This helmet is incredibly complex
A mixed reality headset for over $3,000? This is Apple’s Vision Pro. This product still hides many secrets. iFixit has managed to clarify some of them.
Apple’s Vision Pro is making headlines, and not just a little. With a price tag of over $3,000, this mixed reality headset has garnered attention for both its innovation and its fairly expensive price.
iFixit, famous for its teardowns of tech devices, has taken up the task of exposing the insides of the Vision Pro, and at least we can say that the adventure promises to be rich in discoveries.
iFixit started by announcing that tearing down the Vision Pro would be so complicated that a video wouldn’t be enough. This gives us an idea of the technical density of the device. The headset proved to be a real headache to take apart, posing challenges in accessing certain components without causing damage.
First, removing the front window without breaking anything was a delicate operation, requiring heat and a lot of patience. The EyeSight display, which displays the user’s eyes, has been shown to be a potential Achilles heel when it comes to repairability. iFixit found some positives, however, including the ease of replacing certain components like the speakers and battery.
An overview of Apple’s innovations
The teardown details Apple’s innovations, from the automatic eye relief adjustment system to the intricate layering of the screen and hardware, not to mention the array of onboard sensors. Despite its advances, the Vision Pro also exhibits its limitations, such as its weight and its external battery.
The heart of the Vision Pro is an M2 chip, an ARM SoC with an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. With 16GB of integrated memory and up to 1TB of storage, the headset is a racing beast. Not forgetting, the new R1 chip orchestrates data from 12 cameras, five sensors and six microphones.
Apple has spared no expense in comfort, integrating soft and pleasant-to-the-touch materials like the Solo Knit band. The idea is to make the wearer forget that he has a helmet on his head.
First feedback, like Numerama already planning towards the V2, suggests that the excitement surrounding the Vision Pro isn’t based on wind.
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