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We’re having a look at the Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro to see how Apple’s sleek new device shapes up versus the other giant in the world of augmented reality.
Apple unveiled their first new product in years at their WWDC event, the Vision Pro. This is Apple’s long-awaited foray into the world of VR headsets and it’s safe to say it’s made a splash. While there is still much to be known about the Vision Pro, we don’t even have a confirmed release date yet, it is already shaping up to be one of the most advanced and groundbreaking options on the market. To get a better sense of this, we’re comparing it to what is likely to be its main competition.
The Meta Quest Pro has been out for a while, and for many was their first introduction to the idea of using VR outside of a gaming context. It too focuses on being a standalone device. You can use it to take a huge three-screen monitor set-up anywhere you go. Simply bring the headset and the Quest Pro will place them on your desk within its augmented reality environment.
So how do these two devices compare to one another? To keep things as simple as possible, we’ve broken our comparison down into different sections. Let’s get into it.
Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro – Specs
| Apple Vision Pro | Meta Quest Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | M2 and R1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ |
| Display | OLED | LCD |
| Resolution | 4K per-eye | 1800×1920 per-eye |
| Storage | TBC | 256GB |
| RAM | TBC | 12GB |
| Weight | TBC | 1.6lbs |
| Battery life | 2 hours | 2-3 hours |
| Passthrough | Full colour | Full colour |
There are some key performance specs which we do not have for the Apple Vision Pro which makes comparing these two headsets harder, but not impossible.
Both of these devices are designed to function as independent computers and do not rely on docking to an external source to process information, as the PSVR 2 does. This means that they need internal CPUs. Both the Vision Pro and Quest Pro have impressively powerful ones which easily places them among the best VR headsets out there. The Quest Pro has the latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon chip designed specifically for VR usage, while the Vision Pro uses a combination of the M2 chip seen in many Apple devices and a brand new R1 chip. The R1 focuses on interpolating the sense data gathered by multiple sensors around the headset, allowing the augmented aspects of the augmented reality to interact with them in a seamless way.
As you can see, the battery life on both of these devices is pretty meagre, though it seems the Meta Quest Pro’s is slightly longer. Depending on how people plan to use their headsets, this could prove a pivotal spec. Those who need their headsets for long meetings may be forced to prioritise battery life for example. That said, in the grand scheme of VR these are both early devices and we’re expecting battery life to improve significantly over time.
Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro – Display
Both headsets feature full-colour passthrough which is vital for any augmented reality experience. Judging from what people who have got a hands-on test are saying, it seems the Vision Pro’s passthrough is one of the best available. This is likely a result of the high-resolution screens.
Speaking of resolution the Vision Pro is not messing about here either. We were impressed when the PSVR 2 had a cumulative 4K display, but the Vision Pro has a 4K monitor per eye. Apple achieved this with a micro OLED display system that fits 64 pixels into the same amount of space as a single iPhone pixel.
The Meta Quest Pro has an impressive 1800 by 1920 pixel display per eye, which will still make for crisp visuals but can sometimes prevent you from fully buying into the augmented reality experience. It also uses LCD panels. While this display technology makes for bright colours and helps keep costs low, the OLED technology in Apple’s device is superior in terms of local dimming and contrast levels.
Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro – Design
Apple are famed for their design chops and the Vision Pro has brought that to the VR world. Their headset looks sleek and comfortable. The company opted for a modular design allowing for more customisation too.
Meta’s Quest Pro meanwhile is by no means clunky. Their headset is streamlined, slim and counterbalanced. This is achieved by splitting the components between the front and back sections of the headset. This balancing act doesn’t affect performance but allows for a more comfortable experience.
Weight is of course an important factor for VR headsets – you don’t want to be working out your neck while trying to enjoy an immersive movie. Apple has avoided some of this by connecting the battery via cable to a pack you store in your pocket. However, much of this saved weight is then added back on thanks to its metal build. While this does make for a sturdier feel, it also weighs more than the plastic used to construct much of the Meta Quest Pro.
One key thing to note is that the Vision Pro has no controllers. Instead, it relies entirely on eye and finger tracking to allow you to interface with the UI. The Meta Quest Pro meanwhile comes with a set of controllers, one for each hand.
Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro – Price
Both of these devices end in the word ‘Pro’ and that should tell you that they are not gearing themselves towards the general consumer. This is very much reflected in the price. The Meta Quest Pro was released with a $1,499 price. While this has dropped to around $999 for now, this is still a chunk more than any of the more gaming-focused headsets in the Meta range such as their newly announced Meta Quest 3.
However, it doesn’t hold much to the Apple Vision Pro which will cost a massive $3,499 when it is released early next year. While none has been announced so far, it is also likely there will be a Vision Pro pre sale prior to any release.
It’s hard to deny that this is a large price tag and instantly takes the headset out of the realm of possibility for most consumers out there. However, it also seems like the headset and much of the technology in it, will be the best in class. We’ve already seen people who have been hands-on with the headset saying its eye-tracking is miles ahead of the competition. Also don’t forget that it will be fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem, meaning you can Facetime, iMessage and even project your Mac’s screen in your AR world.
If you are seriously considering a VR headset but are baulking at these numbers. There are more affordable options out there, especially after the recent Meta Quest 2 price drop.
Meta Quest Pro
Screen
LCD
Resolution
1800×1920 (per eye)
Refresh rate
90Hz
Field of View
105 degrees
Weight
1.59lbs
Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest Pro – Final word
At the end of the day, neither of these products is aimed at the mass market. These are both companies betting that VR will be the next big technology and are trying to claim their share of the market. We expect in the future these same kinds of augmented reality devices to drop in price, and size amongst other improvements, as they become more mainstream.
We also need to wait until we have more concrete information on Vision Pro before we can say anything for certain. That said, it looks likely that Apple will be offering the more premium, advanced and integrated augmented reality system and charging a tonne of money for it.
Meta meanwhile still has a very technologically impressive device, very capable of both augmented and virtual reality. Their product is also slightly more business orientated and makes sense for larger companies at its more affordable price.
