$3,500 for Apple’s Vision Pro headset? Like us, you’re probably not ready to invest the budget for a week’s family vacation in the sun in Silicon Valley’s latest toy! But while waiting for its launch in France, do you dream of trying it? NextMobiles offers it for rental. The opportunity, for a much tighter budget, to discover the “first space computer” in preview. An exercise to which 20 minutes delivered himself.
Christmas before time
We didn’t think we’d see it any time soon. Delivered to your home by Next Mobiles, Apple’s Vision Pro virtual reality headset is a bit of a great gift geek that we didn’t expect until next Christmas. Unpacked, the glass and metal device looks amazing and gives off an impression of manufacturing quality without a false note. Once its external battery (autonomy: approximately 2 hours) is installed, simply turn it on using a button on the top.
After a few seconds in the dark, the horizon clears revealing our environment, the apple brand logo and the famous “hello” which are displayed, announcing that the configuration is about to begin. Please note, the rented Vision Pro comes from the United States. Its menus are in English and an iCloud US account is required to operate it.
Using the virtual keyboard that appears in front of us, we enter our usernames and password. Not easy at first. With our index finger, we tap in the void and must, due to typing errors, repeat it several times. But then, we want to try everything.
New windows at home
The Vision OS interface superimposed in front of the eyes is very simple, with a desktop with well-known applications: Apple TV, Apple Music, but also Photos, Mail, Message, Safari… Please note: this desktop cannot be modified, unlike that of Macs, iPhones and iPads! To open an app, simply look at it and click between your thumb and index finger. It works really well!
Same for enlarging or reducing a window which can be stretched by “pinching” it by one of its corners. Another manipulation allows you to hang different open windows around you, or even in different rooms of your real interior: Mail in your office, Apple TV in the living room… It is thus possible to paper the walls of your home with applications ! Confusing. But interesting… provided that you don’t spend hours with the helmet on your head. Which, given its 650 grams, seems like a mission impossible. Our various tests (each lasting an hour, at most) ended with slight pain in the forehead or nose…
For work? No thanks !
Sincerely ? We absolutely cannot see ourselves working with Apple’s super toy on our snout yet. Too heavy and lacking in ergonomics (although this is already well developed), we struggle to imagine ourselves immersed in its 100% virtual workspace, although interactions with the world around us are perfectly possible. And even if it is also possible to duplicate the screen of your Mac in the headset (if equipped with an Apple chip), to use a keyboard and trackpad.
To date, the experience seems to only be punctual, failing to become anchored in our uses. Without forgetting this fear, deaf but very present, of locking ourselves in this “cocoon” which can further desocialize us. No, in its current state, the real attraction of this headset is undoubtedly entertainment. But what fun!
For entertainment ? The big love!
Starting with watching films and series. With two microOLED screens in front of the eyes; with nearly 4K facing each retina; with the possibility of positioning its “projection” screen at the desired distance, of enlarging it as desired; with Dolby Atmos sound produced by the headphones’ speakers above each ear… our tests amazed us.
And you can enjoy your films and series at your leisure on a screen with a diagonal that can vary from that of a classic television to that found in a cinema.
Likewise, we dived back into our photos stored on iCloud. Our photos taken in panoramic mode open almost limitlessly before our eyes, with a field of vision of almost 180°. We are literally bathing in it!
Those who have an iPhone 15Pro or 15 ProMax can also enjoy “spatial” videos (shot in Landscape mode) with their smartphone. The experience has nothing to do with that of a classic VR headset. Moreover, Apple does not want us to talk about a virtual reality headset (or mixed reality), although the Vision Pro is similar.
Rent the Vision Pro, but at what price?
So, to discover it in preview and playearly adopterrent the “space computer” of the Apple brand at the house of Next Mobiles? Should we try it before, possibly, adopting it? The offer from the French specialist in smartphone (but also Mac) rental may seem attractive: 169.90 euros per month, without commitment, insurance included! Except that with this month’s rent, certainly not cheap (the price of a small sedan in leasing !), an initial contribution of 299 euros is required. A non-refundable amount when the helmet is returned.
469.90 euros minimum
This therefore represents an unavoidable expense of 469.90 euros for one month of rental, whatever happens. So, at this price, it’s not certain that you’ll want to return the Vision Pro straight away after trying it for such a short period of time… Nor necessarily to keep it for a very long time. If we take into account the current euro/dollar parity, Apple’s headset is currently sold in the United States for the equivalent of 3,259 euros. More or less, the equivalent of 17 months of rental… And Next Mobiles does not offer a purchase option after a certain time. Just, if you wish, to replace your rental Vision Pro with its hypothetical new generation when it arrives on the market…
Still, the formula pleases. The forty Vision Pro headsets offered for rental by Next Mobiles have all found buyers. Which have not yet expressed their desire to return the product. And Next Mobiles does not intend to increase its fleet… As a result, the waiting list is growing: nearly 300 potential rental companies are waiting, feverishly. As soon as helmets are returned, the first registered are the first served.