Quick Take: Mark Zuckerberg on Apple Vision Pro vs Quest 3
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a ~3 minute video yesterday to Meta's social media platforms where he said that the Meta Quest 3 is not only a better value for most people over the Apple Vision Pro, but is actually the better device. It's worth a watch — and some quick analysis:
Meta had to respond to Apple, but it could have gone the PR route with a massaged statement, or taken a marketing approach with a "Welcome Apple" ad or an attack ad. Instead, Zuckerberg did a direct-to-(Quest 3)-camera vlog. He looks genuinely great here. He's clear, non-defensive, and this is the most natural/comfortable I've seen him, recorded or in person. He does a fair job explaining the flaws in Apple Vision Pro's design decisions without going overboard. Zuckerberg should do more non-scripted product pitches.
Zuckerberg is right about the Quest 3's advantages, but only up to a point. The Apple Vision Pro user interface and display resolution significantly improve the user experience*. It's not just eye tracking and display panels, it's how you use them, and what that higher resolution enables. Meta absolutely can source higher resolution panels, add eye tracking, and choose even more powerful silicon from Qualcomm. Meta will still need to match or exceed Apple's overall user experience, which is already better (as it should be for 7x the price) and will only improve over time. Right now, Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro feel like different category devices.
Yes, Apple is a closed ecosystem, but Meta is not open. And it's not clear whether a truly open ecosystem confers any advantage in this market. We'll have to see.
Zuckerberg points to more than 500 immersive apps for the Quest. In some categories, like gaming and exercise, there's really no question about it: the Quest is ahead of everyone. Apple Vision Pro doesn't even have Beat Saber! I didn't know you could release a VR headset without Beat Saber**. However, for general computing, with the Apple Vision Pro's higher resolution, controller-free interface, and a million+ iPad apps, Meta is far behind. Sure, Apple has fewer immersive apps on Day 1, but Apple has a huge ecosystem advantage that historically has compounded over time. If Meta is in the lead, Meta needs to press that lead, hard.
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*Even Apple's approach to vision correction as part of the purchase process is a user experience differentiator. Zenni offers $50 prescription inserts for the Quest 3 (I bought them. They're great.) but Meta doesn't even include that information on its web site, let alone offer them directly.
**This was intended as a joke. Meta bought Beat Games, maker of Beat Saber. Beat Saber is still available on Sony and Steam, but we are more likely to a see a proper lightsaber game by Disney on VisionOS before a Beat Saber port from Meta. Meta also bought Within Natural, maker of the subscription exercise app, Supernatural. The latter acquisition was challenged by the FTC on antitrust grounds but a Federal judge agreed with Meta and allowed the sale to proceed. I don’t expect we’ll ever see Supernatural on VisionOS.