The Apple Vision Pro aims to be the best spatial computing headset ever, but at $3,500, many people wonder if it’s worth the price. After all, the $499 Meta Quest 3 provides many of the same capabilities and experiences as Apple’s headgear at a far lower cost. I’ve tried both headsets side by side, and the Vision Pro is clearly superior – as it should be for such a high-end product.
I’ve already discussed how the Meta Quest 3 outperforms the Apple Vision Pro. But now I wanted to turn the tables and show where Apple’s ultra-premium smartphone triumphs. From the eye-tracking UI and unique apps to how it syncs with your iPhone and Mac, here’s 7 ways the Apple Vision Pro beats the Meta Quest 3.
Superior eye and hand tracking
The Apple Vision Pro has one significant feature that the Meta Quest 3 lacks: eye tracking. (The Meta Quest Pro has it). The VisionOS interface is extremely user-friendly when it comes to eye tracking. Simply gaze at the app or item you wish to pick and touch your fingers together. Yes, the Meta Quest 3 supports hand motions, but without eye tracking, it’s less precise and trustworthy, as I discovered during my personal testing. In comparison, the Meta is hit-or-miss and seems like hard labor.
Much higher resolution
The Apple Vision Pro has twin micro-OLED lenses with a total of more than 23 million pixels. That translates to more than 4K resolution per eye, making this headgear excellent for watching videos and engaging with AI software. Apple did not specify the exact resolution, but according to one Reddit post, it is 3660 x 3142.
In comparison, the Meta Quest 3 has a lesser resolution (2064 x 2208 each eye). While this is 30% higher than the Meta Quest 2, it is still far below the Vision Pro. I observed a significant change when perusing the web and viewing movie trailers.
Syncs with your iPhone and iCloud automatically
One of the Vision Pro’s selling points is how easily it imports all of your digital content from iCloud, from images and texts to notes. Once you sign in with your Apple ID, all of your stuff will appear. The Meta Quest 3 has its own specialized Meta Quest software for saving photographs and movies in its Gallery, as well as quick casting, however it falls short because the Vision Pro does not require a separate app.
MacBook integration is magical
@tomsguide Who needs a regular monitor when you could use Apple Vision Pro as your MacBook monitor 🤨 #visionpro #applevisionpro #visionproreview #appleheadset #visionproapps #appledevices #techreview #techtok #macbookpro #macbookmonitor #portablemonitor #computing #computermonitor #remotework #cooltech #tomsguide ♬ Aglow (Intro) – Slowed Down Version – Karamel Kel
Yes, the Meta Quest 3 includes a Meta Quest Remote desktop software in beta that you may start manually to supersize your Windows or Mac desktop, however it does not function as smoothly as this. Simply walk up to your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, and you’ll notice a floating Connect button above it via your Vision Pro. Simply touch your fingers to connect, and the desktop will appear in your view, allowing you to expand it as large as you like while viewing text in vivid 4K. The Meta Quest 3 app had a lower quality and only offered one size.
Dedicated Disney Plus and Max apps and more
At launch, the Apple Vision Pro included specialized applications for Disney Plus and Max, with more on the way. The Disney Plus app provides access to the whole repertoire as well as many environments to enhance the viewing experience, like The Avengers Tower and Tatooine. There are also over 40 3D movies to view, and counting.
The Vision Pro’s Max app includes all of your favorite HBO originals, as well as breaking news and live sports, with select titles accessible in 4K and Spatial Audio. Fans of Game of Thrones may also activate the Red Keep Environment. In addition, the Apple Vision Pro supports iPad-compatible applications from Peacock, ESPN, Paramount Plus, and others. For the time being, you do not have access to YouTube or Netflix, both of which are available on the Meta Quest 3, however you may do so using the Vision Pro’s Safari browser.
Sleeker, modular design
The Vision Pro is clearly heavier than the Meta Quest 3, but Apple’s headset seems and feels more quality in contrast. Its glass and metal style is sleeker and more modern than the plastic Meta Quest 3, and I appreciate that it has two headband options: the Solo Knit Band and the Dual Look Band.
Additionally, I like the Vision Pro’s buttons and controls. The Digital Crown is simple to use; it opens the main menu, refreshes your view, and regulates both the immersion level (spatial computing or full VR mode) and volume based on where you gaze. The top button on the left captures spatial images and videos while also validating App Store transactions.
Another plus for the Vision Pro is that the light seal and light seal cushion are customized to your face before you buy it, so there’s much less of a chance light will leak into your view.
Spatial computing is just better
While the Meta Quest 3 allows you to run programs side by side and move them around, I found it inelegant. For example, I couldn’t simply resize the Messenger app I had pinned to my area, and when I tried to drag and drop a photo from the Camera app into an outgoing message, nothing occurred. I had to first select the share button in the Camera app, then the app I wanted to share with, and then the person. Too many steps. With the Vision Pro, it just works.
Where the Meta Quest 3 wins and bottom line
The Meta Quest 3 is a fantastic mixed reality headset for the price, and it outperforms Apple when it comes to gaming, but the Vision Pro is superior in some aspects. Its eye- and hand-tracking interface outperforms the Meta Quest’s three-hand tracking, and the quality is far greater with the Vision Pro, making the video pass-through, AR apps, and, most importantly, films appear much crisper.
The Vision Pro is far from perfect, however, because you must always be attached to a battery, and the extra weight of the headset may irritate you after a while. If money were no problem, I’d choose the Vision Pro since I believe the app choices will increase. But the Meta Quest 3 is a solid and affordable option.
