Meta Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro: Which One Is Right for You?
Apple just launched its brand-new and highly-anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset on February 2. The Vision Pro marks Apple's inaugural foray into mixed reality or what they’re calling "spatial computing". The headset promises an unparalleled augmented reality experience with a host of innovative features that have set the VR community abuzz.
However, the hefty $3,499 price tag prompts a closer examination, especially when more budget-friendly alternatives like the new Meta Quest 3 are gaining traction. In this side-by-side comparison, we'll delve into Meta Quest 3 vs the Apple Vision Pro, dissecting everything from price and design to battery life, display quality, performance, and more. Whether you're a VR enthusiast or on the hunt for a new headset, this is an article you won’t want to skip as we compare and contrast these two cutting-edge devices.
Meta Quest 3 vs. Apple Vision Pro
Price
First and foremost, let's start with the most noticeable difference between these two headsets: price. Meta Quest 3 retails for as low as $499.99 for 128GB. But even upgrading to 512GB at $649.99 doesn’t bring you anywhere near the price point of the Apple Vision Pro, which is available starting February 2 for $3,499. This makes it one of the most expensive consumer-facing headsets on the market.
If you’re on a budget, Meta is the obvious choice. But if you’re looking for an even lower price point, the Meta Quest 2 now retails at $249.99. This gives you even more options to join the metaverse, have fun, and achieve your fitness goals with Litesport — without breaking the bank.
Apps & Software
And speaking of Litesport, let’s talk next about the apps, games, and software available for each of these headsets. The Quest 3 runs on Android-powered OS software while the Apple Vision Pro runs on Apple’s new visionOS spatial operating system, based on the iOS framework. Like Androids vs. iPhones, these headsets exist in completely different operating systems, each with a separate app library. Since visionOS is a new system, it has to play catch-up to build out a library of VR-friendly apps. For example, most fitness apps like Litesport aren’t available to download in the visionOS app store.
The good news for Meta Quest 3 is that Meta already has an extensive library of apps and games available on all Meta devices, including Litesport. So you can buy a Meta Quest 3 headset today and get immediate access to download and play all 500+ games from the existing and continuously growing Quest library. This includes Litesport, which is available to download on all Meta Quest devices.
Gaming & Fitness
Another major difference between these headsets — and a big reason for the whopping $3,499 Vision Pro price tag! — is they’re designed for different purposes. The Meta Quest 3, and all Meta Quest headsets, are built for immersive VR gaming and fitness. As we’ve mentioned, Meta has an extensive app and gaming platform. Whereas the Vision Pro isn’t meant for gaming, and fitness apps like Litesport aren’t even available on the platform.
Instead, the Vision Pro aims to combine the functionality of your phone, TV, and computer all in one. Think of it as more of a work-oriented productivity tool than a gaming device. It has similar functionalities to your laptop but in a mixed-reality environment. So if you’re looking for gaming and immersive VR fitness — like slamming battle ropes, squatting under obstacles, or punching a virtual target with Litesport — then a Meta Quest headset is what you need. If you’re looking to experience the latest in augmented reality when it comes to work productivity, then the Vision Pro might be worth the price.
Design
Next, let’s talk about the design of these two headsets. Meta took notes from Quest 1 and Quest 2 to develop a headset with significant design upgrades. The Quest 3 headset features a 40% slimmer optic profile and better weight distribution than the Quest 2, without compromising visual immersion. This new, thinner headset offers maximum comfort and better airflow, which is crucial if you’re using your headset for fitness games like Litesport that involve a lot of moving and sweating. Quest 3 also offers plenty of customization options thanks to an adjustable strap design. You can easily adjust the lens positioning and pupil distance to accommodate glasses, face shape, hairstyle, and more.
As for the Apple Vision Pro, it’s best described as a high-tech, futuristic pair of ski goggles. Its design is characteristically Apple, merging elements from their slew of tech products like their AirPods, iPhones, and Apple Watch. The Apple Vision Pro features a head-mounted display made of lightweight aluminum connected by adjustable fabric mesh straps. Like the Meta Quest 3, it offers a breathable and customizable fit for maximal comfort. But unlike other headsets, the Vision Pro uses a feature called EyeSight that makes the 3D display at the front appear transparent, showing the eyes of the user — not unlike an actual pair of goggles. This is intentional so that anyone interacting with you as you wear your Apple Vision Pro headset can see your face.
Battery Life
A critical design difference between the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 is the battery. The Apple Vision Pro only works when plugged into the wall or to a smartphone-sized external battery connected by wire to the headset. This non-portable experience is a bit of a nuisance since you’re tethered to a wire or a wall at all times.
The Meta Quest 3 battery, on the other hand, offers a wireless and much more portable experience with a battery integrated into the headset. So you don’t need to worry about long wires and external batteries. The Meta Quest 3 battery life is also longer, with 2.2 hours on average and a peak battery life of 2.9 hours compared to less than 2 for the Vision Pro.
Controllers
Another key difference between these two headsets is the controllers — or in the case of the Apple Vision Pro, a lack thereof. That’s right, the Apple Vision Pro doesn’t include controllers. Instead, 12 cameras, six microphones, and five sensors track your eyes, hands, and voice for a controller-free experience.
