Fitness isn’t going to sell me on Apple’s new AR/VR headset. here’s why

As the saying goes: When there is smoke, there is fire. And given the amount of smoke billowing out of the rumor mills and reports about Apple’s next big product, a hybrid virtual reality/augmented reality headset, we’re almost guaranteed to see it during the WWDC 2023 opening keynote on Monday.

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The headset will reportedly carry the Reality Pro name and share the same basic design elements as a pair of skiing goggles. There will be a battery pack that you’ll need to connect to the headset using a cable, with the pack probably attached to your hip or in a pocket.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman There’s been a ton of reporting about the headset, detailing what we’ve heard from the inside about the various hardware and software aspects shaping up to be one of Apple’s most anticipated hardware launches since the Apple Watch in 2014. .

Current rumored price of Reality Pro? $3,000. If you need a moment to catch your breath, please take it. I’ll wait

That price tag begs the question “What would it take for Apple to convince you to pay $3,000 for a headset?” And the truth is, I can’t think of anything right now that Apple can show Reality Pro doing that would persuade me to part with that much money.

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You see, for the past year I’ve had access $400 Meta Quest 2 headset, Meta sent this to me when the company was rolling out Horizon Worlds for business meetings. I’ve never used it for meetings — it’s weird and awkward. Instead, I’ve spent some time with my kids playing games like Beat Saber and watching them play Gorilla Tag.

Depending on your intensity level, playing any of those sports can feel a lot like exercising. There are times when you are out of breath and drenched in sweat. The headband that surrounds the inside of the headset, getting between it and your face, often gets wet. And it’s stinky. and gross. just thinking about it makes me say Eve!

How can Apple convince us to spend $3,000

Gurman in April informed of Regarding some of the use cases Apple is currently working on for Reality Pro. It will reportedly have features like the ability to run 3D versions of iPad apps, use 3D avatars for FaceTime calls, a major gaming push, and integrate with Apple’s Fitness+ service for workouts, among other features.

Neither of those sound like enough to me to justify the $3,000 price tag, but at least the idea of ​​attending a Fitness+ class with a Reality Pro stuck in my face is overwhelming.

Also Read: The Best VR Headsets for Gaming, the Metaverse, and Beyond

Can you imagine doing burpees with a VR/AR headset attached to your head? I can’t. It looks incredibly uncomfortable and not attractive at all.

The headset also reportedly doesn’t have an embedded battery, which means there’s going to be a loose cable going from somewhere on the headset to somewhere else on your body. For me, asking to hold the cable in my hand while doing a kickboxing class is in return ripping the headset off my face, throwing the battery against the wall, or both. Maybe a meditation class would be better?

Then there’s the sanitary aspect of sweat in the headset and cushions which is definitely in place. It’s going to get smelly and gross over time. And if you share it with a roommate or family member — which you’re likely to share it with if you’re spending $3,000 on it and you’re not a developer or business user , Isn’t it? — The cleanliness of the headset is bound to be an issue.

When will the Realme Pro headset be available?

Like the Apple Watch, Reality Pro will have a long delay between announcement and wider availability. The current line of thinking is that the headset will be announced at the developer conference, and hit store shelves before the end of 2023. The first Apple Watch was announced in September and launched in April the following year.

Too: Apple’s VR/AR headset is coming. Here’s everything we know so far

The time between announcement and release gives Apple more time to polish the software and hardware experience and it also allows third-party developers to work with new software, port and customize existing apps, or create new apps for the headset entirely. Gives time to create new experiences.

I don’t really know what Apple’s plans are for Reality Pro and how the average consumer will use the headset. But based on the number of features and apps that will reportedly be available on day one, it certainly sounds a lot like Apple doesn’t really know either.