Apple's New Headset Looks Incredible -- But Here's Why Meta Is Still in the Game

Any tech fan that watched Apple's June 5 WWDC presentation on its new augmented reality headset, Vision Pro, is probably thinking that Apple just rang the death knell on Meta's funeral -- at least as far as its Reality Labs projects are concerned.

At least, that's what folks on Twitter are saying after watching the stunning Apple  (AAPL) - Get Free Report presentation -- and admittedly, it's pretty funny to compare a mixed-reality visor with "4K screens for each eye" to, well, this.

But that said, despite the obvious technological supremacy of Apple's Vision Pro, Meta  (META) - Get Free Report still has plenty of room to succeed with its Meta Quest 3. And while there are a few reasons for that, we'll discuss the most obvious first: cost.

READ MORE: Apple Announces Partnership With Disney During Game-Changing Virtual Headset Launch

Vision Pro is a Rich Person's Toy

Apple's customers have always been willing to fork over big money for its products, from its first $599 iPhone (which was a pretty big price back in 2007) to its recently announced $6,999 Mac Pro.

But while the high price tag may not deter a user from buying a typical computer, getting them to buy a headset is another matter. Despite being much slimmer than the average headsets already on the market, it still looks clunky. It also has a two-hour battery life, meaning you can't watch an entire feature-length film without needing to charge it. In other words, all that sexy high fidelity is going to be rudely interrupted by reality pretty darn fast.

And of course, it's also $3,499, which is a very high price tag for what most still consider a novelty.

If anyone can make mixed reality work on this level, it's Apple -- the tech company has proven that time and time again. And while there's no denying that there's nothing else on the market like the Vision Pro. saying it will kill Meta's Meta Quest headsets (or any other VR headsets on the market) really doesn't make sense.

Meta Quest Is For a Different Audience

Meta's Quest headset series is a VR headset with a stronger focus on gaming, while Vision Pro's gaming features seem like an afterthought at best. While Apple clearly wants Vision Pro to appeal to everyone, Meta leaned more heavily into the gaming sector that had already adopted the technology when it was still called Oculus (Meta bought the company in 2014).

Due out this fall and starting at $499.99, Meta is still taking the lower-cost route to headset technology. It's seen notable success with it, too -- the company said it had sold close to 20 million of the Meta Quest 2 as of March 2023.

While Mark Zuckerberg seems to have finally stopped pounding the Metaverse drum, the Facebook founder still sees money in his VR business. And with higher resolution optics and a lighter body coming in the Meta Quest 3, it's likely that business will continue to grow. 

Families can afford this headset, and its appropriate for both kids and adults alike. The approach is a lot like Nintendo's with its groundbreaking Wii console release in 2006, which passed up high resolution graphics for motion control and affordability.

So sure, the Meta Quest 3 looks like a cheap plastic toy next to Apple's svelte Vision Pro with its solid glass casing. And while that is what it is, both serve a good purpose for a certain kind of user. Vision Pro may look just like the headset from the sci-fi film "Ready Player One," but it's light years away from being an affordable option for the everyman -- although in five years, it could be possible.

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