In addition to the Apple Vision Pro, Meta is also launching glasses for mixed reality. This Quest 3 is much cheaper and already available, but what is the difference?
Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 3
The release of the Apple Vision Pro is getting closer, which is nice for anyone who lives in the United States and has a lot of money. The glasses will be available there from early 2024 with a price tag of $3,499. Facebook company Meta now offers an alternative: the Quest 3.
The Meta Quest 3 stands out because, just like the Vision Pro, these glasses do mixed reality: digital elements are added to reality after which you can interact with them. But not only are these glasses already available, you also pay ‘only’ €549.99 for them. How does this device compare to the Apple Vision Pro?
Hardware: big differences
In terms of hardware, important differences are immediately noticeable. For example, the Quest has 3 LCD screens, while the Vision Pro places micro-OLED screens in front of your eyes. With the Quest 3 you see 9.1 million pixels, while with the Vision Pro it is 23 million pixels. This means a huge leap in quality, making text easier to read with a Vision Pro, for example.
The Vision Pro is powered by an Apple M2 chip in combination with an R1 chip for the sensors. The Quest 3 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip that does it all. This Snapdragon is not bad either, but Apple has the big advantage that it can adapt its own chips much better to the hardware for the best result.
It is striking that the Quest 3 has an internal battery and the Vision Pro uses an external battery with cable. As a result, only Meta offers a truly wireless experience.
Design: difference in philosophy
Although both glasses are still quite large, there is a clear difference in the design. The Quest 3 looks like the VR glasses we have known for years, but with three enormous camera lenses on the front that seem to look straight into your soul. The Vision Pro is more like a pair of large ski goggles and looks friendlier. Especially if you project your own eyes onto the front. The rest of the Vision Pro’s design also breathes Apple, from the materials to the colors.
Features: different target group
It is clear that Apple and Meta are targeting different target groups with these devices. Meta is more about gaming and sports, while Apple focuses on productivity and communication. This partly has to do with some features that Apple offers and Meta does not. In particular, eye tracking and facial movement tracking.
The Vision Pro allows you to communicate with people standing next to you via the screen on the outside of the glasses. You can also talk to others via Facetime, for example, where your conversation partners see a digital version of your head that matches the movements of your eyes and the rest of your face. That makes the Vision Pro a more social device.
Controls: controllers or hand gestures?
A big difference between these two devices is the way you control them. The Quest 3 comes with controllers that are tracked by the sensors and cameras in the glasses, which is very useful for games and sports. Meta seems to want to deliver a version of the Quest 3 later without controllers and a lower price tag. Controlling is then done with your hands.
The Vision Pro is supplied without a controller, because these glasses can track your eyes and therefore see what you are looking at. You then make choices via a subtle finger movement. You don’t even have to look at your hand for this, while with the Quest 3 you have to lift your entire hand to interact.
So the Quest 3 is better for controlling traditional games or if you want to use sports apps, but the Vision Pro is more accessible and requires less effort to control.
Apps: Meta has an edge
Meta has been making glasses for virtual reality for years. As a result, there are already countless VR apps available for use with the new glasses. This concerns games and other entertainment, but also productivity apps. With the Vision Pro the supply will be considerably less. You mainly have to do it first with Apple’s own apps, followed later by third-party apps that are optimized for the Vision Pro.
In the promotional images, Apple now mainly shows that you can look at a virtual screen in different ways with its apps, while Meta promotes a more diverse offering. Think of games, digital toys and a gym.
Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 3 conclusion
The Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 clearly target different markets, but also compete with each other. Especially because the Quest 3 is so much cheaper, consumers with an interest in mixed reality may be tempted to opt for these glasses.
- View the Meta Quest 3 at Coolblue for €549.99
The Quest 3 is mainly the right device if you want to play a lot of games or exercise via VR or AR. The Vision Pro seems especially interesting if you want to use it for work to replace your screens. In any case, the Apple Vision Pro is clearly better in terms of hardware and design and that is a good thing for that price.
More about the Apple Vision Pro
Want to know more about the Apple Vision Pro? Then you’ve come to the right place at iPhone. We will tell you more about the functions of the Vision Pro and what the possible cheaper version of the glasses are like.