Apple Unveils Vision Pro Headset: A Paradigm Shift from Metaverse to Spatial Computing

The big tech company recently announced its expensive mixed-reality headset at a developer conference. However, they didn’t use the term “metaverse” during their discussion.

A New Era of Spatial Computing

Apple announced their highly anticipated mixed-reality headset at WWDC, the Apple Vision Pro. Technology enthusiasts were excited about this headset and eager to learn more about its features. What surprised many was that Apple didn’t mention the term “metaverse” during the unveiling. Since the metaverse has been a hot topic in tech, this omission puzzled observers. Apple’s position on the metaverse and its connection to the headset sparked discussion.

Instead of using the term “metaverse,” the tech company calls its new product a “spatial computer.” It’s set to hit the U.S. market in 2024 for $3,499. Later, it’ll be available in other countries. Microsoft’s Hololens launch and Meta’s headset presentation prominently used the term “metaverse” in their presentations.

Apple’s marketing strategy emphasizes “spatial” and “spatial computing” instead of “metaverse,” “augmented reality,” and “virtual reality.” They’re focusing on spatial experiences and computing.

“Creating our first spatial computer required invention across nearly every facet of the system,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of technology development.

“Through tight hardware and software integration, we designed a standalone spatial computer in a compact wearable form factor that is the most advanced personal electronics device ever,” he said.

Mark Gurman shared on Twitter in January 2022 that Apple isn’t going to take the same approach as Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, especially in terms of the metaverse.

“I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to — like the can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future — is off-limits from Apple,” Gurman said the company will focus on developing a mixed-reality headset that can be used for work, gaming, and communication.

Combining Virtual and Augmented Reality for Immersive Experiences

The Vision Pro headset from Apple combines virtual reality and augmented reality. An augmented reality experience can be created by projecting apps into the user’s surrounding space. Additionally, it offers VR modes like Immersive Environments.

“Featuring visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space,” the announcement reads.

Some investors were expecting metaverse-related tokens to see a meteoric rise due to Apple’s new headset; however, a new SEC lawsuit on the same day hurt their hopes.

As of 24 hours ago, Internet Computer ICP, the highest-ranked metaverse token, had decreased by 9.5%. Decentraland (MANA) and Sandbox (SAND), the second and third-ranked tokens, decreased by 12.7%.

Within the past 24 hours, none of the projects further down the list have experienced significant price increases. Since then, the total value of metaverse tokens has decreased by 10% to $7.7 billion.