Reviewed: Belkin Soundform Elite vs. Apple HomePod

4 December 2020 / From Jen Kleinholz / Audio / Post a comment

I have to admit, when I first heard about Belkin with the Soundform Elite When I launched a smarthome speaker, the first thing I thought about was great sound. Belkin is better known to most as a manufacturer of iPhone, iPad and Mac accessories, and I had never seen a speaker from the brand before.

Chapter in this post:

1 Devialet is responsible for the sound
2 Apple HomePod in comparison
3 Notice of transparency
4 Technical data
5 loudspeakers with Qi charging dock - always a matter of taste
6 Look and design of the Soundform Elite speaker system
7 The sound of the Belkin Soundform Elite compared to the HomePod
8 Apple HomePod or Belkin Soundform Elite?
9 Similar posts

Sir Apfelot recommendation: Clean up your Mac hard drive with CleanMyMac

Devialet is responsible for the sound

I think it was a smart move by Belkin the maker Devialet for the audio part of the Belkin Soundform Elite. This brand, in turn, may be familiar to some people from the speakers Devialet Gold Phantom Wireless, Phantom Reactor 600 and Phantom Reactor 900that have to be absolutely impressive in terms of sound when you read the reviews in various tests. At the same time, they are also in a different league in terms of price than all loudspeakers that I have been able to test so far.

So I am all the more pleased that with the Belkin Soundform Elite I have now got a piece of Devialet technology to the test.

The Belkin Soundform Elite is definitely a small design piece that sounds pretty good too.

Apple HomePod in comparison

I think, just because of the comparable price and since many readers have an Apple HomePod, I would like to compare the sound with this device.

The Belkin Soundform Elite does not support HomeKit or Siri, but at least you can charge your iPhone in the Qi charging tray. For this reason, I also find the speaker interesting.

How it performs in a direct sound comparison with the large HomePod (not the Mini!), I will describe below.

Transparency notice

The Belkin loudspeaker was made available to me for two weeks to test. However, there was no condition or payment associated with it. Anyone who reads my tests regularly will know that I rate products very critically and - if something is cheese - I also advise against a product. You can be sure that I won't recommend a device just because the manufacturer made it available to me as a test.

A Belkin Soundform app is available from the App Store to set up the speaker. For the facility, the Belkin box would like access to Bluetooth and WLAN. — A Belkin Soundform app is available from the App Store to set up the speaker. For setup, the Belkin app wants access to Bluetooth and WiFi.

Technical data

As always, I would like to deal with the technical data of the device (almost) right at the beginning of this article:

Manufacturer: Belkin
Model: Soundform Elite
Colors: black or white
Scope of delivery: Hi-Fi Smart Speaker with wireless charger, power supply unit, quick guide
Standby power consumption (measured): 4,2 W (HomePod in comparison: 1,9 W)
Sound: Mono with SAM® from Devialet
Controls: play / pause, mute, volume + -, BT connection
Microphone: 2 far-field microphones for voice control *
Maximum sound pressure level (SPL): 90 dB SPL +/- 3 dB
Driver size broadband: 35 mm
Driver size woofer: 2 x 70 mm, "push-push" configuration that compensates for vibrations.
Maximum peak input power woofer: 2 x 60 watts
Maximum peak input power broadband: 1 x 30 watts
Frequency response: 40 - 20.000 Hz
Voice assistant: Google Assistant or Alexa with AirPlay 2
AirPlay 2 support: only with the Alexa model
Aux input: no
Bluetooth / WLAN: Bluetooth 5.0 / WLAN standard 802.11bgn / ac (2,4 GHz / 5 GHz)
Qi charging standards:
- Qi compatibility: up to 5W
- Apple Quick Charge: up to 7,5W
- Samsung® Quick Charge: up to 9W
- Google Fast Charge: up to 10W
Dimensions: WxDxH: 162 x 162 x 168,5 mm
Weight: 1,25kg
Link to the manufacturer: Belkin Soundform Elite
Price: approx. 300 EUR on Amazon

Loudspeakers with Qi charging dock - always a matter of taste

Perhaps one or the other still knows the loudspeakers that were previously offered around the iPhone. You had boxes with a 30-pin connector so that you could - and had to - clamp your iPhone directly into the loudspeaker. With the switch from 30-pin to Lightning, you had a music dock that could no longer accommodate a current iPhone and was therefore relatively meaningless. From my point of view, quasi electronic waste.

