Apple Vision Pro's modular design opens up to third-party accessories

一个在苹果 VisionPro 发布会上没引起太多关注的事情是头盔的模块化设计。凭借简单的连接和磁性安装，该公司庞大的第三方配件制造商生态系统无疑将争相提供选择。

Perhaps surprisingly, Apple designed the Vision Pro with modularity in mind. This is undoubtedly the company's realization that one size does not fit all when it comes to XR helmets.

When I tried the Vision Pro earlier this month, ergonomics were the only area where I didn't feel like Apple was raising the bar. But given the modular design of the helmet, it seems there are plenty of options.

Not only did the headband of my demo unit have an "M" letter on it (suggesting Apple may be making S, M, and L sizes), but the way everything on the helmet connects looks open to third-party accessories.

First up is the quick-release soft strap, which disconnects easily with a simple pull of the orange tab.

Fortunately, the way the speakers are mounted means they will always be there no matter which strap you use.

Then there's the face pad, which attaches via magnetic connections, meaning third-party face pads can take advantage of those magnetic connection points.

The same is true for prescription lenses; although Zeiss is known as the official manufacturer of prescription lenses for Vision Pro, any lens manufacturer should be able to make magnetically clip-on lenses.

The only questionable thing is the helmet's battery, which connects via a weird swivel connector.

It's unclear whether Apple will do the connector in some proprietary way that would be difficult to work with third parties. If Apple doesn't manage to stop third parties from doing this, we'll likely see more battery options, like larger capacity batteries, or even headbands with batteries to prevent them from getting tangled in your pocket.

Apple has one of the strongest third-party accessory ecosystems among consumer electronics brands, with annual revenue estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. The company is also very good at providing accessory manufacturers with detailed resources and guides, including full illustrations of accessories that require precise installation, so it's likely that this will be extended to the Vision Pro in the future.

Whether it’s an iPhone case or a MacBook keyboard protector, Apple’s third-party accessory manufacturers are always competing to be the first to provide the latest Apple product accessories. I believe that when Vision Pro is released early next year, there will be at least a few Products are coming out.

What I’m most looking forward to are third-party headbands. While the headband materials and fastening mechanisms that come with the Vision Pro are good, I would almost always prefer a sturdier strap, which should be possible given what we now know about the helmet's modularity.