Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro compared

Meta Quest 3 is available in all markets from early October 2023, starting at €549.99.
It is a virtual and mixed-reality headset and comes with Touch Plus controllers, a charging cable, and a power supply.

Vision Pro is Apple’s first virtual, augmented, and mixed reality device, available in the U.S. market from early February 2024 starting at $3,499. It will arrive in Canada and the UK by the end of 2024 and in the rest of the EU and Asia by early 2025. The headset is sold with a cover, external battery, charging cable, and power supply.

Both headsets are stand-alone, so they do not require a PC connection for use after setting them up the first time. Let’s look at the main differences together.

• Quest 3 features two LCD displays, with 2064 x 2208 px resolution and an update rate of 120Hz;
• Vision Pro features micro OLED displays, with 2560 x 2560 px resolution and a refresh rate of 100Hz.

The difference is that Quest 3’s display has a faster update rate than Apple’s visor, so the experience is smoother. In contrast, Apple’s Oled display has a higher definition and thus brighter colors and higher contrasts.

• Vision Pro implements the Apple M2 processor, already used in Macs, to Apple R1, designed specifically for real-time processing of data received from cameras and sensors;
• Quest 3 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, a processor optimized for virtual and augmented reality.

Both devices have processors designed specifically for virtual and augmented reality.

Both Meta’s and Apple’s headsets have high-definition cameras and sensors that map their surroundings and project them seamlessly into virtual reality.

Quest 3:

• in all, it has 5 cameras: 2 RGB, 2 monochrome, and 1 depth camera, which allow it to map and project space and depth around the user;
• built-in speakers with 3D spatial audio, providing an immersive sound experience.

Vision Pro:

• has 12 RGB cameras and various sensors that map the surrounding environment and return it with two high-resolution screens;
• Ambient Spatial Audio system, speakers generate sound that seems to come from outside.

• Meta Quest 3 has a built-in 4879 mAh battery that can be recharged, just as if it were a mobile device. The battery life varies from 2.2 hours to 3 hours, depending on usage. It is charged via the type C cable, already included in the initial price. Alternatively, the wireless charging base can be purchased separately. In addition, Meta also provides the wristband with a battery included. The strap has the function of reducing pressure on the face and extends the viewer’s battery life by 2 hours. It too is easily rechargeable;
• Apple Vision Pro has an external 3166 mAh battery, connected to the viewer via a cable and easily carried in your pocket. It lasts from 2 hours to 2.5 hours, depending on usage. The battery itself recharges via a USB-C cable.

The two visors differ in their technical specifications and their unique interpretation of the virtual experience, let’s see them together.

The first noticeable difference is the presence of controllers only in Quest 3.
Although the Meta viewer supports hand tracking, it is less accurate than that of the Apple viewer, so the use of the controller is almost necessary.

• Quest 3 employs augmented and mixed reality technologies to visually integrate digital content into the user’s surroundings. With pass-through functionality, the device maps the environment precisely, allowing the user to take advantage of augmented and mixed reality interactively. For example, with the Meta headset, a video game is projected and made to interact with the environment around the user;
• Vision Pro, on the other hand, adopts a customized use of virtual reality, referred to as Spatial Computing. This technology uses 12 cameras to make the user see the external environment in real time while simulating the experience of using a computer.

The distinguishing factor of the Vision Pro lies in its approach to Spatial Computing. Unlike the Quest 3, which requires staying within a predefined perimeter while using virtual reality, the Vision Pro frees the user from such limitations, allowing complete freedom of movement.

Both devices employ virtual reality to provide a highly immersive experience. Both Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 are designed to immerse the user in immersive virtual environments, whether video games or environmental simulations.
The key difference lies in the visual quality offered by the Vision Pro, which features superior image sharpness and color intensity.

The choice between the two visors, Meta Quest 3 and Vision Pro, goes beyond the difference in price and weight, 515 g and 650 g, respectively.
The decision depends on the intended use: the Meta Quest 3 is perfect for those seeking an immersive, everyday experience, while the Vision Pro is better suited for those who need a device for professional and space computing applications.

Airlapp represents the cutting edge in the field of immersive technologies, specializing in Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality. Our team consists of experts with years of experience, capable of integrating multidisciplinary skills to ensure superior solutions.

Are you looking for a reliable application development partner for Meta or Vision Pro visors? Contact us to turn your vision into reality.