Apple Vision Pro Offers a Glimpse of the Future at a Premium Price of Nearly $4K

Apple’s long-awaited headset, the Vision Pro, which starts at $3,500, launches in the U.S. on Feb. 2. It’s Apple’s first major product launch since the Apple Watch debuted in April 2015. The company says the headset marks the beginning of “spatial computing,” or a way to blend digital content with the world around you.

Apple Vision Pro

Not to be confused with gaming-focused virtual reality headsets like the Meta Quest 3 or PlayStation VR2, the Vision Pro is more of an entertainment device and productivity tool — not to mention it has the highest resolution display you’ll find on a headset. So, what does that mean for you? Basically, you can strap a pair of goggles to your face and summon a gigantic 4K screen that feels 100 feet wide, use it to supersize your Mac display for work or capture and view 3D photos and experience content in a way unlike any other.

What it’s like to use Apple Vision Pro

Although we haven’t gotten our hands on Apple’s Vision Pro headset just yet, a handful of early reviewers have described it as “mind-blowing,” “thrilling,” and “breathtaking,” adding that it delivers an “unparalleled sense of immersion.” Apple Vision Pro stands out by offering the best of both worlds: immersive virtual reality to shut out the real world and explore digital landscapes, plus augmented reality that seamlessly blends digital elements with your surroundings, enhancing your physical space with interactive games and apps.

For example, Joanna Stern, a senior personal technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal, took the Vision Pro to a ski cabin in the Pocono Mountains and wore the headset to cook dinner with the Vision Pro recipe app, “Crouton.” The device doesn’t include remotes or controllers and is operated entirely by your eyes, hands, and voice. You use your eyes to look at whatever you want to select and tap your thumb and index finger together to “click.” Cameras track your movements and translate them into commands. So, given the slow speed of the eye-controlled, onscreen keyboard, you’ll want to type with your voice or a Bluetooth keyboard instead.

Accessories and add-ons

If the Vision Pro’s $3,500 price already sent you into a sticker shock spiral, the actual cost of owning Apple’s latest gadget is likely higher when you factor in add-ons like accessories, memory upgrades, and AppleCare+. The official Vision Pro travel case costs $199, a spare battery pack to extend its two hours of runtime will run you another $199, a spare cushion to make the goggles fit another family member costs $200 and you’ll have to spend an additional $100 to $149 for lens inserts if you wear glasses.

After tax, opting for both AppleCare+ at $500 and the 512-gigabyte storage option for an extra $200 quickly brings the Vision Pro’s cost to almost $5,000. And that’s without factoring in high-quality headphones, which are essential for truly immersive experiences. If you’re curious about what’s included, you get the headset itself, a custom-fitted Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, two headband options, the tethered Apple Vision Pro battery, a polishing cloth, and a 30W USB-C Power Adapter.

What apps are available?

Apple has said that the Vision Pro will allow users to download and stream content from Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Discovery+, Disney+, ESPN, Fubo, Max, MLB, MUBI, Paramount, Peacock, PGA Tour, Pluto TV, Tubi, Red Bull TV, IMAX and TikTok. Apple’s own apps, including FaceTime, Safari, Freeform, Keynote, Mail, Messages, Music, Notes, and Photos, are available. Synth Riders, one of the most popular games on the Meta Quest 3, will be available at launch and for workaholics, Microsoft is bringing its Office 365 suite to the headset, while Slack and Zoom keep you connected to your colleagues.

How to preorder and experience Vision Pro yourself

The Apple Vision Pro has three storage options: a 256GB option starting at $3,499, a 512GB variant starting at $3,699 and a 1-terabyte option for $3,899. It is currently only for sale in the U.S. You can sign up to demo the Vision Pro at an Apple Store starting at 8 a.m. on Feb. 2 on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the steep demand and limited supply, you may receive your Vision Pro headset early in March if you order online today. There’s an option to finance your purchase with a 0% annual percentage rate with an Apple Card when you purchase via the Apple Store.