Meta Quest 3 also offers the option to game without controllers, thanks to hand-tracking functionality. But for those who want more of a tactile experience, the headset comes with Touch Plus controllers. These controllers went through a major design upgrade from Quest 2 to Quest 3, dropping the bulky outer tracking rings and replacing them with a sleeker, ergonomic design. The new Touch Plus controllers also offer enhanced haptic feedback with their TruTouch technology. This means you’ll feel every punch on the Liteshield and experience every slam of the battle rope. The new ring-free design also makes your movement feel more natural so you can react more intuitively and punch with more accuracy.
Display
Next, let's talk about the display. Both headsets use advanced pancake lenses for a clear, enhanced viewing experience. The Meta Quest 3 features a high-resolution LCD display with 2064 × 2208 pixels per eye. This is a 30% higher resolution display than Meta Quest 2 thanks to pancake optics and its 4K+ Infinite Display with 25 pixels per degree and 1,218 pixels per inch. It’s Meta’s best resolution out of all their Quest devices.
The Apple Vision Pro uses a dual 4K micro-OLED display with a higher resolution of 2160 x 3840 pixels per eye. Both offer sharp, immersive, and stunning visuals. But, as expected with the higher price point, the high-resolution Apple Vision Pro display brings the user to a whole new level of immersion in augmented reality.
Performance
As for what’s powering that high-resolution display, these headsets differ quite significantly. The Apple Vision Pro uses both an Apple M2 chip and an R1 Apple Silicon chip. Designed in-house by Apple, the primary M2 chip powers the hardware while the R1 chip controls the sensors and cameras. The Quest 3, on the other hand, uses a next-generation Snapdragon chipset, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies.
Although the Apple Vision Pro is the more powerful headset, the Quest 3 offers a major improvement from the Quest 2. Compared to its predecessors, the Quest 3’s new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor gives it double the GPU processing power for a faster and smoother gaming experience. In other words, get ready for lightning-fast load times, crisp details, and incredibly immersive visuals unlike anything you’ve experienced before. On Litesport, this creates a seamless and fast-action workout experience where you can go from one class to the next with no lag or loading time to slow you down.
Features
The Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro were created for different purposes, and those purposes influence their features. The Meta Quest 3 is designed for VR gaming, with features like hand tracking, advanced color passthrough, spatial audio, PC compatibility, wireless accessibility, and mixed-reality technology for an immersive and interactive virtual experience.
As evidenced by its higher price point, the Apple Vision Pro is meant for more than just gaming. The goal of its “spatial computing” technology is to combine the functionality of an iPhone, MacBook, and Apple TV into one device. So while it includes several similar features to the Quest 3 like hand tracking, spatial audio, and mixed reality, it also offers features like a 3D camera and eye tracking or EyeSight that take augmented reality to the next level. These features are all about seamlessly blending your real world with the digital one. This gives the Apple Vision Pro an edge in the professional world by making it possible to perform tasks like talking to a virtual colleague or typing on a virtual keyboard all while sitting at your real-world desk.
This “more than gaming” approach means that mixed reality — or overlaying the digital world on top of the real one — is the default setting for the Apple Vision Pro. The Meta Quest 3 also uses mixed reality features, like full-color passthrough. In Litesport this feature makes it feel like your trainer is right there in the room with you. This creates a fun, immersive, and safe workout experience. But should you choose to forgo the real world, you can also opt for full virtual reality, stepping into virtual workout environments like a boxing ring or high-rise studio.
Audio
Both the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 offer impressive spatial audio capabilities, providing an immersive experience. The Quest 3 offers a new level of 3D spatial audio and a 40% louder volume range than the Quest 2. This enhanced sound quality and spatial audio improvement creates a far more immersive experience that makes you feel like you’re not just listening to the music but like you’re part of the action. The Quest 3 is also compatible with headphones via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm headphone jack. We can’t wait for you to press play on your first Punch Track in Meta Quest 3 — the sound will get you punching and moving like never before.
Which VR Headset Is Best for You?
So, should you go with the more affordable, gamer-focused Meta Quest 3 or splurge on Apple’s newest venture into spatial computing? The right headset for you depends on what you’re looking for! These headsets are designed for different purposes, so it’s important to not only look at your budget but also ask yourself what you want to use the headset for.
Meta Quest is all about bringing virtual reality gaming to the masses, with hundreds of interactive and immersive games and VR experiences live and ready to download. The Meta Quest 3 is also an impressive upgrade from its predecessors. It features double the GPU processing power, higher-resolution displays, full-color passthrough, enhanced controller haptics, a slimmer and more comfortable design, and more. Plus you get all these new or improved features for an affordable price.
The Apple Vision Pro is a premium product with a much higher price tag than any Meta or other VR headset, putting it out of reach for the average consumer. It’s Apple’s first venture into this world of mixed reality, and they’re testing the waters with this first-generation product to see what’s possible. If you're willing to pay a premium to unlock the latest in augmented reality, then the Apple Vision Pro might be right for you. But if you want a budget-friendly VR option for gaming or VR fitness, look to the Meta Quest 3.
As for Litesport, we’re only available on Meta Quest devices. With its affordable price, immersive visuals, and powerful performance it's an unbeatable headset for VR enthusiasts, gamers, and fitness lovers. Learn more about Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro and join Litesport for free today with a 7-day free trial.
