Mixed reality headsets are the next big thing in tech. They let you experience virtual worlds and overlay digital images on top of your real surroundings. They’re like VR headsets, but better. And more expensive. And harder to find. But hey, who doesn’t love a challenge?
If you’re one of the lucky few who can afford and access these futuristic devices, you might be wondering which one to buy. There are two main contenders in the market right now: Apple’s Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2. Both claim to offer the best-mixed reality experience ever, but they have different strengths and weaknesses.
Vision Pro is Apple’s first mixed-reality headset, and it’s expected to launch in early 2023 for a whopping $3,499. It’s a sleek and powerful device that integrates with Apple’s ecosystem and services. It has an intuitive interface with eye- and hand-tracking, a high-quality display and audio, and a 3D photo and video capture feature.
While, Magic Leap 2 is the second generation of Magic Leap’s augmented reality headset, and it’s available now for $3,299. It’s a lighter and more comfortable device than its predecessor, with an improved field of view and spatial mapping. It supports multiple input methods, such as controller, voice, and gesture. It also has an open platform for developers and creators.
In this article, we’ll compare Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 based on their features, performance, user experience, content, price, and more. We’ll also give you some tips on how to choose the best headset for your needs and preferences. By the end of this article, you’ll know which headset is better for you and why.
So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride into the metaverse. Or whatever they’re calling it these days.
Contents
Vision Pro: Apple’s Bold New Vision for Spatial Computing
Vision Pro is Apple’s first mixed-reality headset, and it’s expected to launch in early 2023 for a whopping $3,499. It’s a sleek and powerful device that integrates with Apple’s ecosystem and services. It has an intuitive interface with eye- and hand-tracking, a high-quality display and audio, and a 3D photo and video capture feature.
But what exactly is Vision Pro and how does it work? Well, according to Apple, Vision Pro is a “spatial computer” that lets you interact with virtual and augmented reality content seamlessly. It uses two custom chipsets: the M2 for general computing and the R1 for real-time sensor interaction. It also has 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones to track your movements, environment, and voice.
Vision Pro has two 4K displays and expected to offer a resolution of 3800 x 3000 pixels per eye. That’s higher than most VR headsets on the market today. It is rumored to have approx 110-120 degree field of view horizontally. The headset supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for enhanced colors and contrast.
One of the most impressive features of Vision Pro is its EyeSight technology, which makes the headset transparent when someone approaches you. This way, you can see their face and they can see your eyes. You can also switch between virtual and augmented reality modes with a simple gesture or voice command.
It has dual-driver audio pods that deliver spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support. You can hear sounds coming from different directions and distances, creating an immersive soundstage. You can also use Siri to control the headset with your voice or use hand gestures to interact with virtual objects.
Also, its 3D photo and video capture feature that lets you record your mixed reality experiences and share them with others. You can use the front-facing cameras to take selfies or videos of yourself in VR or AR environments. You can also use the rear-facing cameras to capture what you see through the headset.
Apple’s Vision Pro runs on visionOS, a new operating system designed for mixed reality. It’s based on iOS but optimized for spatial computing. It supports all the apps and services you love from Apple, such as FaceTime, Safari, Photos, Music, Maps, and more. It also has a new app store for mixed-reality content.
Vision Pro doesn’t have any controllers. Instead, it relies on your eyes, hands, and voice to navigate and interact with the content. You can use eye-tracking to select icons or menus, hand-tracking to manipulate virtual objects or draw in the air, and voice commands to launch apps or adjust settings.
It has a battery life of up to two hours on a single charge. That’s not very impressive compared to other VR headsets that can last for four to six hours.
Vision Pro is not a standalone device. It requires an iPhone or iPad to work as a companion device. You need to pair your headset with your iOS device via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Your iOS device will act as a remote control and a secondary display for Vision Pro.
But, Vision Pro is not cheap. It starts at $3,499 for the base model with 128GB of storage. That’s more than twice as expensive as Meta’s Quest 3 ($499) or Quest Pro ($999), which are also mixed reality headsets. However, Apple claims that Vision Pro offers a superior experience that justifies its premium price tag.
Also, Vision Pro is not widely available yet. It’s expected to launch in early 2023 in select countries and regions.
Vision Pro is Apple’s bold new vision for spatial computing. It’s a device that combines virtual and augmented reality into one seamless experience. It’s a device that lets you interact with digital content in natural and intuitive ways. It’s a device that connects you with your friends and family in immersive ways.
