[parasubvert]

Book a demo at the Apple Store. It’s the kind of product that seems like an overpriced expensive toy until you actually experience it.

People who follow the XR industry know that most aspects of the AVP were very carefully considered engineering and design trade-offs, including the aluminum construction, which is arguably lighter than plastic for the nature of the headset design requiring a certain level of durability and recyclability. Tethered battery is also a very smart design decision, that I think we will see followed by other manufacturers. The outwardfacing display is necessary if the headset is to be integrated in the workplace or in a social environment, such as cafés or airplanes. In my experience, my family and coworkers appreciate it.

[xp84]

The battery being connected with a proprietary plug is a very smart decision? They couldn’t have used USB-C? Is this like Lightning? Because they admitted after 8 years of fighting it that usb-c made a lot more sense there too.

For me that part is just proof that they are determined, even after you spend $3.5k, to nickel and dime you: the only way to get increased battery life is either to buy additional hundred plus dollar (so, marked up 10x from their cost) batteries from Apple, or to daisy-chain the heavy battery to your own heavy battery (or to the darn wall.)

[parasubvert]

They did use USB-C, on the battery itself. You literally can use the headset, and most do, with it plugged in. The exception is when you’re doing room scale, immersive VR, or when you’re walking around the house or office,but that’s generally within the time life of the battery. The connecter on the headset itself is flat with a lock, so that the cord runs towards the back of your head and doesn’t disconnect by mistake. Similar to MagSafe, it is well designed. Last I checked, daisychaining batteries is exactly how the Meta Quest does it with the elite strap, and also how all iPhones and iPads work, so I’m not sure what the problem is.