During WDDC 2023, Apple surprised many with the presentation of its innovative mixed reality viewer: the Vision Pro. However, the astonishment of several fans of the brand did not only come from the features and design of the device, but also from its high price.
This week, Manzana amazed more than one with his Worldwide Developers Conference 2023 (WDDC) and all the news it revealed. However, there is one in particular that caught almost everyone’s attention: the VisionPro. This ambitious mixed reality headset surprised not only for technical and design issues, but also for its very high price of $3,499. Why is this device so expensive?
Being a star of WDC 2023 and the new product that launches Manzana since 2015, it is clear that the VisionPro they become the new (great) bet of the company. With this device, the manzanita company aims to change the way we interact with technology. More than anything knowing that these viewers are independent mixed reality and that it gives us the possibility to switch between VR and AR.
If we get fully into its characteristics, the VisionPro It can be controlled by voice, hands and eyes, unlike other headsets that have specific commands or controls. Another detail that sets it apart from the rest (and that caught the attention of many) is the option to show the user’s eyes while using the device.
He Apple Vision Pro It will let us see and interact with the different applications, delve into personal videos and images, play video games, participate in video conferences and more. In addition, thanks to its numerous cameras and sensors, the device will be able to analyze the room in which it is used and make virtual windows and buttons have shadows and move dynamically, relating to physical objects in the environment.
Although these are some of the characteristics of the headset that increase their price, another important factor that affects the value of the devices Manzana it is design. He VisionPro It is built in one piece of laminated glass with aluminum and plastic finishes. In addition, in the front part it has a single piece of glass cut in 3D. On the inside, the visor has a custom-designed fabric that helps keep the wearer comfortable.
Added to all this, we are left with one important factor that also raises the cost: the ecosystem of Manzana, which includes thousands of ready-to-use applications, and what the viewer is equipped with. He VisionPro it has two lenses with Micro-OLED technology, with an Apple M2 chip and another R1 (specifically focused on controlling and processing a dozen of the device’s cameras and sensors), and high-tech XR2 headphones.
To this we add the first operating system developed by Manzana for mixed reality devices, called VisionOS. This software is integrated with privacy and security systems such as Optic IDwhich unlocks the system by analyzing the iris of the eye.
Of course, producing all this will not have been cheap for Manzana, something that is reflected in its high price. However, having such a high value, the VisionPro it is not a device that can be accessed by anyone. What’s more, it is more well thought out for developers, a business audience and the occasional brand and technology lover who has the money.
And something that seems to play in favor of Manzana is to see the difficulties that similar projects from other companies had, such as the Google Glass and Google Daydream View or a new (and expected) new version of the Microsoft Hololens. But, precisely, what will be difficult will be to convince buyers (be they developers or companies) that the VisionPro they will not be left halfway and that their price is justified. That is why Manzana he is taking his time to put his new headsets on sale.
Let us remember that the manzanita company reported that the VisionPro They will only be available next year in the United States. This movement (to announce a product and not launch it right away) is something that Manzana doesn’t usually do. But, as we said, extending the release date is something that allows the company more time to perfect the device and convince developers to buy it.
After all, Manzana would not have heralded with fanfare its innovative VisionPro to $3,499 if I didn’t have a good plan in mind to make it work for them and make it profitable, right?