Fortunately, these concepts are now obsolete and manufacturers offer wireless music transmission, but you can still find speakers here and there, such as the Soundform Elite, with a space reserved for a smartphone.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max in the Qi charging dock of the Belkin Soundform Elite - wireless charging and listening to music work fine together (Photos: Sir Apfelot).

In this case it is a kind of shelf that doubles as a Qi charging pad. You put your iPhone in the top of the speaker and it charges while you use it.

The "problem" is that the speaker always looks a bit strange when there is no iPhone in the shelf upstairs. I think it seems like something is missing there - which is actually the case. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they like it or not. On the other hand, it is very practical in everyday life that I can quickly insert the iPhone up there to supply it with power. You can see: pros and cons ... as with everything in life.

Read more: Apple HomePod in the test: My report on the HomeKit loudspeaker
Read more: Anker PowerExpand - 7-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock for MacBook Air / Pro
Read more: 13-in-1 dock for the MacBook: Anker PowerExpand Elite
Read more: Belkin: mounts, sleeves, Thunderbolt docks, routers, WeMo and more

The reset button is located on the underside for resetting. You can also see how well the power cable fits into the shape of the speaker.

Optics and design of the Soundform Elite speaker system

I think the round shape is very successful. The HomePod is also not intrusive to me because of the cylindrical shape of the housing and fits well into almost any room.

Belkin's Soundform Elite is similar. It's elegant, but reserved when it comes to optics. It looks great on the desk, but can also find a place in the kitchen or living room.

The dock on the top is built in so discreetly that it doesn't look very annoying if there is no iPhone there. Nevertheless, I would personally like a model that doesn't have a shelf for the smartphone.

The processing of the Belkin Soundform Elite was definitely not saved. Everything here looks very valuable and even the power plug has been designed so that it fits into the rounded base plate.

The audio comparison of the Belkin Soundform Elite shows that its sound is very close to the Apple HomePod (Photos: Sir Apfelot).

The fabric covering makes the Belkin Soundform Elite absolutely suitable for the living room and I even like the pattern more than the pure black that you find on the HomePod.

The sound of the Belkin Soundform Elite compared to the HomePod

As already mentioned, you will find Devialet drivers and Devialet audio technology in the Bluetooth jukebox. That alone is enough for many hi-fi friends as a guarantee that the device will get decent sound.

I once put the HomePod and the Soundform Elite next to each other and switched from one to the other while listening to music and also heard both in parallel - thanks to AirPlay 2 that's no problem.

My findings: There are minimal differences, but actually they sound quite similar. When it comes to bass-heavy music, the HomePod should be a bit ahead, as it has a room-filling sound.

However, if you switch to songs by Adele or other musicians, where the voice is in the foreground, or if you like to listen to classical music, then the Belkin Soundform Elite offers the clearer sound, as it gives a little more in the middle frequency spectrum than the HomePod.

But it would be wrong to say that the Belkin Soundform Elite has a weak bass, because it has a very crisp and clear bass thanks to the double woofer. I would just say that the HomePod sounds more like pressing the loudness switch, while the Soundform Elite sounds a bit cleaner and clearer.

It is always difficult for me to put this subjective sound perception into words, but I hope you have roughly understood what I mean.

The LEDs indicate the status of the speaker and which to signal between different colors and different states.

Apple HomePod or Belkin Soundform Elite?

If I had to decide which speaker to use, my tendency would still be for the HomePod. The advantages of being a HomeKit bridge, integrating with the Apple TV and being able to receive Siri commands weigh very heavily on me.

However, if you rely on Alexa anyway and have nothing to do with HomeKit, you can get the Belkin Soundform Elite without hesitation. The sound is great, it has an Alexa integration and can also charge the iPhone.

The price-performance ratio is absolutely okay in my opinion. I will definitely miss it if I have to put it back in the box and send it to Belkin in a minute.

If you want to check out the Belkin SoundForm Elite, you will find it here at Amazon.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.

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Graphics in the VR headset: what is foveated rendering?
For several years, manufacturers of VR headsets have used the term "Foveated Rendering" to emphasize the advanced nature of their devices. Research on this type of image and scene creation with different degrees of sharpness and detail in the user's field of vision has been going on for over 30 years. But only in recent years does the technology seem to have become powerful enough to enable foveated rendering - on the HTC Vive Pro Eye, on the Oculus Quest / Meta Quest, on the Sony PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR2) as well as on the apple vision pro, presented on June 5, 2023 became. But what exactly is foveated rendering?
What is foveated rendering? What are the differences between the static and the dynamic application? And how does it all work in the Apple Vision Pro headset? Here are answers to these questions.

