The Apple Vision Pro headset is super clear as far as the early reviews are concerned. It’s not long now until the Vision Pro is available to everyone, so you can book a slot at an Apple Store to see it for yourself in a few days.
But here’s the real deal-breaker: if folks with glasses can’t slap on their prescription lenses and dive into the fantastic display of the Vision Pro, then what’s the point? It’s a crucial question for over half of the U.S. population rocking glasses or contacts – and unfortunately, the answer isn’t all that promising.
Does Apple Vision Pro work with glasses?
You can’t rock your glasses with Apple’s debut VR headset. Despite being as chunky as other headsets, the Vision Pro is crammed with tech, leaving no space for glasses. So, you gotta figure out a different fix for your eyewear situation. Apple teamed up with Zeiss to whip up optical inserts that play super well with the Vision Pro, making room for all sorts of prescription lenses. Zeiss is even on board to craft Vision Pro inserts for those rocking progressive or bifocal lenses.
If you’re into those budget-friendly readers from the drugstore, you’ve got three options: +0.75 to +1.25D, +1.50 to +1.75D, and +2.00 to +2.75D. If your readers are rocking a strength above +2.75, Apple recommends giving the available reader inserts a shot – maybe one of those will do the trick.
Readers in the wrong strength might surprisingly do the trick, and here’s why. Similar to many VR headsets, Apple’s Vision Pro creates virtual screens that seem like they’re a few feet away, even though the actual displays are right up close to your peepers. For folks who wear readers and struggle with up-close focus, a screen a few feet away is actually easier to nail down.
Sadly, there are certain situations Zeiss can’t fix. If your prescription throws a prism value into the mix, they won’t be able to accommodate it. To make sure your prescription plays nice with Zeiss optical inserts, give their prescription guide on the company’s website a look.
Also Read: Did Apple launch its Vision Pro headset at the wrong time?
Does Apple Vision Pro work with contacts?
If you roll with single-vision, soft prescription contacts, you’re good to go for spatial computing with the Apple Vision Pro. No need for those Zeiss optical inserts, but hey, you can snag them if you fancy the idea of kicking back without your contacts while still rocking the Vision Pro.
Hard contact lenses aren’t commonly prescribed, but throwing those on might mess with how the Vision Pro’s eye-tracking system rolls. It could potentially throw a wrench into the smooth operation of the default controls on the Apple Vision Pro.
Apple’s got your back with alternative control options tucked away in the accessibility settings. Stuff like Pointer Control and Head Pointer lets you ditch the gaze and opt for hands or head movements to navigate menus and hit buttons on the Vision Pro.
Apple might have a solution
For most folks with glasses or contacts, rocking the Apple Vision Pro is doable with the help of Zeiss optical inserts. It’s an extra $99 to $149 on the already steep $3,500 price tag for the Vision Pro. But hey, if you need those corrective lenses, shelling out for clear displays on the Vision Pro is definitely worth it.
Apple points out that some folks might feel eye strain or see things a bit blurry while rocking the Vision Pro. This could signal that the prescription you handed over to Zeiss might need a second look—it might not be spot-on for your peepers anymore.
Even the top-notch VR headsets, like the Apple Vision Pro, grapple with an issue called Vergence Accommodation Conflict (VAC). It’s when virtual objects seem nearer or farther away without your eyes actually needing to change focus. That’s not how our eyes naturally work, so this mismatch can get a bit uncomfortable for some folks.
The only fix for Vergence Accommodation Conflict (VAC) with VR headsets like the Vision Pro is to give your eyes a breather from the device. It’s kinda like dealing with motion sickness, where things get disorienting when our senses don’t sync up with our usual real-world experience.
Down the road, Meta and other players are cooking up holographic, light-field, and multifocal lenses that could tackle this issue. But for now, VR isn’t a one-size-fits-all, and some folks might have to keep their virtual reality stints in check.
Does Apple Vision Pro have a battery?
Every Apple Vision Pro battery packs its own magnetic connector cable, making it a cinch to hook up to the headset. This convenience adds to the accessory’s heftier price.
Apple’s keeping mum about the battery’s capacity, but it’s gotta be hefty—it weighs over 12 ounces (or 0.75 pounds). It’s pretty clear why Apple chose not to build the battery into the Vision Pro headset itself, which tips the scales at one pound, five ounces in its lightest configuration.
If dealing with that hefty external battery in your pocket or bag isn’t your style, Belkin’s got a solution – a $50 battery holder tailor-made for the Vision Pro. It comes with a cable clip for keeping things tidy and a strap that you can sling across your body. It looks like a smart solution to keep the battery close, avoiding any accidental unplugs from the Apple Vision Pro, all while keeping comfort in mind. Sadly, there aren’t any pictures available of the strap or someone actually rocking the product.
It wouldn’t be surprising to witness more battery choices hitting the scene in the future. It looks like the key accessories needed to tackle the Apple Vision Pro’s short battery life and hefty build are higher-capacity batteries and comfy straps.
Also Read: Apple Vision Pro’s most tantalizing question answered
Apple Vision Pro accessories on the way
If the Vision Pro is starting to feel like it’s not quite the dream product you had in mind, you’re not alone. There are a few concerning details that we’re hoping Apple tackles soon. Considering the Vision Pro is an ultra-premium VR headset, maxing out at a hefty $4,547, there’s plenty of room for accessory makers to step in and provide solutions to help early adopters fully savor Apple’s most intricate and impressive hardware to date.
If you’re still on the fence about the Vision Pro, it might be a good move to give it a hands-on spin and check if the weight is genuinely a deal-breaker for you. It’s a personal call, and everyone’s preferences are different. Slapping on Apple’s Dual Loop Band that goes over the top of your head might just make it comfy enough for your liking.
