Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset is an impressive device that creates virtually unmatched experiences in virtual and augmented reality.
It is considered Apple's biggest gamble since it sought to reignite its Mac business in 1998. Rumors suggest that Apple could be seeding the first-generation Vision Pro headsets in Apple retail locations across the country or around the world.
According to Bloomberg tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple plans to train employees on how to use the headset right after the New Year and have them train other employees when the headsets arrive in stores before the end of January.
Apple has always said the Vision Pro would arrive sometime in 2024, and based on the slow drip of information and hands-on experiences we've seen this year, Apple is trying to prep not just its retail teams but the media that will try to explain this new Apple device to consumers. The training Apple must give to people who will sell the product will be not only about what Apple Vision Pro can do but also about its cost, the necessary customization, and even why there is an external battery.
The Vision Pro introduces an entirely new category of digital experience called "Spatial Computing," which means computing in a 3D space. Objects are not just on a 2D screen in front of your face; they are near, far, and all round. It's a development language Apple's app partners are just learning right now. For consumers, it's a new interface frontier. There has never been a consumer-grade Apple product that requires customization before you can even use it. Vision Pro is made to accommodate prescription lenses for eyeglass wearers like me, but you may need to chip in for the right Zeiss prescription lenses and wait a week or so for those to arrive before you finally get to take home your pricey Vision Pro headset.
Lastly, there's the battery pack. It's just as attractive as the rest of the Vision Pro headset but is also like a weird vestigial tail that all other Apple products shed ages ago. Apple decided to put the battery pack outside of the headset to keep the weight of the headset low to maximize wearability and comfort. However, when you wear the headset and that little silver pack sits on the couch next to you, you may find yourself wondering if you should hold it or drop it into your pocket.
All of this adds up to not a bad product. It's still the most exciting thing Apple has produced in years. It's not an obvious home run. Will average consumers who are not used to bleeding-edge tech and prices want to spend thousands on a product they cannot use immediately without customization? Will they find it as intuitive as Apple hopes and become inspired by Spatial Computing's possibilities? Maybe. All I know is that we are quickly entering Apple's biggest product risk arena in decades. What happens in January is anyone's guess.