Meta Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro: Early Reviews Call it Cheap, ‘Hardly’ Mixed Reality

The age of mixed reality experiences is here, and Meta's Quest 3 was the first to unveil theirs ahead of the WWDC 2023 Apple event where Vision Pro was unveiled, and already unveiled via the Connect showcase. However, its early reviews are out and it is not seeing the traction it is expecting, with the XR headset called as far as "cheap," with some claiming that it does not achieve the mixed reality.

Quest 3 is here, and it is seven times less than the price of the new Vision Pro, with the only comparison available is the early demos of the Apple tech.

Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro: How Does Meta's Tech Fare?

Various reviews are available now for the Meta Quest 3, as it is the device that launched ahead, and impressions are not that good from those who got in-depth with its testing. According to CNET, while Quest 3 adds better color to one's surroundings to capture mixed reality, unlike Quest 2's grayscale display, it is not as good compared to Apple's Vision Pro.

Currently, the reviews claim that there are not many apps or experiences available yet for the Quest 3, at least no notable ones. There are various creative apps available, but are not optimized for the XR experience on Quest 3, as they were developed for the Quest Pro which is mainly a VR headset.

The Verge claimed that the best game and MR experience here is "First Encounters," where aliens invade space and users get to attack and capture them. However, as much fun as this game is, it is only a demo that features Quest 3's capabilities.

Meta Quest 3 is 'Hardly' a Mixed-Reality Headset

TechCrunch centered on Quest 3's Passthrough feature, and this is where the camera captures the objects and surroundings from outside the headset, the AR part of the mixed reality. However, it is "darker and lower res" compared to what one sees with the naked eye.

It was said that this is an improvement to standalone VR but suggests that it is not exactly AR or XR.

Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro

What is different about the Quest 3 from the Vision Pro is that it is not a transparent wearable headset, unlike Apple's which has a lens that offers a view of the outside world. Quest 3 features cameras, but Vision Pro does too, but Meta's technology is closed, resembling its original lineup of Quest VR headsets equipped with new lenses to allow scenes from around to be perceivable.

Apple's Vision Pro shocked the world when it arrived during WWDC 2023, particularly with its sky-high price tag which will set users as much as $3,500 for the wearable device. Still, some have defended Apple's pricing because of the significant features it brought, including its immersive experience, compatibility with Apple's tech, and offering a gateway between VR and AR in one.

Apple's Vision Pro is indeed the more premium wearable headset of today, and Cupertino has set this up as one of the most advanced mixed-reality devices that will be available soon. However, Meta's take is to provide a gateway to mixed reality, centering on the Quest 3's capabilities that can deliver, but not as immersive and feature-rich, with apps or experiences not yet extensive.