Meta Horizon Worlds provides an accessible entry point into social VR experiences, emphasizing community-created content and social interaction. Apple Vision Pro, on the other hand, offers a premium, high-performance mixed reality experience tailored for professionals and tech enthusiasts seeking seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. The choice depends on the user's budget, primary use case, and desired level of immersion and performance.
| Attribute | Meta Horizon Worlds | Apple Vision Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Meta Horizon Worlds | Apple Vision Pro |
| Target Audience | Initially 18 and older, now includes teens aged 13-17 in the US and Canada with age-appropriate protections and parental supervision tools. | Professionals, tech enthusiasts, and early adopters |
| Primary Use Case | Social interaction, gaming, attending events, creating virtual environments, connecting, working, learning, playing, and brand engagement. | Integrating digital media with the real world (productivity, entertainment, communication, reliving memories) |
| Display Technology | LCD | Dual micro-OLED displays |
| Resolution Per Eye | Meta Quest 3S: 1832 x 1920, Meta Quest 3: 2064 x 2208 | Approximately 3660 x 3200 pixels |
| Field of View | Not available | Estimates range from 100 to 120 degrees diagonally |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz |
| Processor | Optimized to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip | Apple M2 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) and Apple R1 co-processor |
| Operating System | Meta Horizon OS (based on Android Open Source Project - AOSP) | visionOS |
| Ecosystem Integration | Integrates with Meta Quest ecosystem, allows identities/avatars/friend groups to move across virtual spaces, aims to bridge multiple platforms (mixed reality, mobile, desktop), planned integration with Facebook and Instagram. | Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem |
| Controller Type | Motion controllers required (3DoF and 6DoF supported), Meta Quest and Meta Touch controllers are 6DoF. | No physical controllers. Hand gestures, eye tracking, and voice input |
| Hand Tracking Capabilities | Supports hand tracking using inside-out cameras on Meta Quest headsets to detect and track hand position, orientation, and finger configuration. | Cameras and infrared sensors for hand tracking, 21 hand-joint positions |
| Price | Free (access requires a Meta Quest VR headset) | Starting at US$3,499. Additional costs include Zeiss optical inserts (US$99 for readers, US$149 for custom prescription) |
| Pros | Offers immersive experiences through virtual reality, Designed to help users feel together even when physically apart, Offers virtual meeting rooms and social spaces, Users can explore thousands of community-created worlds, The platform provides tools for users and developers to create, share, and monetize their VR/AR experiences, Spatial audio enhances immersion, Hand tracking improves immersion. | Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, High-resolution display, Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, Effective hand tracking, Emphasizes privacy |
| Cons | Mixed reviews, with some critics citing bugs and an unenjoyable environment, Visual limitations exist due to constraints on creator options, Mixed reality headset use raises concerns about personal data collection (eye tracking, biometric data), There are concerns about data security and user rights, Compared to Second Life, Horizon Worlds has not yet established a genuine, user-driven economic system. | Comfort seems to be a mixed bag, External battery pack can be a bit annoying, Weight can cause eye strain and require breaks, Content ecosystem is still limited compared to other platforms |