Apple Vision Pro: Who is effectively using it in the real world?

Virtual Reality with real world applications

Is Apple Vision pro still the new thing or the initial buzz has faded into nostalgic, what could it have been?

As it is with Apple in everything they do, they claim to do it their unique way boasting about the way the product “just works”. The question right now is -

Does the Apple Vision Pro just works for the users?

This is not a review of the product but more so a case study from a potential user’s perspective trying to dip toes into VR world.

Initial Buzz and Fanfare

The Apple Vision Pro headset released on February 2nd 2024 to a readymade fanfare in the US and subsequently worldwide.

It was trademark Apple product with great design and outlandish marketing to support it.

The headsets are tempting enough until the price point is right in your face. For US$3499, it is one of the most expensive VR headset on the market. Here you can hear Apple CEO Tim Cook justify the price in their WWDC23 keynote.

It’s competitors, notably, Meta Quest, Microsoft’s HoloLens and to some extend Sony’s Playstation VR are priced at $999 (Quest Pro), $3500 with enterprise ready applications and around $250 with games respectively.

As a user looking to buy a VR headset, do I have a clear use case for Apple Vision Pro against it’s competitors ?

What is the average user doing with a VR headset?

We saw the way average user fiddled around with their new toy when they were able to get their hands on the Apple Vision Pro headset. A quick search on YouTube.com or scroll through Instagram’s Reels will make for some hilarious, inventive and curious watch.

After the initial novelty of a new product, I am pondering over the actual use cases of the VR headset.

Am I going to use it for answering my FaceTime and/or Zoom calls with my friends and colleagues? or Am I watching my favorite sports team struggle through another game in the season ? May be I will write some code to test the app or design the wireframes in Figma that I have been procrastinating for some time.

If I am able to do all this for 8 hours of my workday comfortably on the Vision Pro, Should I return my MacBook and iPad Pro ?

Compare it with Quest and HoloLens, two products that are competing with Apple Vision Pro on two different levels, where the former wants to match it in everyday aspects or our life and the latter is targeting their loyal customer base of enterprise users. I want it to be able to accomplish both.

To define an average user with a workflow ranging from everyday use to enterprise use, does Apple Vision Pro hold off well against its competitors?

Importantly as an average user, does it provide value for the cost?

Digital Minimalism, Mental Health & Privacy of Average User

Living in EU for last two years, in USA for four years before that, while working in Healthcare IT, I have had unique first hand experience of working with privileged information and people unwilling to compromise on tiny piece of information.

In a VR world, I assume the lines are blurred between work and daily life.

The measures in place in today’s time in real world should hold true in VR world but additional measures need to be added for the considerations of the AR / VR world.

The challenges are unique while the immersive technology will make many aspects of our life easier, we are yet to hear about the counter measures to avoid any potential problems that may arise.

For an average user concerned with digital footprint, mental health and its privacy, companies like Apple, Meta, Microsoft and even Google are yet to provide a satisfactory solution.

Industry Wide, Industry Within

For the Creatives, By the Creatives.

Most productive high-end use cases for VR products can be narrowed down to content consumption and video games.

As an avid video game player, like many others, since my teenage years, I look forward to new iterations and brand-new topics every year. Some games make for a unique experience, and I see myself reaching out for a VR headset to immerse myself in the game world.

Sony’s PlayStation VR headset can boast of having all the games tailor-made for the platform. Meta’s Quest can boast to cover cloud gaming with support for numerous apps. Apple Vision Pro with Apple Arcade is a potential winner but no game-changing titles to its name yet.

For an Average gamer, the question still stands, do I spend and wait for new titles to be released or enjoy the existing ones at a much lower price point?

Conclusion

The AR / VR and Immersive Technology are intriguing and might be the way forward for all of us. Presently, the scattered solutions provided by Big Tech for a problem none of us put forward makes me wonder if we are skipping a few steps ahead in the technology evolution.

Apple certainly provides the best way forward and at a price point only Apple can justify but as I have tried to point out here -

Does the average user see value in it for its day-to-day use?

The answers might not be glaringly obvious or progressive enough for Big Tech looking to throw a lot of abbreviated solutions at us.

One thing that makes me curious is the potential applications of these VR products and the way the users can work in unison across the platforms. It may be a discussion for another post.