoustic properties of your surroundings, transforming the way you consume audio entertainment.
One significant potential advancement lies in Apple’s head-tracking technology. Although gaming wasn’t prominently featured during the presentation, the implications for game audio integration with the Vision Pro are vast. The device’s spatial audio could dramatically enhance gaming, music, and movies, turning your environment into an immersive sonic landscape. Apple gave us a peek into this by demonstrating how one can step back in time and relive moments captured in your camera roll. Judging from the chatter at WWDC 2023, spatial audio will significantly differ from what you’ve grown accustomed to with standard AirPods.
Picture yourself playing a game in the comfort of your living room, yet sensing the action unfolding around you as if you were there. The Apple Vision Pro makes this possible, offering an immersive VR experience that combines audio, physical, and digital elements flawlessly. Overlaying visual effects and interactive components onto your environment, the Vision Pro provides a truly immersive experience.
Apple Vision Pro: The Reality and Potential
In conclusion, will the Vision Pro replace your TV and gaming headset? Not anytime soon. The Vision Pro is an impressive technology set to redefine the virtual reality headset market. But its solo experience, lack of HDMI, and the high price tag will limit its adoption as a complete replacement for TVs and gaming headsets in the short term.
However, as technology continues to evolve and become more affordable, the future could be a place where each member of a household owns a Vision Pro, transforming our collective viewing and gaming experiences.
Until then, the Vision Pro will coexist with our beloved TVs and gaming headsets, each providing unique experiences in its own right. Who knows, this hybrid tech ecosystem may give birth to new digital interaction and entertainment forms that we can’t even fathom today. The future is indeed exciting!
