Apple Vision Pro's NBA broadcast shows the future but not fully

Apple and Spectrum began streaming immersive NBA games on Jan. 9 for viewers using Apple's $3,500 Vision Pro headset, and reviewers say the experience lands between a TV broadcast and actually being at the arena.

Apple released the Vision Pro headset two years ago and the device has been positioned as a way to view immersive video. On Jan. 9, Apple and Spectrum began offering live immersive NBA game streams that can be viewed on the Vision Pro. A reviewer watched parts of a Lakers‑Bucks broadcast and found the video and camera quality strong but the experience limited in interaction and view control. The headset remains costly and not yet widely accessible. Key points: - Apple and Spectrum streamed select NBA games using courtside and basket camera placements to create a 180-degree, 3D-like immersive view. - The live streams require a Spectrum SportsNet subscription in some regions or next-day access with an NBA app sign-in elsewhere, and they work on the Vision Pro, which retails for $3,500. - The broadcast is delivered as a single network-cut feed, so viewers cannot freely change camera angles; the feed includes basic score readouts and some on-screen stats. - The Vision Pro supports phone passthrough when unlocked, allowing phone use while immersed, but that interaction interrupts the immersive view. - The reviewer described the offering as an early step that shows high-quality capture and display but does not yet deliver the full mix of presence and flexible interaction some users expect. Summary: This rollout is an early stage for immersive sports broadcasting and highlights strong visuals alongside limited interactivity and fixed viewing angles. Undetermined at this time.