Today, Apple announced that it will start shipping the Apple Vision Pro on Friday, February 2, 2023. You will be able to pre-order this new device on Friday, January 19, 2023, and 5 am Pacific. This new headset will let you use visionOS to using your Mac, iPhone, or iPad in a three-dimensional user interface.
The new devices will start at $3,499 and you can get optical inserts starting at $99. You will be able to find these for pre-order on the Apple Store.
“The era of spatial computing has arrived,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. Its revolutionary and magical user interface will redefine how we connect, create, and explore.”
Apple has already begun applications for Vision Pro developer kits so interested parties can begin working on specialized, pairable apps. The borrowed kits allow developers to test their apps on real hardware so by the time Apple Vision Pro launches next year said apps will be tuned to near perfection.
So far, Netflix has already stated the company will not be creating a custom app specifically for the Apple Vision Pro, at least not for the time being. As reported by Apple Insider, Netflix “has no current plans to develop a native app for the Vision Pro.” The platform does have immersive streaming options for other virtual reality techs.
Disney+, on the other hand, is prepping a compatible app with 3D experiences for Vision Pro customers. There will be more streaming to follow. Getting developers on board during the pre-launch season is in its early phase. As the launch date moves closer, the number of streaming platforms announcing projects in the works is certain to grow.
As reported by Bloomberg, developers may not race to create an app supporting Apple Vision Pro due to the product’s high cost. As with most launches of new technology, the customer base will be small at first and build up over time. Developers for streaming platforms would be developing apps for a small portion of their subscriber base, taking time away from other projects to focus on a device that is only theoretically going to be the next big hit with consumers.
Here is how Apple describes this new device:
- An infinite canvas for productivity: With key productivity and collaboration apps like Fantastical, Freeform, JigSpace, apps from Microsoft 365, and Slack, Apple Vision Pro is an ideal productivity tool for everyday tasks. Apps can appear side by side at any scale for incredible multitasking, and with support for Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, users can create the perfect workspace. With Mac Virtual Display, users can even bring the powerful capabilities of their Mac into Vision Pro, creating an enormous, private, and portable 4K display, ideal for pro workflows.
- The ultimate entertainment experience: Apple Vision Pro features ultra-high-resolution displays that deliver more pixels than a 4K TV for each eye, enabling users to watch movies and TV shows from Apple TV+, Disney+, Max, and other services on a screen that feels 100 feet wide with support for HDR content. Within the Apple TV app, users can access more than 150 3D titles with incredible depth wherever they are. Vision Pro also introduces Apple Immersive Video, a remarkable new entertainment format pioneered by Apple that puts users inside the action with 180-degree, three-dimensional 8K recordings captured with Spatial Audio. Users can also enjoy new interactive experiences like Encounter Dinosaurs.
- New gaming experiences: Players can access games on the App Store, including more than 250 titles on Apple Arcade. Hit games like NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition and Sonic Dream Team can be played on a screen as large as they want with incredible audio and support for popular game controllers. New spatial games, including Game Room, What the Golf?, and Super Fruit Ninja, take advantage of the powerful capabilities of Apple Vision Pro to transform the space around players, offering unique and engaging gameplay experiences.