Zuckerberg's Vision Pro is here! Quest 3 is better and offers better value for money.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, recently posted a video on Instagram sharing his thoughts on Apple's new mixed reality headset, Vision Pro. He stated that Meta Platforms' Quest 3 headset is "more cost-effective" and "undoubtedly a better product." While it is evident that Zuckerberg is promoting his own product, his decision to release a video highlighting the differences between Quest 3 and Vision Pro demonstrates the increasingly fierce competition between Apple and Meta Platforms. Both companies are trying to convince consumers of the benefits of mixed reality headsets, which can overlay digital content on the real world or provide immersive virtual reality experiences. So far, Meta Platforms has taken a low-cost strategy, while Apple focuses on clearer screens, more powerful processors, and higher-end materials. In the video released on Tuesday, Zuckerberg mentioned that he believes the Quest headset is "more comfortable" compared to Vision Pro. He also highlighted its deeper library of immersive content, wider field of view, more accurate hand tracking, and brighter screen. However, he also acknowledged that Vision Pro has a higher screen resolution and "excellent" eye tracking. "It seems that many people assume the quality of Vision Pro is higher simply because it is made by Apple and priced over $3,000. But honestly, considering the price difference, I am very surprised that Quest performs better in most of the features that users value," said Zuckerberg. Apple officially launched the Vision Pro mixed reality headset priced at $3,500 in the United States on February 2. This is the first new product category the company has released since the introduction of the Apple Watch in 2015. During a launch event held in New York, Apple CEO Tim Cook told the media that this headset is "today's technology of tomorrow." Quest 3, on the other hand, was announced in September last year and began shipping the following month. The starting price for Quest 3 is $500, $200 more expensive than Meta Platforms' previous headsets. Meta Platforms' new headset has a feature called "perspective" mode, which allows users to quickly view the outside world while wearing the headset. Apple Vision Pro also offers a similar function. In the video, Zuckerberg said that he knows some "fans" may be unhappy when people question whether Apple will dominate the field of mixed reality headsets. However, he believes that Meta Platforms' open model will win. "The future has yet to be written," he said. Apple has not responded to Zuckerberg's comments. In terms of sales, although there were no long queues outside physical stores like when new iPhones are released, online sales were extremely popular. The servers were overwhelmed within 5 minutes of the launch, and physical stores sold out within half an hour of pre-sales. However, according to a previous report by Wall Street News, Guo Mingchi, known as the "most knowledgeable Apple analyst," stated that early signs may indicate a weakening demand for Vision Pro. Within 48 hours of opening pre-orders, there were no changes in the extended delivery time, which raised a major concern: that demand may quickly decline after core fans and heavy users place their orders. The changes in Vision Pro's delivery time are different from the performance of popular iPhones. On Wednesday, Apple's stock price fell 1% to $183.18, while Meta Platforms' stock price rose 1.58% to $467.37.