But is it a device that you need? Read the article till the end to get a clear understanding.
Related: Apple Vision Pro Vs HoloLens 2. Which One Is Better?
Magic Leap 2: The Improved Version of a Pioneer in Augmented Reality
Magic Leap 2 is the second generation of Magic Leap’s augmented reality headset, and it’s available now for $3,299. It’s a lighter and more comfortable device than its predecessor, with an improved field of view and spatial mapping. It supports multiple input methods, such as controller, voice, and gesture. It also has an open platform for developers and creators.
But what exactly is Magic Leap 2 and how does it work? Well, according to Magic Leap, Magic Leap 2 is a “spatial computer” that lets you interact with digital content that blends with your physical environment. It uses a custom AMD-based processor that handles intensive tasks, while a low-latency processor in the headset handles sensor data. It also has four eye-tracking cameras, two depth cameras, two world cameras, and four microphones to track your movements, environment, and voice.
Magic Leap 2 has two LCoS displays that offer a resolution of 1440 x 1760 pixels per eye. That’s lower than Vision Pro’s 4K displays, but still decent for AR content. It also has a 70-degree field of view. which is very less than Apple Vision Pro The headset supports HDR10 for enhanced colors and contrast.
One of the most impressive features of Magic Leap 2 is its spatial mapping and occlusion technology, which enables the headset to understand your surroundings and place digital content accordingly. For example, you can see virtual objects behind real walls or furniture, or interact with them using your hands or controller.
Magic Leap 2 supports multiple input methods for different types of content and use cases. You can use a controller that comes with the headset to navigate menus and play games. You can also use voice commands to launch apps or adjust settings. You can also use hand gestures to manipulate virtual objects or draw in the air.
This device runs on Lumin OS, an operating system designed for spatial computing. It supports all the apps and services you love from Magic Leap, such as Helio, Tonandi, Create, and more. It also has a new app store for spatial content called Magicverse.
It offers a battery life of up to three and a half hours on a single charge. f battery life and also acts as a counterweight for better comfort.
Magic Leap 2 is a also standalone device. It doesn’t require an iPhone or iPad to work as a companion device. You can pair your headset with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for remote control and secondary display purposes.
It is to note here that the Magic Leap 2 is cheaper than Vision Pro. It costs $3,299 for the base model with 128GB of storage. That’s still more expensive than Meta’s Quest 3 ($499) or Quest Pro ($999), which are also mixed reality headsets. However, Magic Leap claims that Magic Leap 2 offers a unique experience that sets it apart from other devices.
Magic Leap 2 is widely available now. It launched in September 2022 in select countries and regions. Magic Leap says it will produce about one million units in the first year, which means it will be easier to get your hands on one than Vision Pro. Magic Leap also says that Magic Leap 2 is mainly aimed at enterprise customers who want to use spatial computing for various applications.
Magic Leap 2 is the improved version of a pioneer in augmented reality. It’s a device that improves on its predecessor in many ways. It’s a device that lets you interact with digital content that blends with your physical environment. It’s a device that offers an open platform for developers and creators.
Related: Apple Vision Pro vs HoloLens 2: Which AR Headset is Better?
But is it a device that can compete with Vision Pro? The comparison given below will help you to decide.
Apple Vision Pro vs Magic Leap 2: Features Comparison
Now that we’ve seen what Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 are and how they work, let’s compare them based on their features. We’ll look at their display, audio, input, content, battery life, and compatibility.
Display
Both Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 have impressive displays that offer high resolution, color fidelity, and contrast. However, Vision Pro has an edge over Magic Leap 2 in terms of display quality and technology.
Vision Pro has dual 4K displays that offer a resolution of 3800 x 3000 pixels per eye. That’s higher than Magic Leap 2’s LCoS displays which just offer a resolution of 1440×1760 pixels per eye. Vision Pro also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for enhanced colors and contrast.
Vision Pro has an expected field of view of 110-120-degree. While Magic Leap 2 has a lower field of view of 70 degrees. But, field of view is not the only factor that determines the quality of the AR experience. Other factors such as image quality, brightness, and occlusion also matter.
Vision Pro has a unique feature called EyeSight, which makes the headset transparent when someone approaches you. This way, you can see their face and they can see your eyes. You can also switch between VR and AR modes with a simple gesture or voice command. Magic Leap 2 doesn’t have this feature, but it does have spatial mapping and occlusion technology that enables the headset to understand your surroundings and place digital content accordingly.
