Despite the upcoming massive competition that Apple and the Vision Pro are set to bring this February, it is not bothering Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. In fact, the Vision Pro's launch is something that the company is reportedly looking forward to for this year, saying that they are "optimistic" once it releases to the world.
This is because the company is positioning the Quest 3 mixed-reality headset to be the "Android" of the AR/VR world, set as the alternative to the premium-priced wearable from Cupertino.
Meta is Unfazed, 'Optimistic' on Vision Pro Launch
(Photo : Meta via YouTube)
A new report by The Wall Street Journal claims that Meta is "optimistic" about the upcoming launch of the Apple Vision Pro, and this is because of what the Cupertino wearable may bring for the Quest 3. First off, Meta is hopeful that the Vision Pro would reinforce massive attention towards mixed-reality, centering on the company's $50 billion "metaverse effort" that is yet to be enjoyed by the public.
While Meta was the first to deliver the AR/VR headset the world awaited, there are still a few adoptions and users of the technology, with the company looking to ride the Vision Pro's wave that will lead the world to this new mixed-reality direction.
Moreover, Apple's release will help "validate" their technology, as well as "draw more consumers" to the device and platform of the company.
While Apple will do Apple on the Vision Pro, the report claimed that Meta is setting up to be the "Android" of the mixed-reality world, offering a more affordable headset to the public. In this latest development from Meta, the company is not looking to be a major competitor against the Vision Pro, but be a "primary alternative" for the premium-priced headset, for its affordable $499 entry for AR and VR.
Meta's Quest 3 and What It Offers Now
Last June 2023 saw the first iteration of Meta's take on the mixed-reality world, with the company unveiling the Meta Quest 3 which was set for sale and availability come September of the same year. The company went ahead of Apple's initially rumored unveiling of the renowned Vision Pro amid the WWDC 2023, with Meta boasting of its massive features coming.
However, and as expected, Quest 3's early arrival drew comparisons to the reportedly superior Vision Pro, with different opinionated individuals calling it the "cheap" wearable. Furthermore, reviews went as far as to say that Meta's Quest 3 is "hardly" a mixed reality, centering on the headset's cameras and Passthrough feature to bring the augmented experience, and not a see-through lens.
While this may be a massive blow to Meta, they remain unfazed and still positioned Quest 3 to be a device that can offer the best of both realities with AR and VR. Now, the biggest competition in the mixed-reality industry is coming with the Vision Pro, yet Meta remains unbothered by what it will bring in the future and is looking forward to its release, said to benefit the Quest 3.
