Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, recently took to Instagram to compare Meta’s Quest 3 headset to Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. In the video, Zuckerberg confidently states that Meta’s Quest 3 is “the better value” and “the better product, period.” This move by Zuckerberg highlights the increasing competition between Apple and Meta in the mixed-reality headset market.
Both companies are vying for consumers’ attention and aiming to showcase the benefits of their respective headsets, which overlay digital content over the real world or provide immersive virtual reality experiences. While Meta has taken a lower-cost approach, Apple has focused on delivering sharper screens, more powerful processors, and higher-end materials.
Zuckerberg highlights several key advantages of the Quest 3 in the video. He mentions that the Quest headset is more comfortable, has a deeper immersive content library, a wider field of view, more accurate hand tracking, and a brighter screen compared to the Vision Pro. However, he does acknowledge that Apple’s headset boasts a higher resolution screen and impressive eye tracking capabilities.
The surprising aspect for many is that despite the $3,000 price difference, Zuckerberg believes that the Quest 3 outperforms the Vision Pro in most aspects that people use these headsets for. He challenges the assumption that Apple’s product would naturally be of higher quality due to its brand reputation and higher price tag.
Apple officially launched its Vision Pro headset on February 2nd, marking the company’s first foray into a new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015. During the launch event in New York, Apple CEO Tim Cook described the Vision Pro as “tomorrow’s technology today.”
On the other hand, Meta introduced its Quest 3 headset in September, with shipments starting the following month. Priced at $500, the Quest 3 is $200 more expensive than Meta’s previous headset. One of the standout features of Meta’s new headset is its “passthrough” mode, which allows users to quickly see the world outside the headset. Apple’s headset offers similar functionality.
Zuckerberg acknowledges that some Apple “fanboys” may be upset by his comparison, but he firmly believes that Meta’s open model for its headsets will ultimately prevail. He emphasizes that the future of the mixed-reality headset market is still unwritten.
As of now, Apple has not responded to CNBC’s request for comment on Zuckerberg’s video. The competition between these tech giants will undoubtedly continue to heat up as they strive to capture the attention and loyalty of consumers in the rapidly evolving mixed-reality headset market.
In conclusion, Mark Zuckerberg’s comparison of Meta’s Quest 3 to Apple’s Vision Pro in an Instagram video highlights the intensifying competition between the two companies. While Apple focuses on high-end materials and powerful processors, Meta takes a lower-cost approach and emphasizes comfort and immersive content. Zuckerberg’s confidence in the Quest 3’s superiority challenges assumptions about Apple’s dominance in new categories. The future of the mixed-reality headset market remains uncertain, but both companies are determined to come out on top.
