Apple Vision Pro’s most tantalizing question answered

You can now pre-order Apple’s Vision Pro, but you might be curious about what’s included in the base price of $3,500 and whether you’ll have to shell out more for a battery. It’s a valid question, especially considering the headset doesn’t come with a built-in battery.

In the basic Vision Pro package, you’ll get more than just the headset – it also comes with a battery, charger, 5-foot charging cable, front cover, top strap, light seal cushion, and a polishing cloth. So, once it arrives, you’ve got everything you need to dive into Apple’s cool new spatial computer right out of the box.

According to Apple, you can expect about two hours of battery life for everyday use when the headset is not plugged into a charger or Mac. If you’re just kicking back and watching movies or videos, the power might stretch to around 2.5 hours, as it’s a less demanding activity.

That’s not a lot of time, especially since some movies go beyond three hours. Luckily, Apple offers extra Vision Pro batteries for sale separately. So, you can grab one or more spare batteries and keep going without being tied down to another device for power. Just toss in an additional $199 for each extra battery pack you fancy.

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From where does Apple Vision Pro draw its power?

Every Apple Vision Pro battery comes with a built-in cable featuring a magnetic connector, making it a breeze to attach to the headset. This feature contributes to the higher price tag of this accessory.

Apple didn’t spill the beans on the battery capacity, but it’s gotta be hefty because it weighs more than 12 ounces (or 0.75 pounds). It’s pretty obvious why Apple opted not to integrate the battery into the Vision Pro headset itself, which weighs in at one pound, five ounces in its lightest setup.

If lugging around the hefty external battery in your pocket or bag isn’t your thing, Belkin has got you covered with a $50 battery holder specially made for the Vision Pro. It comes with a cable management clip and a strap designed to be worn across your body.

It seems like a solid fix to keep the battery nearby, preventing any accidental disconnects from the Apple Vision Pro, all while ensuring comfort. Unfortunately, there are no pictures available of the strap or someone actually sporting the product.

It wouldn’t be a shocker to see more battery options popping up down the road. It seems like higher-capacity batteries and comfy straps are the most pressing accessories needed to tackle the Apple Vision Pro’s brief battery life and weighty build.

More accessories are on the way

If it’s starting to seem like the Vision Pro isn’t the dream product you were hoping for, you’re not the only one. There are a few worrisome details that we’re hoping Apple addresses soon.

Given that the Vision Pro is an ultra-premium VR headset, reaching up to a hefty $4,547 at its max configuration, there’s ample space for accessory makers to come up with solutions to assist early adopters in fully enjoying Apple’s most intricate and impressive hardware to date.

If you haven’t already made a decision on the Vision Pro, it could be a good idea to try it out hands-on and see if the weight is genuinely an issue for you. It’s a personal call, and everyone’s preferences vary. Using Apple’s Dual Loop Band that goes over the top of your head might make it comfortable enough for you.

Does Apple Vision Pro require an iPhone?

The Vision Pro is this cool new headset that Apple labels a spatial computer, but you might be curious if all the computing magic really goes down in this tiny device or if it relies on a connection to a computer or phone for processing. It’s a legit question, considering many AR and VR gadgets need an external device for power and computing.

So, how does the Apple Vision Pro operate, and what do you need to turn it into a spatial computer? Well, the good news is, this $3,500 gadget is good to go straight out of the box. No need to purchase an iPhone or a Mac to make it work. It’s got an M2 processor inside, relies on hand gestures for controls, and the whole operating system is self-contained.

This sets it apart from certain VR headsets that need a powerful gaming PC, complete with a speedy discrete graphics card, to handle the processing demands of two high-res screens. Take the Valve Index and Varjo Aero, for instance – they won’t do their thing without a computer. On the flip side, there are standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3, more akin to the Vision Pro, as they use low-power processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip.

For the majority of smart glasses, linking up with a phone is a must to unlock all the features. While the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can shoot videos without a phone, connecting is necessary for answering calls, transferring images, and tapping into Meta AI. As for smart glasses like the Xreal Air 2, they need to stay hooked up to a phone or another device for power and a video signal.

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Using Apple Vision Pro with Mac

The Vision Pro is a full-fledged spatial computer, but it doesn’t operate on macOS. So, you might find it handy to link it up with your Mac or MacBook, especially for quicker typing and enhanced productivity. Apple allows you to view your Mac desktop in a Vision Pro window, almost like a remote desktop app. It can mirror the window, giving you complete control, although you can’t stretch the window like you would with an external monitor. Just a heads-up, you also have the option of connecting a wireless Bluetooth keyboard if you prefer.

If you’re rocking your Vision Pro and there’s an app you’re itching to use that’s not in the Vision App Store yet, you’re in luck – you can still run it by connecting to your computer while wearing the headset. This way, your headset can handle iPhone and iPad apps, the native Vision Pro apps, and even macOS apps through your Mac.