I honestly can't remember the last time a piece of new technology left me genuinely speechless. Most modern smartphones simply aren't that exciting anymore, the latest laptops just get a little quicker each year and your next TV might appear brighter but can’t exactly be described as mind-blowing.

Luckily, Apple's Vision Pro is finally here in the UK to change all that and it's honestly one of the most exciting new devices I've tested in years.

This "Spatial Computing" device (Apple doesn't want it called a VR headset despite it looking, err, just like a VR headset) mixes real and virtual worlds together in what can only be described as a truly magical experience.

Right from the moment you place it on your head, it all feels very Apple.

It's beautifully crafted out of curved laminated glass and aluminium (it's by far the best-looking headset on the market), features some ludicrously clever technology and is so simple to get up and running that you'll be living happily in a virtual world within minutes of tapping the power button.

Once you've found a comfortable fit - Apple supplies two headbands and different light seals in the box - it's time to get started and don't panic if you're not a technology guru. Vision Pro takes you through the very quick set-up process and within minutes you'll find the familiar fleet of Apple apps - like Message, Mail and Safari - suddenly appearing before your eyes.

Thanks to an array of advanced cameras dotted all over the headset - which beam live footage to the dual micro‑OLED displays - you can always see the room and people around you. This makes it far less isolating to wear and also means you can walk around without banging into the coffee table or treading on the family pet.

There aren't any annoying controllers to set up or lose either. Clever eye tracking is used to navigate the menus. You then look to select apps and then simply tap your forefinger and thumb together to open them. Other simple hand gestures let you move windows around, interact with content and close things you are not using. Think Tom Cruise in Minority Report and you get the idea - it feels very much like you really are living in the future.

I'd only used the Vision Pro briefly during some short demos at Apple's HQ in Cupertino but despite my lack of experience, the controls are so intuitive I felt like a pro user within minutes of wearing it in my home surroundings. Before I knew it my living room was littered with virtual windows showing my messages, web browser, emails and even the display from my MacBook.

There's even a neat little keyboard that popped up when I needed to reply to friends and a quick spin of the Apple Watch-style Digital Crown instantly whisked me away to a calming lake rather than sitting in my boring home office.

This is something that I really like about the Vision Pro as it's up to you how much immersion you want. There are loads of different environments to sample - like Yosemite Park, Joshua Tree or even sitting on the Moon - with all offering a relaxing place to be.

Imagine you're in a busy airport and just want to chill; spin the Digital Crown and you suddenly won't see any of the mayhem going on around you. It’s bliss.

Another feature that genuinely impressed me is Apple's Personas. These are created using the front cameras on the headset and make a 3D image of your face so you can then pop up, virtually, in FaceTime chats.

When you call someone else with a Vision Pro headset you can talk to them as if they are in the room with you and there's even the option to share your display, watch films together or go through a Keynote presentation as if you are sitting in the office.

It's all incredibly clever and within minutes of testing it out, I'd forgotten I was wearing a headset and started believing this was all actually going on around me. Early reviews of Personas were pretty mixed but Apple is definitely improving things and I can see how it could help with collaboration and virtual meetings in the future. It certainly beats those mind-numbing Teams calls we currently have to deal with.

Another nice bonus of the Vision Pro is being able to mirror the screen of your MacBook. It works pretty seamlessly and with a couple of glances with my eyes and the tap of my fingers, I had a giant Mac-style monitor in front of me.

You can't currently have a dual display set-up when mirroring your Mac but Apple is bringing a more useful ultra-wide option in its upcoming VisionOS 2 update which it says will be equivalent to two side-by-side 4K monitors. That should make this function a lot more useful so watch this space.

Of course, the Vision Pro isn't just about checking emails and working as you can also have plenty of fun with it as well.

Apps such as Disney+ and Apple TV allow you to turn your surroundings into a giant cinema and watching a movie on the Vision Pro is probably one of my favourite things to do with it.

You can set it up to look like a giant floating telly screen in your room or go fully immersive and actually feel like you are sitting in a cinema. Having just been to my local multiplex to watch Deadpool 3 I can honestly say that the visuals are now better sitting on my sofa than experiencing the real thing. The Vision Pro's cinematic mode is mindbogglingly good and you don't have to put up with people munching through their popcorn either.

