Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro – how do they compare?

Gaming or work? Or both? Let's check out Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro

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Two upcoming mixed reality (MR) headsets with some pretty big differences between them, it’s Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro. Both the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro are on the way – though the Quest 3 is arriving earlier with Quest 3 pre orders already live. Time to do a comprehensive comparison before you decide on which is best for you. There’s plenty of time to do so!

We already compared the existing Meta Quest Pro vs Apple Vision Pro, two devices which are definitely high-end tech. Right now though, it’s time to focus on the Quest 3, which is going to be a fantastic gaming device, though the Apple Vision Pro may have a different target market.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro compatibility

First thing’s first is the compatibility of these two devices. Unlike some other VR headsets out there, these two will work as standalone pieces of kit. That doesn’t mean you can’t connect them to another device though. Meta Quest 3 will come with a massive library of games built in, more than 500 according to their Introducing Meta Quest 3 trailer. In comparison, the Apple Vision Pro will also feature games, with many of these coming from their Apple Arcade line-up.

As for external devices, the Meta Quest 3 will be able to connect to a PC. Likely in the same fashion as the Quest 2, which links either through a USB-C cable or Air Link wirelessly. Hooking the headset up to powerful gaming PC can boost its performance dramatically.

The Apple Vision Pro can also connect to an external device. Although it’s designed for all-in-one use in general, you can actually connect it to a Mac wirelessly. Apple claim this is done as simply as looking at the Mac computer in question, as Tom’s Guide reports. It will also be able to connect to other Apple devices.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro specs we know so far

Although the Meta Quest 3 has now launched, there is still much to learn about the Vision Pro, but many of the key details are already with us, thanks to Apple’s demonstration at WWDC. Let’s talk about a few of the key specs which are important to both of these mixed reality headsets.

	Meta Quest 3	Apple Vision Pro
CPU / Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip – x2 the GPU power of Quest 2	Apple M2 (R1 chip for cameras)
Display / Optics	LCD	Custom micro-OLED display
Passthrough support	‘Full-color passthrough’	Color
Resolution	2064 x 2208 per eye	More than 4K per eye
Refresh rate	90Hz native, 120Hz experimental	90Hz
Battery life	Up to 2.2 hours on average	2 hours with battery pack
Storage	128GB, 512GB	Unknown
Size & Weight	184 mm x 160 mm x 98 mm, 515 grams, 40% slimmer than Quest 2 (excluding facial interface)	Unknown

There are some big differences in the specs at play here. The Apple Vision Pro is going all out of screen resolution, as it looks to be the best mixed reality experience. On the other hand, the Meta Quest 3 is more of a gaming device and has augmented reality as less of a focus. Apple’s big WWDC keynote showcased the Apple Vision Pro as the ultimate MR device for work and entertainment, with the super high resolution being a key aspect to have clear vision of multiple windows in your AR space.

As you can tell, the Meta Quest 3 is a little more conventional. But the upgrade compared to the last edition to include a full-color passthrough gives it AR functionality. The improved GPU is definitely something to consider for gamers, especially considering that the 90Hz refresh rate can be boosted to an experimental 120Hz.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro pre-release thoughts on performance

Right now, it’s a difficult task to compare the performance of these two devices. Considering they can’t really be seen as directly competitors, and the fact their performance is yet to be tested in hands-on reviews. However, the Quest 3 is going to deliver greater gaming performance than its predecessor, and hooking it up to a beefy gaming PC can make it even more powerful. We can speculate that the in-headset performance for gaming could actually be quite similar between the Quest 3 and Vision Pro, as the current Meta Quest and Apple Arcade game line-up tends to focus on more lightweight or mobile-focused titles. Quest 3 could have the edge in refresh rate though.

The Apple Vision Pro really shines its AR desktop-like environment. Even though the Quest 3 will feature full-color passthrough as part of their augmented ‘Meta Reality’ feature, we fully expect the Vision Pro to outdo it with its super high resolution. Meta do however advertise natural depth perception as part of the AR experience.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro price

Now we’ve made it to the price. This is where a massive difference lies. Thankfully we know the price of both of these mixed reality headsets. However your wallet may not be so thankful in the case of the Apple Vision Pro. Here are the prices on release:

• Meta Quest 3 price: $499 (128GB) / $649 (512GB)
• Apple Vision Pro price: $3,499

That’s right, a massive $3000 difference in the price tag. Apple are really pushing the mixed reality experience like no other manufacturer right now, and it clearly comes at a cost. Considering the Meta announcement says ‘from $499’, we expect this to be the base 128GB variant. The Apple Vision Pro no doubt stands out from the rest of the VR headset crowd, and the price is one reason for that.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro – which is better?

So, which is better? Well, it’s hard to compare these devices side-by-side as they clearly have different target audiences. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Apple Vision Pro is going to revolutionize the mixed reality market, even if it comes at a hefty cost. If you’re looking for the ultimate VR headset for work or entertainment, the Vision Pro is going to have to be the best for you.

Otherwise, we think the Meta Quest 3 is definitely fantastic value for money in comparison and the addition of augmented reality of its own is more than welcome. Yet again, it will be the ideal pick for a wide range of gaming support on PC and as a great all-in-one choice for casual gaming too.

Meta Quest 3 vs Apple Vision Pro FAQs

Does the Meta Quest 3 connect to Mac?

This is yet to be confirmed on the Meta Quest 3, but previous Quest headsets did not natively support Mac as well as Windows PC.

However, you can set up your Mac with sideloading through third-party apps like Sidequest or use a virtual desktop to access your Mac remotely on the Meta Quest.

Can the Apple Vision Pro play Meta Quest games?

It’s unlikely that the Apple Vision Pro will support Meta Quest games. Instead, Apple have mentioned that the Vision Pro has access to over 100 Apple Arcade games, including NBA 2K23.