At its CES press conference, Sony briefly mentioned a new extended reality headset, calling it “an immersive spatial content creation system.” In a behind-closed doors preview a few days later, I got to try out a prototype of the new device, and to test the similarities and differences between it and Apple Vision Pro.
Don’t be afraid, it’s the new Sony headset.
Britta O’Boyle
First, it’s important to note that the Sony is months from release, though it is going to be available this year, the company says. There were glitches in the demo I saw, but they were minor, and Sony is painstaking about ensuring everything is tip-top before release.
The headset is not like the PlayStation VR device, which is meant for gamers. This is aimed at professionals working with 3D, for instance, and the demo included reaching into a 3D environment and interacting with objects there.
Adjusting the new Sony headset.
Britta O’Boyle
There’s an adjustable band attaching the headset that you can ratchet open or closed for the perfect fit. The twin displays are movable horizontally, so you can position them perfectly for your eyes—something Apple doesn’t have on its Vision Pro, which I first tried last summer.
And the displays also move forward and back so you can position them perfectly. This is also something different from the Apple device, and it’s key. Unlike Apple, here you can wear your glasses under the headset.
That’s a big bonus and saves you having to buy vision-correcting lenses, which you need for the Vision Pro.
The trade-off is that the screens sit a little further from your eyes. I found my demo so immersive that I wasn’t especially aware of light seepage from outside.
The Sony headset with its flip-up screens.
Sony
There’s another benefit, which the Vision Pro also doesn’t match: the lenses flip up easily so it’s simple and comfortable to switch between digital and real worlds. You don’t have to take the headset off and put it back on again as you would with the Vision Pro.
The Cyberman effect on the new Sony headset.
Britta O’Boyle
There are pass-through cameras on the front to allow you to see the real world, as well, though these weren’t being demonstrated. From the front, the headset almost makes you look like a Cyberman, as you can see from the image at the top of this post.
Unlike the Vision Pro, there are controllers you can use. One is a ring, the other a three-pronged gizmo designed for precise pointing.
The headset is light, so it shouldn’t feel too much after a long session, though I didn’t get to test this for long. The displays are 4K OLED screens (that look great) and the headset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform. In other words, there’s a lot of decent tech on board.
There’s likely one other difference between this and the Apple Vision Pro. That’s the price, which hasn’t been announced. I would be astonished if the cost is anywhere near the $3,499 of the Apple Vision Pro.
Sony is tight-lipped about the release date, too, only saying it will be some time in 2024. This is not designed to be a competitor to Apple’s device, but it will be interesting to see how it fits into the market when Apple has a monthlong head start selling the Vision Pro.
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Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.