Thanks to those stunning custom micro‑OLED displays - which feature a staggering 23 million pixels - content looks pin-sharp and packed with colour plus some movies are even available in more immersive 3D.

Tiny speakers on the sides of the Vision Pro offer seriously impressive sound - I actually can’t get my head around how good they are for something so small - so you don't even need headphones to get a decent experience.

Thanks to Spatial Audio, the sound even moves in perfect sync with what's going on around you - it's really clever especially when in those virtual FaceTime calls.

One word of warning, these speakers do leak noise into the room so I found myself using my AirPods at times in a bid to avoid irritating those near me.

As well as movies, there are numerous games - such as Synth Riders, What If...? An Immersive Story and Whisp World - that take full advantage of the virtual nature of this headset plus there are experiences to try such as the truly terrifying Explore Encounter Dinosaurs - it's better than any theme park ride. I was even able to fill my kitchen with a working replica of an F1 car and I spent ages watching planes landing at Heathrow on a giant virtual map of London.

Applications such the NBA platform also demonstrate what's possible with Vision Pro thanks to displaying multiple screens, live scores and on-court action without needing to head to a sports bar.

As I mentioned earlier in this review, the Vision Pro is packed with cameras so you can see your surroundings but these lenses can also snap photos and record 3D spatial videos which can then be played on the headset to make you feel like you've gone back in time. With my own family now grown up I can see how this would be a real tearjerker when looking back at old footage.

There's so much potential with the Vision Pro and most of the things I've tried have left me totally speechless - they really are that good. As more developers jump on board the possibilities also seem endless.

Of course, Vision Pro is a first-generation product and that means there are some niggles. It is too heavy and despite it being supremely well made you're only going to comfortably wear it for a short time before wanting to take it off. 30 minutes to an hour is about my maximum.

The battery life only lasts for around two hours - via its pretty unwieldy battery pack - which isn't a problem if you have a plug nearby but might not last a full flight on a budget airline with no power in the seats. At home, you can keep it plugged into a charger for continuous use so it becomes less of an issue.

Whilst the eye tracking and gestures are really good, I have found the odd time where it's hard to be super precise - it's especially annoying when trying to tap on website menus and you'll need some patience to get it right.

Dedicated apps, which have been made to make full use of the Vision Pro's full potential, are limited (there are around 1,000 right now) and although a lot of iPad apps are available to download they aren't as good as software built for this machine. For example, Vision Pro's Disney+ app feels so much more immersive and fun to use than the standard iPad Paramount+ or Prime Video applications. You can watch things such as iPlayer and Netflix but only via the Safari web browser which feels a little clunky.

If you love gaming you’re also probably better off with a Meta Quest or PlayStation VR as there are simply more AAA titles available on those machines right now, and they cost thousands less.

Another issue is trying to share the Vision Pro experience with others as it's not that easy. You can pop it into “Guest Mode” which locks down certain apps (you can choose which ones you want people to see and those you don't) but the new user still needs to set up the unique eye tracking.

It only takes a few minutes but it slightly takes the spontaneity out of things when passing it around at a party.

If the guest has glasses this will also cause issues as you can't wear your specs when using Vision Pro. Instead, there are special £99 inserts needed that match the owner's prescription - that's clearly no good for a guest with poor eyesight.

The Mac mirroring function we mentioned earlier in this review is incredible but after 10 minutes I found myself reverting back to the physical display on my laptop as it's simply easier when trying to work at speed.

Then there's the price. The Vision Pro will set you back a whopping £3,499 and that doesn't even include a case - that's another £199 on top.

It's a vast amount of money. You could buy a MacBook, iPad and iPhone and still have change in your pocket.

That leads me to the question of whether you should buy the Vision Pro. The answer is probably no, not yet. That doesn't mean, however, that this is a dud product or you won't want to invest in one in the future.

The Vision Pro is already way ahead of the game. The technology is absolutely amazing and I'd recommend people give it a go at their local Apple Store as soon as they can get a time slot.

I hope and expect it to evolve over time and that future versions will get thinner, lighter and much more affordable.

Right now there simply aren't enough reasons for most people to splash that quantity of cash. It also needs more dedicated apps and you're unlikely to use it away from home due to its battery life, size and the funny looks people will give you when wearing it.

But watch this space.

Apple has shown me the vision of the future and it's honestly one of the most exciting things I've seen in years.