Popular Science declares Vision Pro to be gadget of the year

Vision Pro is gadget of the year, according to Popular Science. The device was also the magazine’s pick as overall innovation of the year.

PopSci acknowledges the “massive price tag” of Apple’s spatial computer, but says that it represents the first step in a new direction for the company …

Vision Pro named gadget of the year

Popular Science highlighted the visual quality and seamless user interface as factors in its decision.

From a hardware perspective, this headset offers a 23-million-pixel screen, which dishes out more than 4K quality to each eye. It’s a true AR device, so external cameras pump a real-time view of the outside world into the display. Virtual displays, AR game boards, and other digital artifacts integrate seamlessly into your view of the real world. It’s actually jarring to take the headset off and see the real world free of floating UI. There are no controllers to use, buttons to press, or other obstacles between a user and the augmented space.

Vision Pro is said to show the true potential of an AR headset, unlike the competing devices which preceded it.

While AR headsets have existed before, this one gets our award because of how much potential it shows. It’s part of Apple’s overall hardware plan. The new iPhone cameras have a specific arrangement to shoot spatial video for consumption in AR. Familiar apps can offer augmented experiences specifically meant for headsets. We expect the next version of the hardware will skip the creepy image of your eyes that shows up on the exterior screen. Still, we’re curious to see what Apple does next, because a consumer-friendly price on an experience like this could be a true game changer. 

Oura Ring 4

At a time when there is growing speculation about whether Apple plans to launch a smart ring, it’s also notable that the Oura Ring 4 won the award for best personal care device.

Plenty of personal care products—the treatments and gadgets that fill our medicine cabinets, home gyms, and vanities—promise innovation. Yet few actually deliver […]

The Oura Ring 4, which launched on October 3, is more than just a refresh. This model is notably more comfortable thanks to flatter sensors within the band. But Oura’s new Smart Sensing algorithm ensures the slimmer band is more capable than ever […]

The Oura App redesign is nothing to sneeze at, either. It offers a uniquely customizable platform for turning the Oura Ring 4’s ample data into useful insights on sleep quality, recovery, stress, fitness, and fertility. With a full range of ring sizes and luxe-looking finishes, the Oura 4 ring might be the most wearable wearable we’ve ever tried. 

Other winners

• Aerospace: Joby Aviation’s Hydrogen-powered VTOL taxi
• Auto: Lincoln’s Nautilus
• Emergency Services & Defense: Google Research’s FireSat wildfire detection system
• Engineering: Electrified Thermal Solutions Joule Hive
• Entertainment: Zildjian Alchem-E Electronic drums
• Gadgets: Apple’s Vision Pro (Innovation of the Year)
• Health: Guardant Health’s Shield
• Home: General Electric’s Indoor Smoker
• Personal Care: Oura Ring 4
• Sports & Outdoors: Saga’s HoloBike

Photo by Declan Sun on Unsplash