This Friday: Apple's Augmented Reality Glasses Land in Stores

Millions of Apple enthusiasts around the world eagerly await this moment: long lines are expected to form on the upcoming Friday at Apple stores in the US with the launch of Apple's augmented reality glasses. Despite the high price and several unresolved issues, early orders have already sold out almost completely.

The Vision Pro glasses, which combine augmented reality that immerses the user in their surroundings and virtual reality, required years of research and the development of special components. However, the result seemed nothing short of amazing in the recent launch. The augmented reality glasses are like a spatial computer that combines the digital world with the real world. The glasses detect motion gestures, eye tracking, speech recognition, and infinite interactions in the digital world, which blend seamlessly with the augmented reality world.

At the forefront of the glasses are 3D glass, an aluminum frame, and an adjustable head strap. The frame includes five sensors, six microphones, and 12 cameras. The user looks into micro-OLED displays measuring 1.41 inches    (3.6 cm). These displays can turn any space into a personal cinema hall with a huge screen simulating a width of 30 meters in 4K quality, alongside an advanced spatial audio system. Apple has also integrated its own movies and TV show app, and is likely to integrate additional apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and other streaming services.

The glasses allow for the use of apps that extend beyond the display boundaries so that the user can adjust them to any size in the room, move them, or make them react to lighting. The field of view is also expanded: video chat conversations utilize the space around the user, creating the feeling of being close to the person they are speaking with. The glasses also include thousands of apps, both those familiar from the iPhone and unique ones developed for virtual reality glasses.

However, the glasses have several disadvantages. The main one is the high price: the cheaper model, with 256 gigabytes of storage, costs $3,499, while the more expensive model, with 1 terabyte of storage, reaches $4,000. But that's not the end of the hefty expenses: Apple Care service will cost you an additional $500. Various add-ons like a case or protective cover will cost you several tens of dollars more.

The second problem that Apple hasn't managed to solve is the weight: testers have already reported that the glasses are too heavy. Their weight ranges from 600 to 650 grams, which has led to complaints of neck pain, making it impossible to wear them for more than a few consecutive minutes. Additionally, the battery, which connects via a USBC cable to the glasses, weighs 353 grams. All of this weight combined amounts to over 900 grams that the user needs to carry on their body.

Apple's virtual reality glasses will compete against Meta's Quest 3 glasses, which were launched a year ago. Samsung is also expected to launch its own similar virtual reality glasses, developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm.