Mark Zuckerberg Slams Apple's Vision Pro (Again): Meta CEO Says $3,500 Rival's Tradeoffs Just Not Worth It

John Lopez, Tech Times 10 March 2024, 09:03 am

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has once again criticized Apple's Vision Pro, stating that the $3,500 VR headset's tradeoffs are not worth the price.

In a recent exchange with Benedict Evans, a partner at Mosaic Ventures, Zuckerberg highlighted various limitations of the Vision Pro compared to Meta's $500 competitor, Quest.

"There are a lot of limitations to the Vision Pro, but I am genuinely baffled by Meta VR engineers claiming it's 'basically just the same thing' as the Quest," Evans started the conversation.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduces the new Oculus Quest as he delivers the opening keynote at the Facebook F8 Conference at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California on April 30, 2019. - Got a crush on another Facebook user? The social network will help you connect, as part of a revamp unveiled Tuesday that aims to foster real-world relationships and make the platform a more intimate place for small groups of friends. (Photo by Amy Osborne / AFP)
(Photo : AMY OSBORNE/AFP via Getty Images)

Mark Zuckerberg Points Out Apple Vision Pro 'Tradeoffs'

Zuckerberg replied, emphasizing concerns about the Vision Pro's weight, motion blur, and lack of precision inputs, suggesting that if Meta's devices were to resemble the Vision Pro in the next few years, it would signify significant regression. Despite Apple's higher resolution display, Zuckerberg argued that the Vision Pro's tradeoffs make it inferior to Meta's Quest.

According to recent reports, Apple has sold over 200,000 Vision Pro units since January, while Meta has sold 20 million Quest units by February last year. Meta's Reality Labs division also achieved a significant milestone, crossing $1 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023, partly due to solid sales of the Quest headset.

Meanwhile, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently reported that roughly 30% of users who returned the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro cited difficulties setting up cutting-edge technology. Despite the substantial setup challenges, Kuo found that only 1% of Vision Pro owners returned their VR headsets.

What Zuckerberg Thinks About the Apple Vision Pro

In a pointed review on Instagram last month, Zuckerberg made clear his stance, comparing the Vision Pro unfavorably to Meta's Quest 3. He highlighted the Quest 3's lower price, better features, and form factor as reasons for its superiority.

Moreover, Zuckerberg emphasized the versatility of the Quest 3, mentioning its suitability for gaming, socializing, and lack of wires. "I don't just think that Quest is the better value, I think Quest is the better product, period."

He also praised the Quest 3's lightweight design, wider field of view, and physical hand controllers, contrasting them with the Vision Pro's limitations. Despite acknowledging the Vision Pro's entertainment capabilities, Zuckerberg maintained that the Quest 3 offers better value and overall user experience.

While Meta currently leads in headset sales, there are concerns about Apple's hardware and developer ecosystem advantages. Although Meta enjoys a significant head start in the market, the competition between the two tech giants in the VR headset space is expected to intensify in the coming years.

Mark Zuckerberg's continued criticism of Apple's Vision Pro underscores the competitive landscape of the VR headset market. With Meta's Quest series gaining traction and Apple's Vision Pro generating substantial sales, the rivalry between the two companies is poised to heat up.

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