Hugo Barra, known for his roles as a former VP of Android and head of Meta’s now-defunct Oculus brand, offers a nuanced view of Apple’s first-generation Vision Pro headset.
He has described it as an “over-engineered devkit” filled with an array of sensors that goes beyond what is needed for Apple’s desired user experience. Specifically, Barra highlighted the inclusion of six tracking cameras, two passthrough cameras, two depth sensors, and four eye-tracking cameras in the Vision Pro. He interpreted this excess of technology as typical of a first-generation product aimed at ensuring durability against the rigorous testing by early adopters.
This approach, however, comes with its drawbacks. The Vision Pro’s substantial weight — over 600 grams — limits comfortable wear time to 30-45 minutes for most people due to discomfort.
This factor positions the Vision Pro more as a high-end development kit than as a consumer product. The device is aimed at captivating tech enthusiasts and developers, and setting the stage for a more widely appealing VR headset in future iterations.
Looking ahead, reporting by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is exploring multiple new models of the Apple Vision, including a more affordable version and a second-generation device. The cost-effective model might see the removal of certain features like the EyeSight functionality and the M-series chip in favor of less expensive components.
Barra also commented on the Vision Pro’s visual performance, suggesting Apple intentionally blurred the display to conceal pixelation and enhance the smoothness of graphics. This tactic, he noted, is a smart way to mitigate the “screen door effect”, a common issue in VR that results in visible pixelation.
However, he criticized the resulting significant motion blur and image quality concerns, especially in passthrough mode, which led him to return his Vision Pro unit due to discomfort and eye strain.
Barra’s extensive feedback on the Vision Pro is available in a detailed blog post.
The device, with a starting price of $3,499 in the United States, is anticipated to expand to more markets later this year.
