With Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad and AirPods, Apple has a track record of continuously changing how we interact with the world through the internet and technology.
The Apple Vision Pro is their attempt to do so again, but this time, in the Virtual Reality (VR) space.
When cutting-edge technology is showcased, sports are often at the forefront. It’s one of the biggest entertainment industries and what better way to showcase sound and imaging than with live sports?
As the Apple Vision Pro continues to develop and improve, new collaborations have emerged. Spectrum is now bringing select Lakers games to Apple Vision Pro with Spectrum Front Row.
I sat down at the Apple Store and at home and tested Apple Vision Pro for Silver Screen and Roll, and one thing is clear: Spectrum Front Row is unlike any experience you can have anywhere.
How is the Apple Vision Pro as a technology product?
With VR products like Meta Quest 3 and PlayStation VR2 there are plenty of options for fans of the medium. None of them holds a candle to what Apple Vision Pro is capable of. The moment you place the Apple Vision Pro on your face, you are both transported to a new world, but still present and grounded here on Earth.
You can choose between full immersion, where you see none of the real world, and a level of transparency on the display that lets you work inside the headset while remaining well aware of your surroundings.
There are no gimmicky controllers or multiple devices needed to navigate with the device.
If you want to open an app or move a webpage around, all you have to do is look with your eyes and adjust with your hands. Your mind and body synergize with the device, giving you little to no friction.
The Apple Vision Pro has a 3D display system, a Micro‑OLED and a gaudy 23 million pixels. The image is the clearest one can have on a VR product.
While the display was sharp, the spatial audio was even more impressive.
One can blast the sound without really bothering anyone else in the room. When you move your head fully left or right, the sound adjusts to the corresponding side. The first time I reached for a drink and noticed the audio adjusting like this, it put a smile on my face and a chill down my spine.
How does Spectrum Front Row compare to the in-stadium experience?
What’s the closest you’ve ever sat for a basketball game? How does directly under the basket sound?
Well, that’s what you get with Spectrum Front Row. For select games, they have cameras directly underneath the basket on both sides. They also have a traditional courtside view and another view around the 200 level, where the television cameras are located for NBA games.
The image was so sharp that I could easily see Luka Dončić’s facial expressions and all the details from their movements with no blurriness.
I could view the Lakers’ bench and see head coach JJ Redick’s hand signals and calls. When a sub was happening in the Lakers-Nuggets game, Luke Kennard literally walked past me as he checked into the game.
What’s great about this experience is that the action never stops. There are no ads, so you stay in the stadium even during timeouts. The Spectrum crew discusses the game and showcases in-stadium entertainment on the court and the scoreboard.
During challenges, you also experience the same thing fans do live. That means multiple angles in high definition, commentary from Spectrum and some VR images that are closer than even the fans in the stadium aren’t privy to.
While other VR headsets can feel plastic and toy-like after extended use, that’s not the case with the Apple Vision Pro. Nor did I ever feel hot, sweaty, or nauseous and the machine never felt heavy or painful on my neck. I was aware of it on my face, but not in a negative way but instead more so like wearing a watch.
The biggest complaint is that the Spectrum feed oscillates between baskets. So, if the Lakers score and you were just under LA’s hoop, once the ball crosses halfcourt, the camera switches to the Nuggets basket. This can be a little disorienting and you have no control over it. I’d like to be able to opt to just stay at one of the hoops at all times, but, like traditional TV, you have little say in the image.
Overall, it works well, and they do switch to courtside on occasion to mix things up and give you a different perspective.
How does NBA League Pass function on Apple Vision Pro?
Currently, only one more Lakers game, Lakers-Wizards on Mar.30, is scheduled for Spectrum Front Row, but you can watch NBA League Pass via Apple Vision Pro. That experience is unrivaled with in-game stats, multiview, and the ability to adjust screen sizes to your liking.
It truly gives you the feeling of being inside your own personalized sports bar without the auditory distractions of that setting.
And given that League Pass is available nightly, Apple Vision Pro could become a new way to watch your favorite games.
Closing Thoughts
As a product, Apple Vision Pro is a league of its own.
The comfort, screen, ease of use, and audio quality are unparalleled. The biggest blemish, however, is its price. Starting at $3,499, that is far from an impulse purchase. The competition in this space costs a fraction of that. The Meta Quest 3, for example, starts at $499.99.
So, the cost takes many out of the running for the device. But if you have the means or are even just intrigued by the product, I highly recommend giving it a try. Many Apple Stores offer demos and doing so might just convince you that this product, while expensive, is worth the price of admission.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.