The Term: What is Foveated Rendering?
Foveated rendering describes the image synthesis for VR and AR applications on appropriate headsets, taking into account the direction of view, so that image content in focus is displayed sharper or more detailed and content viewed only peripherally is less sharp / less detailed. Or to put it more simply: If you use a virtual reality headset with foveated rendering, only the viewed parts of the display content are displayed in the highest resolution. What is not viewed directly is not rendered at full resolution and with the most detailed textures.
From "Foveated rendering: A state-of-the-art survey" by Lili Wang, Xuenhuai Shi and Yi Liu. The link to the study is at the bottom of this post.
The advantage is that the highest image quality can be used in the direct line of sight, while the edges of the image require less computing power. However, this poses several challenges for technical research, the manufacturing companies, the developers of the software and games used and, last but not least, the devices in use. Because eye movements are fast, the reaction time of the brain is also rapid and the VR headset is only as good as the technology that is built into it.
Where does the name "Foveated Rendering" come from?
The first part of the term, "Foveated," refers to the fovea centralis in the human eye. This Latin term means something like "central pit" and describes the so-called visual pit on the retina of the eye. This is the area of sharpest vision (foveal vision). The diameter of the fovea centralis measures around 1,5 mm and there are around 147.000 light receptors (cones) per square millimeter, mainly M and L cones for the green and red range of visible light, fewer S cones for blue light .
The fovea centralis is located on the temporal side next to the optic nerve of the eye. Figure by Hans-Werner Hunziker under CC BY-SA 3.0 license at Wikimedia (here ).
The second part of the term, namely "rendering", refers to the computer-assisted generation of images from raw data. In operating systems, software with a graphical interface, video games, apps and the like, data, commands, coordination and other information are used to generate an image output that is then displayed to the user on the output device. In the generation of individual image files, the speed of the rendering process is important. In the case of moving image and multimedia content, these are repeated several times in a short space of time. The fps number specifies how many frames per second are calculated and output. As a complete term, "Foveated Rendering" describes the creation of computer graphics or virtual scenes that are only fully and sharply calculated in the direct viewing direction. Anything outside of the straight line to the fovea centralis will be rendered less sharp and/or with less elaborate textures. The rendering process can thus be accelerated and uses fewer resources, while the users do not have to accept any (noticeable) reduction in image quality. So e.g. For example, VR games can be displayed in 4K resolution in the field of view, while a lower resolution is used at the edges of the display. So an interplay of foveal and peripheral vision.
The Technique: How Does Foveated Rendering Work?
There are different approaches to the realization of this technique, depending on the type of foveated rendering to be offered. The most convenient and natural for users is Dynamic Foveated Rendering, in which the direction of gaze is determined by eye tracking and the sharp image area is repositioned accordingly. However, this is the most technically complex implementation. Fixed or Static Foveated Rendering assumes that the user is only looking straight ahead or at another fixed point, which is why only the same point is rendered completely sharp and the sharpness or level of detail decreases towards the edges of the image.
Without Eye Tracking: Static / Fixed Foveated Rendering
The advantage of fixed foveated rendering is that the virtual reality headset does not have to include a new eye position and thus a new viewing direction as the data basis each time it calculates individual images. This means that there is less computing effort for the input evaluation and the processors are less heavily used for this. In this way, less demanding technology can be used (seen in comparison) and/or power consumption can be reduced. Furthermore, manufacturers can save on the technology for eye tracking and the device becomes cheaper. The disadvantage, of course, is that the virtual reality headset either only displays the center of the image or image content rated as interesting in the highest resolution. So, in a video game, it could be that only the game character and its immediate surroundings are fully rendered, while areas further away from them appear blurry. Here the developers have to rely on game tests and the associated measurements of the direction of view, it is not possible to react ad hoc to where the players are really looking.
With Eye Tracking: Dynamic Foveated Rendering
The advantage of Dynamic Foveated Rendering / Dynamically Foveated Rendering is that the direction of view of the user is included in the image calculation in the VR headset. If you look to the left in the virtual scene, the left sides of the display are sharp, the center is less sharp and the right display areas have the least resolution. If you look to the right, the right sides of the display will have a higher resolution, and so on. This technique allows for more natural usage and doesn't require developers to anticipate the gaze interest in the application. The disadvantage is that the VR glasses have to take into account the user's line of sight for every image calculation. This has to be done extremely quickly because you can focus on a wide variety of objects in a wide variety of directions in a short amount of time. The eye movements, the rapid registration of image content and the unpredictable change of mind when selecting important scene content pose a challenge here. The registration of eye movement (eye tracking), the calculation of the field of view and the corresponding image synthesis must take place in a small fraction of a second . This requires the latest technology and optimized processes.
Video: Foveated Rendering Demo in just 45 seconds
In this Video shows how foveated rendering can work in combination with deep learning. For this, the viewed object was given a higher pixel density and 95% of the pixels were removed from the rest of the image. In this way, the eventual dissolution of the retina of the eye was simulated. The now missing pixels were then replaced by an AI, which leads to more and more abstract forms with increasing distance to the viewed object, but makes no difference overall, since the distant content is only seen peripherally and is therefore not perceived in detail by the brain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPK8eQ4o8Pk
The challenge: reaction to eye movements under 13 milliseconds
from one Investigation by Mary C. Potter, Brad Wyble, Carl Erick Hagmann and Emily S. McCourt, whose results were published in 2013, show that people can capture new image content - or at least the main content of the images - within 13 ms. In detail, the study "Detecting meaning in RSVP at 13 ms per picture" published in Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, Volume 76, Issue 2 in February 2014 states:
The results of both experiments show that conceptual understanding can be achieved when a novel picture is presented as briefly as 13 ms and masked by other pictures. Even when participants were not given the target name until after they had viewed the entire sequence of six or 12 pictures, their performance was above chance even at 13 ms [...]
The challenge for modern virtual reality headsets with dynamic foveated rendering is to calculate detailed and blurred image areas in a cycle of 0,013 seconds. No wonder, then, that the development of the Apple Vision Pro headset took so long and that besides the M2 chip the new R1 chip was installed, which is made exclusively for the interpretation of sensor data. In the press release the Apple Vision Pro says accordingly:
[...] while the all-new R1 chip processes input from twelve cameras, five sensors and six microphones, ensuring content feels as if it's happening in real-time in front of the user's eyes. R1 transmits new images to the displays within 12 milliseconds [...]

