Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s expensive virtual reality headset, is now available to pre-order in the UK, with delivery beginning Friday, July 12.
Customers can experience a new at-home shopping experience that makes it easy to personalise and purchase Vision Pro, with assistance from an Apple Specialist available via chat or by phone.
Along with pre-ordering Vision Pro, customers can add other accessories and AppleCare+ to their order.
Apple Vision Pro seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world and unlocks powerful spatial experiences in visionOS, controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice.
An all-new App Store provides users with access to more than 1 million compatible apps across iOS and iPadOS, as well as more than 600 new experiences that take advantage of the unique capabilities of Vision Pro.
With visionOS 2, available as a free software update this autumn, all Apple Vision Pro users will gain access to even more features that enhance how they engage with spatial computing, including a powerful way to transform photos into 3D memories; intuitive hand gestures to easily access the Home View and important information at a glance; new capabilities for Mac Virtual Display, Travel Mode, and Guest User; enhancements to Mindfulness, Safari, and the Apple TV app; and much more.
The headset itself looks like a pair of designer ski goggles. It features a soft adjustable strap on the top, a “digital crown” on the back — a bigger version than what you’d find on an Apple Watch — and another digital crown on the top that serves as a kind of home button.
The setup process is first. The headset tracks the eyes, scan hands and maps the room. Users will then see an iOS-like interface placed in front of their environment.
By using eye movements and touching the thumb and pointer finger together, it activates a “select” button, allowing people to seamlessly go in and out of apps, such as Messages, FaceTime, Safari and Photos. The interface also responds to voice to activate Siri.
Photos can be viewed at life size or as if you’re watching them on a giant movie screen. Panoramics, meanwhile, place you directly within the scene. Vision Pro also offers a spatial photo option, which lets users view images and videos in 3D for an even more life-like experience.
Use cases for the Vision Pro vary from cooking and meditating to working. Users can sync up their Mac computer to turn the screen into an enormous display and connect a physical keyboard.
To maximize productivity, it’s possible to have several windows open at once: Email can be kept on one side, a Safari browser opened perhaps in the middle and a FaceTime call on the right. If a user is wearing Vision Pro while on FaceTime, they appear as a Persona, or an avatar-like digital representation of their face.
Apple has taken steps to reduce the motion sickness problem that has plagued other headsets, thanks to a custom chip that cuts down on the latency issue found in similar products. Vision Pro includes surround sound, with audio pods that sit outside the ears to deliver rich immersive audio.
The Apple Vision Pro comes with a hefty price tag. Headsets start at £3,499 for 256 gigabytes of storage.
Apple Vision Pro comes with a Solo Knit Band, a Dual Loop Band, a personalised Light Seal with two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple Vision Pro Cover, Polishing Cloth, Battery, USB-C Charge Cable, and USB-C Power Adapter.
Customers who require vision inserts may have to pay more, while ZEISS Optical Inserts for “Readers” cost an additional £99, while prescription inserts for the headset cost £149.
In normal Apple fashion, customers are also encouraged to purchase AppleCare+ coverage, which protects their headset for unlimited repairs and accidental damage protection for two years. It costs £499 or £24.99 a month.
How to Buy Apple Vision Pro
In-store and online, customers can receive personalised advice on buying and setting up Apple Vision Pro; learn about ways to buy, including financing options; and get shopping support from Apple Specialists every step of the way.
When customers order Apple Vision Pro, they will use an iPhone or iPad with Face ID and the latest version of the Apple Store app to complete a face scan. This scan helps users find the optimal Light Seal and head band sizes to provide a precise fit. For users who require vision correction, Apple partnered with ZEISS to develop ZEISS Optical Inserts that magnetically attach to Vision Pro, allowing users to take full advantage of the display’s incredible sharpness and clarity.
After making a purchase, customers can choose to pick up their Apple Vision Pro at their local retail location, or have it delivered to their home, as well as schedule a free, 30-minute virtual session to learn more about unboxing, finding a precise fit, navigating visionOS, and more on the Apple Store online.
Book a Demo for Apple Vision Pro
Starting today, customers can visit the Apple Store online to book a personal one-on-one demo of Apple Vision Pro, available at Apple Store locations in the UK beginning Friday, July 12.
Apple team members will help customers find the best fit and get set up. Customers will also have the chance to explore the range of capabilities of spatial computing, from groundbreaking entertainment experiences to an infinite canvas for favourite apps, and so much more.
