Mark Zuckerberg’s review of the Apple Vision Pro has sparked considerable discussion in the tech community. Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, provided a detailed comparison between the Vision Pro and Meta’s own Quest 3 headset, highlighting several key differences and expressing a clear preference for the Quest 3.
Price and Value
Zuckerberg emphasized the significant price difference between the two headsets, with the Vision Pro retailing at $3,500 compared to the Quest 3’s $499 price tag. He argued that while the Quest 3 offers “good enough” functionality for most consumers at a fraction of the price, the Vision Pro targets technology enthusiasts willing to pay a premium for Apple’s spatial computing platform.
Design and Comfort
Zuckerberg criticized the Vision Pro for its heavier weight and the inconvenience of wires attached to an external battery. In contrast, he praised the Quest 3 for being lighter (by 120 grams) and wire-free, enhancing comfort and mobility during use.
Display and Audio Quality
The Vision Pro boasts 4K Micro OLED displays and dual-driver audio pods, offering a highly immersive audiovisual experience that Zuckerberg acknowledged as superior for watching movies and attending virtual events. However, he also noted that the Quest 3 provides a wider field of view and a brighter screen, suggesting a trade-off between the two headsets in terms of display and audio capabilities.
Content and Integration
Zuckerberg highlighted the Quest 3’s broader content library and criticized the Vision Pro for its limitations in gaming and social experiences. He also pointed out the seamless integration of the Vision Pro with other Apple hardware and services, such as AirDrop and Mac Virtual Display, as a significant advantage for users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Open vs. Closed Ecosystems
In his critique, Zuckerberg touched upon the broader debate between open and closed ecosystems in computing. He positioned Meta as championing an open model for the next generation of computing, implicitly contrasting it with Apple’s more closed, controlled approach. This philosophical difference underpins much of the competition between the two companies in the mixed reality space.
Conclusion
Zuckerberg’s review of the Vision Pro is decidedly negative, with a strong preference for the Quest 3, which he considers not just a better value but “the better product, period”. His comments have stirred debate, drawing parallels to historical tech industry rivalries and raising questions about the future direction of virtual and mixed reality technologies. While the Vision Pro has been praised for its high-resolution display and integration with Apple’s ecosystem, the Quest 3’s affordability, comfort, and broader content library make it a compelling choice for a wider range of consumers