In the world of VR headsets, Meta remains at the forefront. Specifically, the Quest 3 was considered the premium device among its class, until Apple introduced their Vision Pro unit. While new entrants are anticipated to shake things up, the truth is that the Quest 3 and Vision Pro cater to distinct audiences
It’s hard not to compare the two gadgets. Before Apple’s Tim Cook could talk about Quest 3, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg gave his take on Apple’s latest gadget, Vision Pro
In a recent video, Mark expressed that initially, he assumed the Quest would offer users more for their money compared to Apple’s Vision Pro, especially given its much lower cost—it’s roughly one-seventh the price. However, having tried the Vision Pro, Mark’s opinion shifted; he now believes not only does the Quest give better value, but it also surpasses it in quality. He concluded by endorsing the Quest as the superior option
After the above statement, Meta’s CEO cited several characteristics of the “homegrown” product compared to the new device produced by Apple that led him to make his assessment, such as high quality, suitable networking needs more for gaming and social, access to a larger content library, has an ergonomic design,
Those are undeniable “advantages”, but from the standpoint of someone with a neutral viewpoint: not hating or loving either side, Vision Pro still has its advantages. Apple’s head-mounted device has a higher resolution screen and has never been considered a product specifically for gaming (even in terms of design), there is no need to pay attention to the VR application library of Meta because it does not belong to the group of devices that prioritize entertainment At the same time, although the Quest 3 is lighter and has an ergonomic design, there have been many user complaints about the uncomfortableness of wearing this device.
Most importantly, the intended uses and target customers of these two devices are different, so Mark’s comparison is considered “unfair”. CEO Meta emphasized that Quest 3 is “better” in gaming and entertainment – the areas that most VR devices are aimed at today. On the contrary, Apple seems to want to change that perspective with the Vision Pro itself.
Right from the Vision Pro introduction and through product promotion videos, Apple focused more on using this device to improve daily activities, mostly work. Entertainment like playing games and watching movies is just a part of it, not entirely what Apple is aiming for.
The price difference is debatable because Apple devices are always priced higher than the general level. The product’s success still depends on time, but that is not answered by “how well it can satisfy customers in general”, but “how well it can solve all the needs of the target customer group”. Quest 3 is the current top choice for game lovers, but Vision Pro is going in a different direction