How the Apple Vision Pro compares to Meta’s headsets

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The Apple Vision Pro is the most highly anticipated headset to date, but how does it compare to Meta’s line of Quest headsets?

Meta already has two VR headsets on the market and a third on the way. Can Apple compete with the current market leader?

Let’s take a look at the specs and features of each product hints that Apple might be the new gold standard. 

Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 2/3/Pro: specs

Feature	Apple Vision Pro	Meta’s Quest 2/3/Pro
Price	$3,500, which is three times more expensive than Meta’s most expensive headset and 10 times costlier than the baseline Quest 2.	Clear winner in the price category.
Sensors and Display	23 million pixel 4K display in each eye, far sharper than the Quest Pro’s Full HD LCDs. Twice as many cameras as the Quest Pro, plus powerful TrueDepth and LiDAR sensors.	Not as powerful as Apple Vision Pro in terms of sensors, cameras, and display.
Battery Life	Estimated battery life of about two to three hours, uses a detachable wired battery pack.	Matches Apple Vision Pro’s battery life, but uses an internal battery.
User Privacy	Eye-tracking data will never leave the headset, even Apple won’t have access to it.	Has been caught selling users’ eye-tracking data for targeted advertising.
Games and Apps	Can run virtually any app on Apple’s other devices. It can essentially replace an entire Macbook.	Heavily concentrated on gaming, primarily in VR.

How does the Apple Vision Pro compare to Meta’s headsets on a purely technical level? It will be a tough competitor for Meta but falls short in one important category.

Price: Meta

Meta is the clear winner in the price category. As incredibly powerful and sleek as the Apple Vision Pro is, it costs more than most people pay in monthly rent.

The Apple Vision Pro costs $3,500, three times more expensive than Meta’s most expensive headset and 10 times costlier than the baseline Quest 2. 

Sensors and display: Apple

You’ll get your money’s worth if you can afford the Apple Vision Pro. The sensors, cameras, and display are significantly more powerful than those in Meta’s Quest Pro headset.

The Vision Pro has a 23 million pixel 4K display in each eye, far sharper than the Quest Pro’s Full HD LCDs. 

However, the Vision Pro has twice as many cameras as the Quest Pro, plus powerful TrueDepth and LiDAR sensors.

All those cameras allow the Vision Pro to have an outward-facing display that lets other people see the wearer’s eyes while wearing the headset. 

Battery life: draw

There are no frontrunners in the headset battery contest. The Apple Vision Pro has an estimated battery life of about two to three hours, which matches all of Meta’s headsets.

The difference is that the Vision Pro uses a detachable wired battery pack. Meta’s headsets have an internal battery, so you will need a third-party detachable battery to replicate the same feature with a Quest 2, 3, or Pro. 

Privacy and features on Apple and Meta’s headsets

Which headsets have the best features for users? Apple hasn’t announced the full range of apps on the Vision Pro, but there is one crucial difference between Apple and Meta’s headsets already. 

User privacy: Apple

More people are paying attention to data privacy today. Part of this stems from fear of personal information being stolen or used for inappropriate purposes like advertising.

However, learning and training can go a long way toward defeating those concerns so you can use VR and AR safely. 

That’s why it is so important to understand how Apple and Meta differ on user privacy. Paying more for the Apple Vision Pro is well worth it if you have concerns.

Apple has a long history of protecting and respecting users’ data privacy, while Meta has already been caught selling users’ eye-tracking data for targeted advertising. 

Apple clarified in the Vision Pro announcement that users’ eye-tracking data will never leave the headset. Even Apple won’t have access to it. That policy makes Apple far and away the frontrunner regarding user privacy. 

Games and apps: draw

Meta’s Quest headsets have been out much longer than the Apple Vision Pro, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have an edge on apps and games.

Meta’s available apps are heavily concentrated on gaming, primarily in VR. A Quest 2 or 3 might be the way to go if you mainly want a headset for playing VR games. 

The Apple Vision Pro will launch with two incredibly powerful chips inside to run virtually any app on Apple’s other devices. It can essentially replace an entire Macbook.

You can play games on it, but you can also edit videos, write an essay, do graphic design, work remotely, or join a FaceTime call with a realistic 3D rendering of your face. 

Which headset should you buy?

The choice between Apple and Meta can be tough if you’re considering buying a VR or mixed-reality headset. The Apple Vision Pro is worth the investment if you can afford it.

However, if you’re just looking to play VR games, Meta’s headsets could be the more cost-effective option.

Have any thoughts on this? Drop us a line below in the comments, or carry the discussion to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Apple Vision Pro: Release date, features, news, and price
• Can you play Steam games on the Oculus Quest 2?
• The Meta Quest 2 is, once again, $299.99
• The Meta Quest 3 will release in late 2023

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.