Apple’s first VR headset, Vision Pro, is getting a powerful rival from an old foe. Earlier this year, the tech giant unveiled the device and its accompanying apps that allow users to work, play, communicate, and more in a virtual world. The device is currently priced at $3,499 and requires a compatible iPhone or iPad.

The headset doesn’t have a traditional screen or controllers; instead, it relies on cameras and sensors to track a person’s movement and eye and hand gestures. Apple shows off the feature with onboarding videos that walk users through using the headset. Apple calls the display an “infinite canvas” where users can position apps, windows, and content wherever they want while staying present in their environment or shutting it out entirely for an immersive experience.

Two Apple silicon chips are inside the device, including the M2 chip used in a Mac and the new R1 chip that runs visionOS and processes input from cameras, sensors, and more. The M2 also provides graphics, while the R1 handles computer vision and augmented reality functionality. Apple says users can use the headset to browse the web in Safari, create a to-do list in Notes, or chat with friends in Messages while wearing the headset.

The device also supports the company’s ARKit and HEIF image-processing technology, which means it can take a snapshot of the natural world and then overlay it on the virtual one. The headset has exterior and interior cameras that capture a person’s surroundings, so users can move around and view different areas of a room or building without needing to remove the headset.

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Users can also log in to the Vision Pro with a single user profile or share it with an iPhone or iPad. However, it’s unclear if multiple people can log in simultaneously, which would limit the device as an enterprise solution for collaborative work like a product design meeting or an ad shoot.

At its current price point, it’s doubtful that many consumers will be willing to splash out the extra cash for a headset. A cheaper version of the Vision Pro is rumored to be in the works, but it won’t hit the market until 2025 the earliest. That could leave Apple’s VR headset hopelessly out of reach for most potential customers until then.

While the headset is an excellent piece of hardware, it must be considerably cheaper to take off. The likes of Microsoft and Meta have already made similar products. Still, a new report suggests that Apple’s smartphone rival will also have a premium mixed-reality headset featuring a “flagship” ARCore-powered mobile processor. In addition to a premium mobile CPU, the Huawei headset is expected to include a wide field of view (FOV) camera that will give the device an edge over its competition when providing a more natural and realistic VR experience.