Apple: augmented reality glasses will cost R$ 17 thousand – 05/06/2023 – Tech

Apple launched on Monday (5) its augmented reality glasses, called Vision Pro, which project holograms and also guarantee immersion. The product will reach the North American market in early 2024, for US$ 3,500 (R$ 17,230)

There is no set date for launching the device in Brazil, but the company says it will take the device to other countries over the next year. The news was part of the opening of Apple’s annual conference for developers, known as WWDC.

Apple will deliver glasses capable of generating the resolution of a 4k TV in each lens – there are 23 million pixels. Six cameras, six microphones and 12 sensors will allow the user to continue to have contact with the outside world. The processor is the same M2 used in the latest generation of MacBooks.

The Vision Pro, by the way, is treated by the company as an augmented reality computer and works independently. The device will still integrate with iPhone, iPad, MacBooks and other Apple products.

The company has also developed a specialized chip for virtual reality, called the R1. This technology reduces the processing latency of external data to 12 milliseconds – which is eight times faster than the blink of an eye, according to Apple’s vice president of technology development, Mike Rockwell.

The anticipation for Apple’s device announcement brought optimism to the augmented reality market, according to The Verge. This was reflected in the technology giant’s share values, which reached record levels: US$ 184.90 (more than R$ 910).

After the disclosure of the glasses, investors adjusted prices, and the technology giant’s shares devalued to around US$ 179.40 (R$ 883).

Microsoft also has mixed reality glasses sold for more than R$40,000, but their use is focused on the corporate and industrial market. In Brazil, Embraer uses the technology for remote technical assistance and simulations. In the US, the device is sold for the same US$ 3,500 announced by Apple.

Apple’s model is able to offer this service, while also allowing full immersion, as models focused on games and experiences in the metaverse. Apple’s advertising focused on different forms of content consumption, such as immersive cinema, eye-catching and viewing photos, and web browsing.

“The owner of the Vision Pro can watch a movie, with the screen the size he wants, wherever he wants”, says Apple’s augmented reality product manager, Alessandra Mcginnis.

Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger also attended the Vision Pro announcement event and said content from the Disney Plus streaming platform will be available on the augmented reality device from the first day of sales.

Disney’s presentation raised the possibility of new forms of content. The audience could, for example, watch a movie of Star Was, while viewing technical information of a spaceship and the biography of a character. In sports, fans would have access to real-time performance statistics.

In the specialized media, analysts claim that the multifunctionality of the Vision Pro can be the differential to create a trend in the use of virtual reality glasses. Apple’s product, however, costs more than the competition.

The Oculus Metaquest 3, by Meta, was announced on the 1st with projections of a market value of US$ 500 (R$ 2,500).

Portability is also sketchy. Although the device is light and ergonomic due to the fabric components, according to Apple, the external battery lasts only two hours and needs to be connected to the glasses by a wire. The competition has similar autonomy. Anyone who wants to use the device for a longer time needs to leave it plugged in.

Unlike Metaquest 3, Vision Pro allows for a control-free experience, from gestures, eye movement and voice command to Siri. Apple guarantees that data regarding pupil movement will not be shared with anyone.

The user will be able to connect peripherals such as a mouse and keyboard to the augmented reality computer via bluetooth.

Creative jobs like video and audio production will also be possible on Vision Pro, which will be compatible with iMovie and GarageBand editing software.

During the developer event, Apple also announced news for the iPhone and iPad operating systems, in addition to the first MacBook with a 15-inch screen – the thinnest on the market with these dimensions, according to the technology giant.