Compare Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Pico 4 Ultra
In this technical comparison between the Apple Vision Pro M5 and the Pico 4 Ultra, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
The display is a highlight, featuring a resolution of 23 million pixels total (approx. 3660×3200 per eye) for the Vision Pro M5 versus 2160 × 2160 per eye (4K+ total) for the 4 Ultra.
Choosing between these two VR Headsets models often comes down to your budget, with prices around 3499 USD and $599 USD / €549.
| Specifications |
Apple Vision Pro M5 |
Pico 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | October, 2025 | September 2024 |
| Display | ||
| Type | Micro-OLED (3D display system) | Dual 2.56-inch LCD Panels |
| Resolution | 23 million pixels total (approx. 3660×3200 per eye) | 2160 × 2160 per eye (4K+ total) |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, and 120Hz | 72Hz / 90Hz |
| Field of view | ~100° Horizontal | 105° (Diagonal) |
| Brightness | ~5,000 nits (internal) / ~100 nits (perceived) | Stepless adjustment; 1200 PPI |
| HDR | Yes (Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG) | No |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Custom Three-element Catadioptric (Pancake-style) | Pancake Lenses (Reduced glare and thinner profile) |
| IPD adjustment | Automatic/Electronic (51mm–75mm) | Motorized / Software-driven (58mm – 72mm) |
| Eye relief | Adjustable via Light Seal sizes & magnetic ZEISS inserts | Includes a glasses spacer; 20.6 PPD (Pixels Per Degree) |
| Tracking & Input | ||
| Tracking type | 6DoF Inside-out (12 cameras, 5 sensors) | 6-DOF Inside-out via 4 environment cameras |
| Controller tracking | No physical controllers (Supports PS/Xbox gamepads) | Ringless 6-DOF controllers (IMU + Infrared) |
| Hand tracking | Yes (High-precision gesture system) | Yes (26-point skeletal tracking) |
| Eye tracking | Yes (High-performance LED/IR camera system) | No |
| Facial tracking | Yes (Used for "Persona" avatars and EyeSight) | No |
| Performance | ||
| Processor / Chipset | Apple M5 chip + Apple R1 chip (12ms latency) | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 16 GB Unified Memory | 12GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB | 256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Mixed Reality Features | ||
| Passthrough | Real-time 4K Stereoscopic Color Passthrough | Dual 32MP Color Cameras (8MP effective rendering) |
| Depth sensing | LiDAR Scanner + TrueDepth camera system | Built-in iToF Depth Sensor for environmental mapping |
| Audio | ||
| Built-in audio | Dual-driver Spatial Audio pods | Dual stereo speakers with Spatial Audio support |
| 3.5mm jack | No (Supports AirPods Pro with H2 ultra-low latency) | No (USB-C or Bluetooth only) |
| Mic | Six-microphone array with directional beamforming | 4-microphone array |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wired | Proprietary Battery Connector (USB-C on the battery) | USB-C (supports data and charging) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| PCVR support | Official Mac Virtual Display (Supports Ultra-wide 4K/5K) | Yes (via PICO Connect or Virtual Desktop; supports ultra-low latency streaming) |
| Compatibility | ||
| Platforms | App Store (visionOS), iPad/iPhone App Support | PICO Store, SteamVR (via PC), YouTube VR |
| Supported OS | visionOS 2.0 or later | PICO OS 5.0 (based on Android 14) |
| Comfort | ||
| Weight | 750 – 800 g (with Light Seal and Head Band) | 580g (Total balanced weight); Front-end is only 304g |
| Strap type | Solo Knit Band and Dual Knit Band (Included) | Rigid strap with rear-mounted battery and adjustment dial |
| Face interface | Magnetic "Light Seal" (Various sizes) | Breathable fabric/PU foam; magnetic attachment |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 2.5 hours general use / 3 hours video | Approx. 2.5 - 3 hours |
| Charging method | USB-C (via external battery pack) | USB-C (45W Fast Charging supported; QC 4.0 / PD 3.0) |
| External battery support | Required (Headset is tethered to external pack) | Yes, compatible with third-party battery straps (like BoboVR) |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the box | Headset, Battery, Solo/Dual Bands, Light Seal, Cover | Headset, 2x Controllers, 4x AA Batteries, Glasses Spacer, USB-C Cable, Face Foam, Manuals |
| Price | 3499 USD | $599 USD / €549 |
| Full Details | Vision Pro M5 - Full Specifications | 4 Ultra - Full Specifications |