There’s no denying that Apple revolutionized the XR industry when it introduced its space computing headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Unfortunately, the price of headphones is a major deterrent for many consumers. Enter the submerged mask.
Unveiled at the Immerse Global Summit in 2023, the Immersed Visor promises users a spatial computing experience similar to that offered by Apple Vision Pro for a fraction of the price. According to Immersed, it’s the world’s smallest “4K headset,” closer in style to a pair of powerful smart glasses than a full mixed reality headset.
On paper, the Visor almost seems too good to be true. It promises 4K resolution for the eyes, excellent ergonomics and support for all your favorite applications, including Microsoft Teams.
So will the Immersed Visor steal customers away from Apple when it comes out? Here’s everything we know so far.
What is a recessed visor?
The Immersed Visor is an ultra-compact spatial computing device that combines micro-OLED displays with HD color gradation, eye tracking and indoor-outdoor tracking. It’s designed by Immersed, the company best known for its remote VR desktop app.
Like many of the headset and smartwatch vendors making waves in the XR space today, Immersed isn’t focusing exclusively on consumers with the new wearable.
The company’s official website for Visor highlights the system’s wide range of uses for professionals. The system allows users to create up to five ultra-high resolution 4K virtual screens and interact with applications such as Slack, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Excel and more.
Although the Immersed Visor has yet to be officially released, we already have specs for two versions of the headset. “Visor 4K” standard features:
- 4K micro OLED display for eyes
- Online and offline mode
- 5 customizable screens
- 100 degree field of view
- 6 degrees of freedom
- Custom IPD, nose insert and light blocker
- HD color transition
- An extended 3-hour battery pack
- Hand and eye tracking
The Founder’s Edition includes all of these features, as well as a limited-edition design, lifetime subscription to Immersed Pro, and a signature colored faceplate.
Price and availability: How much does it cost?
Part of what makes the Immersed Visor such an exciting addition to the XR market is its price. While space computing devices like the Apple Vision Pro will set you back a hefty $3,500, the Immersive Visor is available for just $400 with a few caveats.
The standard 4K headset costs $399.99, but you have to pay for a subscription to Immersed’s Visor Plus software suite. You can purchase a subscription along with the headset, or you can get a lifetime prepaid subscription with the headset for $1,049.98.
If you want one of the limited “Founder’s Edition” headsets, it will cost $699.99 for the headset, or $1,349.98 with the software subscription included. Of course, the subscription increases the prices a bit, but the headphones will still be much less expensive than the Apple Vision Pro.
Recessed Viewfinder: Functionality and Features
So what can the recessed visor actually do? At this point, we’re still waiting for access to the headset, so it’s hard to give a comprehensive review. However, we do know that the Visor is expected to be as light as a smartphone.
It will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor and will have its own AI assistant, web browser and a unique cinema mode for viewing content. At its core, however, the recessed hood appears to have been specifically designed as an all-in-one solution.
You’ll have access to five high-resolution screens that can display content from your PC, Linux or Mac computer. Immersed says Visor can provide “noise-cancelling” experiences for your eyes, cutting out distractions to help you focus.
For example, you can choose exactly how your environment will look and replace your current background with images to increase focus.
Subscription Model
Unlike most standalone headsets available on the market today, the Immersed Visor won’t ship with an app store, as far as we know. However, Immersed CEO Renji Bijoy has said that they plan to introduce an app store in the future.
In the meantime, you’ll be limited to the apps you can load from your computer to the glasses. This is probably one of the reasons why the Visor is so much cheaper than options like the Apple Vision Pro, which eliminates the need for a connected computer.
Another thing that makes Visor unique is that it requires users to pay for a software subscription. This is part of how Immersed plans to monetize its headphones in the long run. There is a free tier for the software available, but the Plus option unlocks additional screens, more support for collaborators, and higher resolution rates.
Plus, there’s an “enterprise tier,” specifically for businesses, that includes device management, presentation and collaboration modes, and a virtual headquarters. You even get customizable user access management panels.
Notably, you need a one-year subscription to one of the premium options when you purchase the Visor, however, you can cancel the subscription after that if you don’t need it.
How does the recessed cover compare to other options?
Immersed appears to be marketing the Immersed Visor as a more affordable alternative to the Apple Vision Pro. Like the Vision Pro, it’s a space headset with mixed reality capabilities. However, Apple and Immersed are not offering the same experiences.
Like the Vision Pro, the Visor includes hand and eye tracking, 6 degrees of freedom, and ultra-clear visuals. However, it lacks a built-in app store and access to a proprietary operating system (Apple has Vision OS).
The Apple Vision Pro also has a desktop-class M2 processor, while the Visor relies on its own Qualcomm chip. However, you should still get a similar experience to Meta Quest 3 with Visor, and you’ll also get some extra features like eye tracking.
So if the sunken cover is so impressive, how can it be available at such a low price? Immersed’s CEO said the headset components aren’t actually that expensive to buy, which may be part of the reason.
Another possibility is that Immersed’s research and development costs are not as high as those of other vendors. For example, Meta has publicly shared that it has invested billions of dollars in VR research and development. Apple hasn’t shared much information about how much it spent on the Apple Vision Pro, but we can assume it invested a small fortune.
Is the recessed visor worth it?
So will the sunken cover be worth it? Will it stand up to the hype and deliver an outstanding experience for a fraction of the Vision Pro’s price? It’s hard to know for sure. However, it looks like Immersed is setting itself up for success.
While the price of the headset is low, potentially cutting into Immersed’s profit margins, the subscription model should ensure the company can make a decent amount of money. If corporations invest in dozens of Visors for their teams and buy subscriptions to the advanced software, then Immersed will end up with a profitable user base.
It will not only make money from the initial sales; will be able to retain its audience with ever-improving software experiences. This gives the company an advantage over other VR competitors that rely solely on hardware sales.
Plus, Immersed already has a solid reputation in the enterprise VR landscape thanks to its intuitive apps. This could help the company gain a significant advantage in the rapidly growing world of business-level augmented reality.
Availability: When will the plunge mask be released?
Although Immersed is already accepting pre-orders for the Visor, they have yet to announce an official launch date. The company has said it will publicly demo the headset in September 2024, and its potential pre-orders will start shipping soon.
You may be able to get your hands on one of these headphones just in time for the holiday season. If there’s a slight delay, there’s a good chance Visor will be generally available in early 2025. The company already has plenty of investors, technology partners, and innovators involved in preparing the device for launch. However, there are probably still some tests to be done.
The good news is that even if the release date is pushed back, pre-orders are fully refundable. Pre-ordering the headphones now will simply save your spot in line when the device launches.
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