So, Apple Vision Pro offers a better display in comparison to Magic Leap 2.
Audio
Apple’s Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 have dual-driver audio pods that deliver spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support. You can hear sounds coming from different directions and distances, creating an immersive soundstage.
In terms of audio quality, Vision Pro has an advantage over Magic Leap 2 in terms of audio quality and technology. Vision Pro uses Apple’s proprietary H1 chip to deliver a personalized sound that adapts to your ear shape and preferences. It also uses beamforming microphones to reduce background noise and enhance voice clarity.
Magic Leap 2 doesn’t have these features, but it does have a standard 3.5mm headphone jack that lets you use your own headphones or earbuds if you prefer.
Input
Both Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 support multiple input methods for different types of content and use cases. You can use eye-tracking, hand-tracking, voice commands, a controller, or gestures to navigate and interact with the content.
This means Vision Pro has an edge over Magic Leap 2 in terms of input quality and technology. Vision Pro uses 4 eye-tracking high-speed cameras and a ring of LEDs to track your eye movements with precision and accuracy. It also uses advanced machine learning algorithms to recognize your hand gestures and voice commands with ease.
Magic Leap 2 uses two eye-tracking cameras to track your eye movements, but they are not as fast as Vision Pro. It also uses a controller that comes with the headset to navigate menus and play games. The controller has a touchpad, trigger, bumper, home button, and LED ring. It also has haptic feedback and six degrees of freedom tracking.
So, clearly Apple Vision Pro has better input methods and control in comparison to Magic Leap 2.
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Content
Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 run on their own operating systems that are designed for spatial computing. They support all the apps and services you love from their respective ecosystems, such as FaceTime, Safari, Photos, Music, Maps for Vision Pro; and Helio, Tonandi, Create, Magicverse for Magic Leap 2.
So in comparison, Vision Pro has an advantage over Magic Leap 2 in terms of content quality and quantity. Vision Pro runs on visionOS, which is based on iOS but optimized for spatial computing. It has access to millions of apps from the App Store that are compatible with visionOS. It also has a new app store for mixed reality content called visionStore.
Magic Leap 2 runs on Lumin OS, which is an open platform for spatial computing. It has access to hundreds of apps from the Magicverse app store that are compatible with Lumin OS. It also supports third-party platforms such as Unreal Engine, Unity, WebXR, and OpenXR.
Battery Life
Apple’s Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 have a battery life of up to two hours on a single charge. That’s not very impressive compared to other AR headsets that can last for four to six hours.
Here, Vision Pro has an edge over Magic Leap 2 in terms of battery technology and efficiency. The battery life of Magic Leap is approximately 3.5 hours on a single full charge.
Compatibility
In terms of compatibility, both Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 require a companion device to work. You need to pair your headset with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for remote control and secondary display purposes.
But, Vision Pro has an advantage over Magic Leap 2 in terms of compatibility and integration. Vision Pro requires an iPhone or iPad to work as a companion device. It integrates seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem and services. It also supports AirPlay and Handoff for easy content sharing and switching.
Magic Leap 2 doesn’t require a specific device to work as a companion device. It can work with any smartphone or tablet that supports Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Related: Best Apple Vision Pro Alternatives in 2023: VR and MR Headsets That Won’t Break Your Budget 💰
Conclusion: Vision Pro Vs Magic Leap 2
As you can see, Vision Pro and Magic Leap 2 have different features. But Apple Vision Pro outshines Magic Leap 2 in almost every aspect. So if you want to choose a VR headset for your and if you can spend a little more money and if you can till 2024 till the launch of Apple Vision Pro. Then Apple Vision Pro can be a better option for you.
Overall, Apple Vision Pro offers better quality and features in comparison to Magic Leap 2.
Which one is your favorite VR headset let me know in the comments?
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Hey there! I’m Kuldeep Kumar, and tech is my jam. From the mind-blowing world of AI to the thrilling battlegrounds of cybersecurity, I love exploring every corner of this amazing world. Gadgets? I geek out over them. Hidden software tricks? Bring ’em on! I explain it all in clear, bite-sized chunks, laced with a touch of humor to keep things sparky. So, join me on this tech adventure, and let’s demystify the wonders of technology, one blog post at a time.