Meta, the biggest competitor to the Apple Vision Pro, has announced that it will use a tried-and-tested strategy to take on Apple: Meta wants to be the Android of VR.
In a press release, the company behind the Quest line of headsets revealed that it is opening up the Meta Horizon operating system and Quest ecosystem to third-party manufacturers . This means you may soon be able to buy a headset made by Dell or Sony and log in to see the Meta UI you already know and the Meta apps you already have.
It's similar to Android or Windows, where while Google and Microsoft make their own products, the software that powers their phones and laptops isn't limited to Google and Microsoft hardware. This allows these companies to stay on par with Apple devices without having to directly compete with them on every front, while also giving customers more choices.
Is it open source? No. But it does mean Meta can just rely on a smaller company to move upmarket and keep up with Vision Pro, something the company behind Facebook has had trouble doing in the past.
Meta's more open VR strategy starts with a three-pronged approach, with laptop manufacturers Lenovo and Asus about to launch two new headsets, as well as an Xbox-branded Quest headset launched directly from Meta itself.
Each headset should target a different audience, allowing the Meta to immediately differentiate itself from Apple by appealing to numerous use cases. Asus' headset comes from the company's Republic of Gamers arm, which means it'll likely come with RGB lighting and the latest and greatest VR gaming specs. Lenovo appears to be leveraging the company's experience with ThinkPads, which means it could be targeting a more professional audience. The Xbox collaboration focuses entirely on design, which looks unique, but is otherwise the same as a regular Quest 3 .
In addition to lowering the barriers to making Meta-branded hardware, Meta is also "beginning to remove the barriers between the Meta Horizon Store and App Labs," which essentially means smaller developers will now be able to push their content directly to consumers By.
"We believe a more open ecosystem is the best way to bring the power of mixed reality to as many people as possible," Meta wrote in its statement. "As devices become more available, this new ecosystem will More choices for consumers and businesses around the world.”
Given the mass returns from the impressive but niche Apple Vision Pro , a wider selection of devices, all at different price points and audiences, and all running Meta's more mature ecosystem, this could be just where VR comes in required by the mass market.