The Apple Vision Pro headset has LEDs and infrared cameras on the inside that measure eye movements. The R1 chip evaluates the data determined in this way so that the image can be generated on the M2 chip as quickly as possible.

How the technology is integrated into the Apple Vision Pro headset
According to Apple, Dynamically Foveated Rendering is part of the visionOS operating system. Developers can use it to customize their content using Apple's Xcode and Reality Composer Pro tools. Unity can also be used natively under visionOS for certain apps and games. The Unity game engine supplements the visionOS SDK (SDK = Software Development Kit), the RealityKit, the UIKit and the aforementioned Apple offers for programming, AR design, VR applications and the like. On the developer page for the topic (here ) it says accordingly:
Now, you can use Unity's robust, familiar authoring tools to create new apps and games or reimagine your existing Unity-created projects for visionOS. Your apps get access to all the benefits of visionOS, like passthrough and Dynamically Foveated Rendering, in addition to familiar Unity features like AR Foundation. By combining Unity's authoring and simulation capabilities with RealityKit-managed app rendering, content created with Unity looks and feels at home on visionOS.

In addition to the PlayStation VR 2 headset (PSVR 2), the Meta Quest and similar devices, there is now also the Apple Vision Pro as a VR and AR headset. The manufacturer points out on its developer page that Dynamically Foveated Rendering is used for the visionOS system and the programs running on it.

