Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: which mixed reality headset is right for you?

Apple and Meta are set to go head-to-head in the mixed reality space, but which headset should you buy?

(Credit: The Shortcut)

The battle to be the best mixed-reality headset on the market will soon be underway, but who will come out victorious when it comes to the Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3?

Both headsets look set to offer ground-breaking new experiences when it comes to augmented and virtual reality, but they’re both aimed at different markets. The Apple Vision Pro price alone means it will only appeal (and be viable) for a small market. It’s also focused on “spatial computing” as opposed to gaming and aims to take everything you love about your iPhone, iPad, and entertainment devices, and combine them into a futuristic, all-in-one headset that is operated using your hands, voice and eyes.

The Meta Quest 3, by comparison, is an expansion upon the popular Meta Quest 2, which many people regard as the best VR headset on the market due to its massive library of games, low price point, and wireless capabilities – sorry, PSVR 2. Its main focus will be gaming, though it will also include some productivity and entertainment features.

Still, you may be wondering which headset is right for you, and while we’re set to hear more information about both the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 in the coming months, here’s how they currently compare.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: price

(Credit: meta)

The Apple Vision Pro price is restrictive, to say the least, and makes the Meta Quest 3 look like a steal in comparison. Apple’s headset costs $3,499, which means it’s one of the most expensive mixed-reality headsets on the market. However, it’s packed with cutting-edge technology and will appeal to those already inside the Apple ecosystem

The Meta Quest 3 price starts at $499 for the 128GB storage model and $649 for the 512GB model. That’s seven times cheaper than the Apple Vision Pro, and it also comes with a pair of controllers (though hand tracking is supported in select games and applications). It’s also backward compatible if you were wondering ‘Do Meta Quest 2 games work on Quest 3?’. That means you’ll instantly have access to any games you bought on Quest 2 or downloaded from Meta Quest Plus.

There’s quite the price disparity between Apple and Meta’s headsets, then, and means there’s only one winner when it comes to price: the Meta Quest 3.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: release date

(Credit: Apple)

The Apple Vision Pro is set to release early next year. We can expect to see it arrive between January 2024 and April 2024. Apple did a similar thing for the first Apple Watch, which was released in April of the next year after its announcement.

The Meta Quest 3 is set to arrive before the Apple Vision Pro on October 10, 2023. Meta will have wanted to have the headset out before Black Friday on November 24, and definitely before the holidays. Having a headstart on the Vision Pro will be extremely important, too, as it gives Quest 3 time to attract new customers and encourage Quest 2 users to upgrade.

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: specs

Apple has shared the impressive specs of the Vision Pro, and it may be the most powerful consumer device ever released. Here’s a breakdown of everything included in Apple’s mixed-reality headset.

Apple Vision Pro specs

• Operating system: visionOS

• Display Type: Micro OLED

• Lenses: Custom design

• HDR compatible: Yes

• Refresh rate: 90/96Hz

• Chipset: Apple M2/R1

• Battery life: 2 hours

• Microphones: 6

• Cameras: 2 high-res, LiDAR + TrueDepth

• Storage: TBA

• Price: $3,499

The Meta Quest 3 is also packed with the latest technology. Here are the specs of Meta’s next-gen headset.

Meta Quest 3 specs

• Operating system: Android

• Display Type: LCD, 2064x220 pixels per eye

• Lenses: Pancake

• Refresh rate: 90Hz, 120Hz (experimental)

• Field of view: 110 degrees horizontal and 96 degrees vertical

• Chipset: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

• Battery life: Up to 2.2 hours of usage on average

• Charge time: Approximately 2.3 hours

• Cameras: 2 TGB Color cameras and depth projector

• Weight: 515 grams

• Storage: 128GB / 512GB

• Price: $499

Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3: which one should you buy?

(Credit: Meta)

Both headsets look set to offer cutting-edge mixed-reality experiences but at wildly different price points. Apple’s positioning its headset as a true multimedia device, able to boost your productivity, enhance your entertainment and so much more. The Meta Quest 3, however, is still primarily focused on VR gaming and seems a far more capable device in that regard.

If you’re looking for something that has the potential to replace your 4K TV, computer, home cinema, and 3D camera, then the Apple Vision Pro is certainly appealing. It could also become the gold standard for watching movies and your favorite TV shows.

However, if you’d rather buy a headset that can deliver the very best VR games and also has the functionality to provide productivity solutions and entertainment, the price of the Meta Quest 3 makes it a seriously tempting option.

Last updated: September 28, 2023