The Vision Pro is an exciting new headset that Apple calls a spatial computer, but you might be wondering if the computing really happens on this compact device or if it needs to connect to a computer or a phone for processing. That’s a fair question to ask since many AR and VR devices require a separate device for power and computing.
So, how does the Apple Vision Pro work, and what’s needed to use it as a spatial computer? The good news is this $3,500 device is complete right out of the box. You don’t need to buy an iPhone or a Mac to use it. It has an M2 processor inside, uses hand gestures for controls, and the entire operating system is self-contained.
This differs from some VR headsets that require the performance of a gaming PC with a fast, discrete graphics card to handle the processing demands of two high-resolution screens. For example, the Valve Index and Varjo Aero won’t work without a computer. There are other standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 that share more in common with the Vision Pro by using low-power processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip.
Most smart glasses also need to be connected to a phone to enable all the features. The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can record video without a phone, but have to connect to answer calls, transfer images, and use Meta AI. Smart glasses like the Xreal Air 2 must be connected to a phone or other device to get power and a video signal.
The Vision Pro is a complete spatial computer in itself, but it doesn’t run macOS. That means you might still want to connect your Mac or MacBook, especially for faster typing and productivity. Apple lets you see your Mac desktop in a Vision Pro window, like a remote desktop app. It can mirror the window, allowing you to control it fully — though you can’t extend the window as you would with an external monitor. As a sidenote, you can also opt for connecting a wireless Bluetooth keyboard instead.
So, if you’re using your Vision Pro and wish you could open an app that’s not yet available in the Vision App Store, you can still use it while wearing the headset by connecting to your computer. That means your headset can run iPhone and iPad apps, native Vision Pro apps, and macOS apps via your Mac.
The Vision Pro does require an external battery pack, which comes bundled with the Vision Pro.
If you do own other Apple products, you can get a head start on enjoying the Apple ecosystem. When you set up your Vision Pro, you can sign into iCloud to access your photo library, music playlists, contacts, and messages, just like you can on an iPhone or a Mac.
Google just dropped its latest AI model, Gemini 4 Carbon, designed to tackle complex coding jobs and cybersecurity threats. The company claims it can work through difficult engineering problems for days, finding hidden bugs and developing fixes across large codebases.
Gemini 4 Carbon also takes the top spot on Artificial Analysis' updated Intelligence Index, scoring 59 points, pushing out Claude Opus 5.5, OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra, and even its own predecessor Gemini 4 Argon.
Apple has just introduced a redesigned MacBook Pro with a few bells and whistles. The focus this time around is on a thinner and lighter build, and an upgrade to a touch-sensitive OLED screen without any ugly notch. And, in case you were wondering, there is definitely a price premium to pay for these niceties, which also include a glowing Apple logo at the back. What if you wanted to get the best that Apple has to offer? Well, the numbers are finally here.
For a mere $14,549, you can get yourself the fully kitted 16-inch MacBook Pro PROLED XDR with the beefiest laptop chip that Apple has to offer, and the best memory configuration in tow. For nearly $15,000, you treat yourself to the 16-inch version of the laptop with a nano-texture glass layer on the screen to reduce reflections and glare.
Apple has unveiled its first-ever touchscreen MacBook Pro. The company seems a bit confused about the naming, calling it the "MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display," which is tough to remember. If you look past that and review the full spec sheets, you might ask a genuine question: what are the differences between the touchscreen and non-touchscreen versions?
Given that Apple continues to sell both variants together, that's a genuine question. Luckily, you don't have to spend more time lining up the spec sheets side by side and hunting for differences hidden in the fine print. I took that bullet for you. Here's everything that's different between the PROLED XDR Display and the regular MacBook Pro.