Apple Vision Pro: Game-changer or extravagant luxury?

That is the question that hovers over Apple Vision Pro, the standalone mixed reality headset developed by U.S. consumer electronics giant, Apple. 

Apple Vision Pro has many standout features which seem exciting for businesses globally. 

However, Nigerian companies will face a unique set of challenges if they choose to adopt this new technology. 

Released in February 2024, the Apple Vision Pro blurs the line between the virtual world and the physical world. One of the core features of the Apple Vision Pro is its visuals. With a pixel count of 23 million exceeding the pixel count of a 4K TV, it delivers crisp and vibrant imagery. This is further complemented by a spatial audio system that creates a three-dimensional soundscape,

For one, the hefty price tag of $3499, with the current dollar rate this would be approximately N4.4 million excluding tax and customs fee, raises concerns for Nigerian businesses. With a minimum wage of N30,000 affordability is a major hurdle and the Apple Vision Pro is not a device to consider given current economic realities.

To power these features, Apple Vision Pro uses a dual-chip architecture. One chip is the familiar Apple M2 system on a chip, known for its efficiency and performance. The other is a co-processor called the Apple R1, specifically designed to handle the real-time processing demands of the massive amount of sensor data the headset collects.

Speaking of sensors, the Apple Vision Pro is loaded with them. Twelve cameras, a LiDAR scanner, and four inertial measurement units (IMUs) work together to flawlessly map your surroundings and track your movements. Additionally, four eye-tracking cameras enable groundbreaking features like gaze control, allowing users to interact with the virtual world simply by looking at what they want to select or manipulate.

In terms of software, the Vision Pro has its dedicated operating system, VisionOS, designed specifically for mixed reality experiences. It comes with its own App Store stocked with new apps built from the ground up for the format, alongside compatible iPhone and iPad apps that have been optimised for the headset.

Apple Vision Pro: Benefits for business

Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise Marketing, commented, “There’s tremendous opportunity for businesses to reimagine what’s possible using Apple Vision Pro at work.” 

“We’re thrilled to see the innovative ways organizations are already using Apple Vision Pro, from planning fire response operations to iterating on the most intricate details of an engine design — and this is just the beginning. Combined with enterprise-grade capabilities like mobile device management built into visionOS, we believe spatial computing has the potential to revolutionize industries around the world,” she continued.

In terms of enhanced workspaces and productivity, the Vision Pro creates a virtual workspace where users can work with multiple apps simultaneously, resizing them as needed. This, combined with support for Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad, essentially allows users to create a giant, private 4K display for working with productivity tools like SAP Analytics Cloud and Microsoft 365. Employees can also gain deeper insights from data through interactive 3D charts and visuals.

The high-resolution display of the Apple Vision Pro makes viewing 3D content effortless, ideal for fields like product design, construction modelling, and retail planning. For instance, Porsche is using Vision Pro to allow engineers to analyse live race data – speed, braking performance, track conditions – all while seeing a live video feed from the car’s dashboard, according to a report from Apple. Additionally, large design projects with massive 3D data sets can be streamed directly to Vision Pro using NVIDIA Omniverse, enabling real-time manipulation and detailed renderings.

Apple Vision Pro offers a solution by creating an engaging and interactive learning environment. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines exemplifies this by utilising Vision Pro to train technicians on complex engine repairs. Technicians see a 3D model of the engine with step-by-step instructions overlaid, reducing errors and saving valuable time.

Apple Vision Pro: Balancing the Nigerian economic reality

While the Vision Pro has numerous benefits for businesses, including enhanced workflow and productivity, 3D modelling, among others, for the Nigerian space, it is not yet there.

For one, the hefty price tag of $3499, with the current dollar rate this would be approximately N4.4 million excluding tax and customs fee, raises concerns for Nigerian businesses. With a minimum wage of N30,000 affordability is a major hurdle and the Apple Vision Pro is not a device to consider given current economic realities.