In the ever-evolving world of technology, Apple has once again made headlines with its new Vision Pro headset. A recent advertisement released on Apple’s official YouTube channel showcases the impressive features of this mixed reality headset, coinciding with its first shipments to customers. Simultaneously, Meta is positioning itself as a significant competitor in this space, adopting an Android-style approach to rival Apple’s latest innovation.
The 68-second advertisement for the Apple Vision Pro, titled “Hello Apple Vision Pro,” is quintessentially Apple in its presentation. It features the hallmark elements of Apple commercials, such as catchy pop music and themes of aspirational lifestyles, travel, family, and friends. The advert promises that the Vision Pro allows users to “do the things you love in ways never before possible,” hinting at a revolutionary step in mixed reality technology.
The commercial provides a sneak peek into the Vision Pro’s capabilities, such as watching movies, engaging in virtual 3D presentations, making FaceTime calls, and experiencing immersive images and videos that envelop the user’s field of vision. While the advertisement selectively showcases the device’s features, omitting details like the battery pack, it sets high expectations for the user experience.
Interestingly, the advert features Ridley Scott’s historical epic, “Napoleon,” which slightly exceeds the Vision Pro’s estimated battery life, suggesting users may need to recharge the device before reaching the film’s end credits.
As Apple launches the Vision Pro, Meta is not far behind, viewing itself as the primary competitor in the augmented, virtual, and mixed reality market. According to the Wall Street Journal, as reported by 9to5Mac, Meta aims to position itself akin to Android in the AR/VR/MR space, offering a mainstream alternative to Apple’s products.
Meta’s executives appear optimistic about the competition. They believe the Vision Pro’s entry into the market could stimulate broader interest in the technology, potentially boosting sales of Meta’s more affordable headsets, such as the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro.
The Vision Pro has influenced Meta’s strategic thinking, particularly in enhancing mixed reality experiences and improving natural gesture control. While Apple’s headset relies on eye and finger tracking for operation, Meta’s devices currently use physical controllers, with gesture support still in the testing phase.
