#dbrand Apple Vision Pro Aperture cover is useful but a bit unsettling

There are still some rumors and concerns about the future of Apple’s spatial computing platform, but as things stand, the Vision Pro is still its one and only device. It’s also one of the company’s more expensive products, which is why any lucky owner will do their utmost best to keep the device protected as much as possible. That’s fine when the headset is just sitting still somewhere and its official protective cover is attached. But what if you need to actually use the headset and move around?

That’s the problem that this odd-looking cover for the Vision Pro tries to solve. Calling it “odd-looking” might be an understatement for a certain group of people that can be triggered by its peculiar aesthetic, but it isn’t without purpose. The Aperture doesn’t just protect the front of the Vision Pro from accidental bumps but also makes sure you can actually use the headset completely by making sure all its sensors aren’t blocked from the outside world.

Designers: dbrand, Kyle Goodrich

Although the Vision Pro covers a large portion of your face, its outward-facing sensors take the place of your eyes. That’s why they need to have full access to the world in front of them, which makes any sort of protective cover pointless and ineffective. Apple’s own official cover does this, which makes it only useful when the headset is at rest, leaving the bare Vision Pro unprotected the moment you put it on.

That’s what Aperture’s somewhat freaky holes are for. Rather than just having holes in specific places where the sensors actually are, the design gets a bit more artistic and scatters holes of different sizes across the surface of the faceplate. It makes no apologies that it’s a trypophobic nightmare, so those affected by the condition should look the other way. Others, however, might appreciate how the design adds some character to Apple’s usual minimalist flair.

Of course, the accessory is primarily designed to protect, and it gets the job done with a single-inject unibody design made from high-durometer polyurethane. To match the set, dbrand also offers a holster for the Vision Pro battery with the same triggering hole-y design and a belt clip for good measure. Available in Orange and a less conspicuous Black, this limited edition run offers some peace of mind for a fraction of the cost of the Vision Pro.

In addition to the Crocs-like design, Aperture has one other quirk Vision Pro owners should be aware of. It doesn’t block sensors from seeing outside, but it does block people from seeing inside. That is, the EyeSight feature that projects a semblance of your eyes through the glass cover won’t be as effective, as they will either be looking through holes or will be too distracted by those holes anyway.