Battle of Giants: How Apple's Vision Pro is different from Meta's Quest 3

Apple and Meta, two tech giants, recently unveiled their mixed reality headsets, the Vision Pro and Quest 3 respectively, introducing an intriguing comparison within the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) landscape. Each headset offers a unique approach to the mixed reality experience, but their differences in price and specifications may significantly influence consumers' preferences.

Apple finally unveiled its highly anticipated and much-rumoured AR headset, the Apple Vision Pro during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference 2023 on June 6. On the other hand, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise ‘announcement’ that the company will be launching the next generation of its AR headsets, the Quest 3, sometime this fall,  just days ahead of Apple’s WWDC event.

Pricing

The Apple Vision Pro enters the market with a premium price tag of $3,499, targeting the tech-savvy early adopters who value cutting-edge technology. Conversely, the Meta Quest 3 is priced at a far more consumer-friendly $500, extending its appeal to a wider audience seeking an affordable entry point into VR experiences.

Design and Hardware

Apple's Vision Pro showcases an elegant design reminiscent of a curved iPhone fused with the sleek elements of an Apple Watch. It boasts an array of cameras and sensors, enabling AR pass-through and an external screen displaying the wearer's eyes and expressions.

In contrast, the Quest 3, though 40 per cent slimmer than its predecessor, appears bulkier than the svelte Vision Pro. It comprises external cameras and a depth sensor for full-colour AR pass-through but does not incorporate an external screen.

Display

The Vision Pro shines with twin internal displays exceeding 4K resolution, promising an unparalleled sharp image experience. While the exact specifications of the Quest 3 screen remain undisclosed, Meta purports it delivers a crisper image than the Quest 2, which falls short of 4K resolution.

Power and Battery

Apple's Vision Pro will utilise the potent M2 processor and an R1 chip to handle data from its cameras and sensors. This tech powerhouse does not have an onboard battery but includes a plug-in pack offering approximately two hours of uptime.

Conversely, the Quest 3 is reportedly equipped with the Snapdragon Qualcomm XR2 chip, borrowing its technology from smartphones. Although Meta claims a doubled graphics performance compared to Quest 2, it is unlikely to match the Vision Pro's performance. As of now, the battery life for Quest 3 has not been disclosed.

Software and Content

Apple positions the Vision Pro as a spatial computer for productivity and entertainment, not particularly a gaming device. It can run existing Apple Arcade games and is expected to support new VR and AR games. The headset will provide access to a wider software ecosystem by connecting to iOS apps and Mac.

On the other hand, the Quest platform, underpinned by Android, already offers a comprehensive range of immersive VR games and has plans for AR games in development. However, its library of features is less extensive than Apple's. As both products come closer to launch, more details are bound to follow, helping to differentiate them.