Annapro, a company specializing in virtual reality accessories, will launch the “Comfort Head Strap 2 for Apple Vision Pro”. This 45 euro accessory, which takes the form of a strap which is positioned above the forehead, allows the weight of the helmet to be better distributed.
The Apple Vision Pro has two big flaws: its price (3,999 euros) and its comfort.
The spatial computer, which allows you to juggle between virtual reality and mixed reality, is a device designed to be worn on the head for several hours. The problem is that it is heavy (up to 650 g) and presses on the brow bones, which can quickly cause headaches. Apple offers in the Vision Pro box a second, lighter headband, which has the merit of better balancing the weight thanks to a second elastic band on the skull, but which lacks comfort. Only habit allows you to tolerate prolonged use of the headset.
We won’t wear the Apple Vision Pro for 10 hours, but it’s already better
After a first attempt with a 33 euro model, which is still on sale today, Annapro is banking on its second generation headband to make the Apple product more pleasant to wear.
Its concept is as follows: the customer removes the Apple headband, slides the new headband up to the speakers, then reclips the official headband. Annapro’s product then becomes a sort of transport wrist which, once on the skull, recovers a large part of the weight of the device. The top of the head being more resistant than the forehead itself, the Apple Vision Pro becomes less heavy.
To ensure it fits all heads, Annapro offers four thicknesses of foam, which you can change whenever you want (there is a scratch system). The point of its product is to keep Apple’s design, with this additional help.
According to the company, the pressure exerted by the Vision Pro is reduced by 60 to 90% with its comfort headband.
It is difficult for us to validate this figure, even if comfort is clearly improved. In particular, we managed to watch a football match with the headphones in one go without feeling the slightest discomfort. The pressure is mainly shifted to the top of the head, which allows you not to tighten the helmet too tightly against your eyes. The weight distribution is generally equivalent to that of Apple’s dual headband, with better quality materials that don’t feel like they’re sticking to your face.
Another advantage of the Annapro headband: it allows you to remove the Apple light cover to improve the field of vision or use the product with glasses. Another way to use the Apple headset that we can only welcome.
The only defect of the product: the headband, once inserted, prevents the Apple Vision Pro carrying box from being closed. This isn’t really a problem if you always use the headset in the same place, but it makes it very difficult to use on the go (you might be tempted to not take the Annapro headband with you). You also have to unplug the headset as soon as you remove the headband, which adds to the annoyance. In short, it is a welcome accessory for cinema or video game use, but not necessarily disruptive for occasional use.
Source: www.numerama.com