Summary: Foveated Rendering in Virtual Reality Headsets
With regard to image content of virtual reality (VR) and in some cases also augmented reality (AR), foveated rendering describes a concentration of computing processes on the user's field of vision, in which foveal vision plays a role. Resources can be saved in areas of peripheral vision, i.e. for content that is literally only perceived marginally, since the resolution is not as high and the textures are not as large. In dynamic foveated rendering in particular, the challenge consists in reacting to eye movements in the shortest possible time (less than or in 13 milliseconds) and outputting appropriately adapted image content.
Sources for your own research
Below is a list of sources I used in researching this post. These supplement the content already linked in the article, which can also be viewed as sources:
- English Wikipedia article on the subject: View here
- German Wikipedia article on the fovea centralis: View here
- State-of-the-art study on foveated rendering from 2022, by Lili Wang, Xuehuai Shi & Yi Liu (to be published in early 2023): View here
Is my Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 10?
In addition to various other operating systems and some devices, Apple presented the new watchOS 10 for the Apple Watch on Monday. The innovations that are to come to compatible Apple smartwatches from autumn 2023 include widgets, color adjustments in the world clock overview, new display options in the fitness app, new functions for maps and hiking navigation, etc. One wonders but: Is my Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 10? Here you will find the answer to this question as well as further information from the WWDC23 keynote.
Is my Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 10? Here's the answer to that question, the full list of the regular Apple Watch, the SE models, and the previous Ultra model. Also information about compatible iPhones with iOS 17.

These Apple Watch models are compatible with watchOS 10
Looking at the watchOS 10 compatibility list, there are fewer surprises than with macOS, iOS and iPadOS. Basically, compared to the models, compatible with watchOS 9, no changes. Accordingly, these Apple Watch models are compatible with watchOS 10:
- Apple Watch Series 4 (2018)
- Apple Watch Series 5 (2019)
- Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
- Apple WatchSE (2020)
- Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
- Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
- Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen (2022)
- Apple Watch Ultra (2022)
Apple points out that not all functions of the new system can be used with all smartwatches mentioned. Older watches and the slimmed-down SE version cannot be used with functions that require newer hardware. Some watchOS uses are also limited to the Apple Watch Ultra. It is also important to know that an Apple Watch with macOS 10 requires an iPhone with iOS 17 – compatible with iOS 17 are iPhones from 2018 (XR, XS, SE 2nd Gen, and newer).
When to install the watchOS 10 upgrade?
The official version of watchOS 10 intended for all users will be released in autumn 2023. It may be that Apple will roll it out after the September event. However, it is also possible that the upgrade will not be available until October or November. That depends on when the new Apple Watch models will be presented and when you can buy them. Because the new system will certainly be brought onto the market again in parallel with the new devices. If you can't wait, you can use a public beta.
Learn more about watchOS 10, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14 and more
Now the question should Is my Apple Watch compatible with watchOS 10? be sufficiently answered. If you also want to know what's in the new system, what innovations are coming to the iPhone, the Mac and the iPad or what's up with the apple vision pro then take a look here: WWDC23 Keynote Summary - Operating Systems, Macs and MR Headset. If you are interested in the new Apple computers, then have a look here: 15″ MacBook Air, Mac Studio 2023 and Mac Pro 2023.
Official information about watchOS 10 from Apple
The source for the list of Apple Watch models compatible with watchOS 10 is by the way this preview page. This is provided by Apple to provide a preview of watchOS 10. On the page you will find numerous screenshots, descriptions of new features, videos and animations, the list shown above, information about compatible devices such as the iPhone, apps from watchOS and links to other preview pages and the beta program. So if you want to take a look at watchOS before the official release, you can install the public beta. I'm waiting for the fall and the official upgrade.
Is my Mac compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma?
Within the WWDC23 keynote Apple introduced various new operating systems on Monday, including macOS 14 Sonoma. Named after California's Sonoma Valley, the computer operating system will be rolled out in the fall of 2023, raising the question: Is my Mac compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma? - Get the answer and a list of iMac, iMac Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro models compatible with macOS 14 here. You can also find more information about Monday's Apple releases below.
Is my Mac compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma? Here you will find an answer to this question as well as the list of iMac, iMac Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro models that can be used with Sonoma.

