Tim Cook unveils the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset

Missed the excitement of GamesBeat Summit? Don't worry! Tune in now to follow all live and virtual sessions here.

Apple CEO Tim Cook ushered in a new era for mixed reality with the announcement of Apple Vision Pro, a new augmented reality headset that was the company's first new product category since many years.

The headphones announced at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference came as no surprise thanks to a number of leaks, but experts had been predicting it would happen since 2015. The device is coming early this year next at $3,499. This price is higher than the advertised price, and the debut is also later.

You can use the device as a transparent device to see the real world in a new way with animated overlays. Or you can use it as a virtual reality headset to be completely immersed in an environment when you don't want to be disturbed. Interestingly, people can see your eyes when you want to interact with them, even when you're wearing the headset.

“It was a huge day,” Cook said at the close. "Some products change the way we think about technology and the role it plays in our lives. Apple Vision Pro introduces a whole new spatial computing platform. And that's just the beginning."

The details

Tim Cook introduced the Apple Vision Pro.

Alan Dye, vice president of human interface at Apple, said you control it with your eyes, hands and voice. But in a side comment, Apple said game controllers would also work.

You can use Siri to quickly open or close apps with your voice. You are never isolated from the people around you. It displays your eyes, using EyeSight, to people around you when you wear the device if you are near people. This changes when you are fully immersed in an application.

Richard Howarth, vice president of industrial design at Apple, introduced the design of the device, which is packed with cameras, sensors and high-resolution displays. It has a computer that silently sucks air through the system. The band is huge and it's unlike any other helmet I've seen, and it's really big.

Yet it has ribbed cushions for breathability and stretch. You can get custom optical inserts from Zeiss for those who wear glasses. You can connect an external battery to it so you don't have to wear it on your head.

Side view of Apple Vision Pro.

The device should have many apps and games available when it ships in the fall. Areas of focus include...