CT scans show off the phenomenal design of the Apple Vision Pro

AppleInsider

A series of CT scans of the Apple Vision Pro shows how much complexity is in the headset, and how carefully designed it all is to fit together.

CT scan of the Apple Vision Pro

Lumafield is now to CT scans what iFixit is to hardware teardowns. After exposing cheap components in fake AirPods and revealing the intricacy of Apple's Thunderbolt 4 cable, Lumafield has now examined the Apple Vision Pro.

This time, however, it has examined a device by directly comparing it to others. Lumafield has taken CT scans of the Apple Vision Pro and of both the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro.

"The point of this exploration is not a head-to-head comparison or product review," says the company in a blog post. "Instead, we're unpacking the way the divergent design philosophies and market strategies of Apple and Meta reveal themselves through hardware engineering."

In this line, what the company claims that its scanning revealed is with the Apple Vision Pro, "a product that puts design first." Lumafield says that everything inside Apple's headset "is canted to make the most of the available internal space without detracting from the external contours of the brushed aluminum frame and laminated glass front plate."

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Whereas, Meta's headsets show a different set of priorities, and also a different target market. Lumafield ascribes Meta's design philosophy as being one focused on ease of use and aimed at democratizing virtual reality by offering their headset at a more affordable price.

It's a euphemistic way of saying the Meta headsets are cheaper than Apple's one. So where Apple Vision Pro users know the battery is an external one, Lumafield's CT scans show that for the Quest 3, Meta's "approach is simpler, placing its battery front and center on the headset."

Equally, where the Apple Vision Pro has a "compact active cooling solution via micro-blowers," the Meta Quest 3 "simplifies with just one fan." It's the same story with the audio on all of these headsets.

Lumafield concludes that "Meta's two headsets demonstrate a striking economy of means" and "deliver as much as possible using as little as possible." The company describes Meta's "frugal construction" as giving the "best-in-class value of the devices."

For details of what the Apple Vision Pro is like to actually use, read the AppleInsider one-month review.



Read on AppleInsider

9secondkox2

Cool!

Looks like The Fallen when Optimus took his face off... anyone?

OK... now that the younger me is tucked safely away (at least for now), I am always fascinated by Apple's relentless attention to the details no one will ever see. It's this kind of thing where you know quality is instilled from the molecular level. No one else comes close. Such perfect alignment and symmetry - especially for a novel product. It's art unto itself. 

twolf2919

I guess the CT scan didn't venture further "south" to reveal the glory of the battery dongle - the epitome of Apple design prowess?

sirdir

9secondkox2 said:

Cool!

Looks like The Fallen when Optimus took his face off... anyone?

OK... now that the younger me is tucked safely away (at least for now), I am always fascinated by Apple's relentless attention to the details no one will ever see. It's this kind of thing where you know quality is instilled from the molecular level. No one else comes close. Such perfect alignment and symmetry - especially for a novel product. It's art unto itself. 

But this time they really screwed up by designing high quality at the expense of the weight.

macxpress

sirdir said:

9secondkox2 said:

Cool!

Looks like The Fallen when Optimus took his face off... anyone?

OK... now that the younger me is tucked safely away (at least for now), I am always fascinated by Apple's relentless attention to the details no one will ever see. It's this kind of thing where you know quality is instilled from the molecular level. No one else comes close. Such perfect alignment and symmetry - especially for a novel product. It's art unto itself. 

But this time they really screwed up by designing high quality at the expense of the weight.

Everything in time as the technology gets better. Laptops used to be 2-3 inches thick and weighed 10+lbs. As technology got better they got thinner and lighter, yet even more powerful. Happens all the time with new(er) technology. If you want cheap (and therefore light) then go get a cheap VR headset such as a Quest. 

infinity200001.

macxpress said:

sirdir said:

9secondkox2 said:

Cool!

Looks like The Fallen when Optimus took his face off... anyone?

OK... now that the younger me is tucked safely away (at least for now), I am always fascinated by Apple's relentless attention to the details no one will ever see. It's this kind of thing where you know quality is instilled from the molecular level. No one else comes close. Such perfect alignment and symmetry - especially for a novel product. It's art unto itself. 

But this time they really screwed up by designing high quality at the expense of the weight.

Everything in time as the technology gets better. Laptops used to be 2-3 inches thick and weighed 10+lbs. As technology got better they got thinner and lighter, yet even more powerful. Happens all the time with new(er) technology. If you want cheap (and therefore light) then go get a cheap VR headset such as a Quest. 

the meta quest is far from cheap and it is very far from being cheap and it is also very far from being light. but it's a great VR headset.

dope_ahmine

I was also a bit surprised when Apple first showcased their Vision Pro. Up until then, I had been thinking they would surpass all competition by offering a super-light AR/VR headset, especially since I had heard in advance that they would separate out the battery.

strangedays

twolf2919 said:

I guess the CT scan didn't venture further "south" to reveal the glory of the battery dongle - the epitome of Apple design prowess?

How does it affect you in actual use? Oh, you don’t have one? Next. 

macxpress

infinity200001. said:

macxpress said:

sirdir said:

9secondkox2 said:

Cool!

Looks like The Fallen when Optimus took his face off... anyone?

OK... now that the younger me is tucked safely away (at least for now), I am always fascinated by Apple's relentless attention to the details no one will ever see. It's this kind of thing where you know quality is instilled from the molecular level. No one else comes close. Such perfect alignment and symmetry - especially for a novel product. It's art unto itself. 

But this time they really screwed up by designing high quality at the expense of the weight.

Everything in time as the technology gets better. Laptops used to be 2-3 inches thick and weighed 10+lbs. As technology got better they got thinner and lighter, yet even more powerful. Happens all the time with new(er) technology. If you want cheap (and therefore light) then go get a cheap VR headset such as a Quest. 

the meta quest is far from cheap and it is very far from being cheap and it is also very far from being light. but it's a great VR headset.

You signed up just to post this? LOL