These Mac models are compatible with macOS Sonoma
Here is the list of Mac models compatible with macOS 14. Compared with the Apple computers, compatible with macOS 13 Ventura, there are a few small changes. While the 2022 system can be used on the Apple iMac from 2017, the upcoming system requires at least a 2019 iMac. The MacBook Pro is also missing a year. Here is the whole macOS 14 compatibility list:
- Apple iMac from 2019 or newer
- Apple iMac Pro from 2017 or newer
- Apple MacBook Air from 2018 or newer
- Apple MacBook Pro from 2018 or newer
- Apple Mac mini from 2018 or newer
- Apple Mac Studio from 2022 or newer
- Apple Mac Pro from 2019 or newer
The new Apple computers unveiled on Monday are coming along next week macOS 13 Adventure on the market. But of course they will also get the upgrade to macOS 2023 Sonoma in autumn 14. The three new Macs presented at the WWDC23 keynote are those 15 inch MacBook Airthe Mac Studio with M2 Max or M2 Ultra and the Mac Pro with M2 Ultra. The latter completes the transition from Intel processors to Apple Silicon. Accordingly, the upcoming operating systems will be even more tuned to this ARM system.
When will the upgrade to macOS 14 appear?
According to Apple, the new version of macOS will be officially rolled out in autumn 2023. In advance there is of course Beta versions for developers and other interested parties. But the finished macOS Sonoma for the general public will only be available after one of the autumn keynotes, possibly as early as September. However, it is also possible that the upgrade to macOS 14 can only be loaded in October or November. In any case, you have to be patient for at least another quarter of a year. Here at Sir Apfelot we will of course keep you informed of developments.
Learn more about macOS 14, iPadOS 17, iOS 17, watchOS 10 and more
If you want to know what's in detail in the new system and what innovations are coming to the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch or what's up with the apple vision pro then take a look here: WWDC23 Keynote Summary - Operating Systems, Macs and MR Headset. In this round-up of Apple's events on Monday, you'll find details of the new features and improvements in macOS 14, iPadOS 17, iOS 17 and watchOS 10, as well as the key specs of the new devices. There are also a few updates for the AirPods, the HomePod (mini) and tvOS on the Apple TV. So if you want all the news from Monday evening's event, click here.
Official information about macOS 14 Sonoma from Apple
The source for the list of Mac models compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma is by the way this preview page. This landing page is provided by Apple.com to provide a preview of the new system. You get screenshots, details about new functions, videos and animations, the compatibility list shown above, information about compatible devices such as iPhone and game controllers, apps from macOS and links to other preview pages and the beta program. So if you want to take a look at macOS Sonoma before the official release, you can use the public beta. I'm waiting for the fall and the official upgrade.
Apple Vision Pro – the price? WTF... or ok?
One of the most talked about aspects of the Apple Vision Pro is its price. At $3499, it's undoubtedly more expensive than everyone expected. The leaks assumed 2500 USD and some people got heavy eye rolls. And I have to admit that 30 seconds into the Vision Pro presentation I said "Shut up and take my money!". But when I saw 3500 USD, I had my doubts.
3400 USD is about 4200 EUR
Anyone who thinks that you can simply translate 3400 US dollars into 3400 euros is unfortunately wrong. The US price does not include VAT and the euro is currently weaker than the US dollar. Accordingly, something else is added here. The bottom line is that we should probably land at a price of 4200 to 4500 euros. This severely limits the target group for the Vision Pro and you can be sure that it will not become a mass product for the time being. Of course, it may well be that the Apple Vision Pro 2 and 3 will then be significantly cheaper, but we currently have the hefty price on our cheeks.
Is the Apple Vision Pro worth the price?
It has already been mentioned that this product is the most complex piece of technology that Apple has ever created. And if I'm not mistaken, I had heard somewhere that the pure material value was 1300 to 1500 USD. Then there are all the development costs, because Apple seems to have been working on the concept of the glasses for many (5-7!) years. Calculated on this basis alone, the glasses are "expensive" from my point of view, but the price is somehow justified. But the second question is: Is the Vision Pro MIR worth the money? That's something I can't answer because everyone has to discuss it for themselves. If it's a piece of equipment that I use for several hours a day and ultimately earn money with it and maybe even deduct it from my taxes, then the glasses are definitely worth the money. However, if I only occasionally watch a film or want to switch off mentally, then it might be an expensive gadget. But if you have the money, why not buy it? The Vision Pro for spatial computing is definitely on my shopping list, but I just have to see if I actually have that much money on the high edge at the beginning of 2024.
The Quest 2 and especially the Quest 3 are probably better options if you are looking for VR glasses for gaming.

Are there cheap alternatives to the Vision Pro?
Of course there are VR glasses, like the Meta Quest 2 or the Meta Quest Pro, which cost less and with which you can also do many things that you can also experience with the Vision Pro. The Quest Pro can also watch films that feel like they are being played on a giant screen with decent quality. And the Quest 3 will also get passthrough in colorful and the Quest Pro already has it. But all competitor glasses have to give up on these points:
- There is no way to create a virtual monitor with such sharp graphics for his Mac in AR.
- Deep integration into the Apple system is reserved for the Vision Pro
- The extremely high resolution of 4K for each eye is currently only possible with the Vision Pro.
So it's hard to compare the glasses with each other. In addition, Apple has not said a word about the availability of real VR games on the Vision Pro. So if you like to gamble, you should be better – and cheaper – with the Quest 3 or currently with the Quest Pro in the fall. The Quest 3 will retail for EUR 569 - a fraction of the price you'll pay for the Vision Pro. And last but not least, the Vision Pro has zeroed in on a user. The iris recognition allows only one person to use this device, making it impossible for the kids to play around with it when the main character is someone else. In this case you are also better served with other VR glasses.
My conclusion
We have already clarified what the price for the Vision Pro is. USD 3499 is announced in the USA and in Germany we will have to reckon with EUR 4200 to 4500. Whether the Apple glasses are worth this high price will only become clear when we see the first test reports and when you have discussed with yourself what you could use the glasses for.
FAQ
Hopefully, all questions about price and costs are answered here:
Is my iPad compatible with iPadOS 17?
Customized lock screens with widgets, interactive widgets on home screen, new features for various Apps, an iPad version of the Health app and more are included iPadOS 17. This raises the question: Is my iPad compatible with iPadOS 17? Here you get the answer! Because in this guide I have listed all compatible Apple tablets for you. And you get some additional information for free.
Is my iPad compatible with iPadOS 17? Here you will get an answer to this question as well as further information on compatible Apple tablets, other systems and new devices.

These iPad models are compatible with iPadOS 17
With the new iPadOS 17, not all iPads are supported any more Compatible with iPadOS 16 are. While you have had to pay attention to the corresponding model generation for the iPad, iPad Air and iPad mini for a few operating system versions, this year there is no iPad Pro generation for the first time. Here is the complete iPadOS 17 compatibility list:
- iPad Pro (2nd gen and newer)
- iPad Air (3rd gen and newer)
- iPad (6th gen and newer)
- iPad mini (5th gen and newer)
For context, the second-generation 12,9-inch iPad Pro models were sold from 2017 to 2018. The second-generation 11-inch iPad Pro models were sold from 2020 to 2021. There are no second generations of the iPad Pro models with 9,7 inches (2016 to 2017) and 10,5 inches (2017 to 2019). Those are the most current 12,9 inch sixth generation iPad Pro (2022) and that Fourth generation 11-inch iPad Pro (2022). The third generation iPad Air came out in 2019, now that's already there Fifth generation iPad Air (2022). The sixth generation iPad appeared in 2018, and has been around since 2022 the tenth generation of the standard iPad. The fifth generation iPad mini was released in 2019 and has been around since 2021 Sixth generation iPad mini. Overall, iPadOS 17 provides support similar to that of the iPhone for iOS 17.
When to Install iPadOS 17 Upgrade on iPad?
The new iPad operating system from Apple will not be released until autumn 2023, i.e. after the September keynote at the earliest. But it is also possible that new iPad models will not be presented until October or November. The upgrade to iPadOS 17 for the above models will surely accompany this presentation and the launch of the new tablet models. But now the question Is my iPad compatible with iPadOS 17? is answered, you at least know whether you can hope for the new functions with your device or whether they are no longer supported. If you're considering a new purchase, check out the posts linked above to read up on the newer iPad versions.
Learn more about iPadOS 17, iOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10 and more
If you want to know what's in detail in the new system and what innovations are coming to the iPhone, the Mac and the Apple Watch or what's up with the apple vision pro then take a look here: WWDC23 Keynote Summary - Operating Systems, Macs and MR Headset. In the summary of Apple's events on Monday you will find some data on Apple's new computers: 15″ MacBook Air, Mac Studio 2023 and Mac Pro 2023. If you are particularly interested in one of the models, then click on the corresponding link. We now have posts on all of the announcements from the WWDC23Keynote.
Official information about iPadOS 17 from Apple
The source for the list of iPadOS 17 compatible iPad models is by the way this preview page. It is provided by Apple to provide a preview of iPadOS 17. There you will find numerous screenshots, descriptions of new functions, videos and animations, the compatibility list shown above, information on compatible devices such as the Apple Pencil, apps from iPadOS and links to other preview pages and the beta program. So if you want to take a look at iPadOS 17 before the official release, you can use the public beta. I'm waiting for the fall and the official upgrade of the public version.

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