Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently made a compelling defense of the company’s Quest 3 VR headset, directly contrasting it with Apple Inc.’s Vision Pro. Now, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has decisively echoed Zuckerberg’s sentiments, denouncing Apple’s Vision Pro in a seven-part Instagram Q&A post posted on Wednesday. His critique points towards a problematic design feature that could have significant ramifications.
Bosworth highlighted numerous problems with Apple Vision Pro and essentially dismissed reports suggesting that Cupertino’s first-generation mixed-reality headset surpassed Meta’s Quest 3. He joins Zuckerberg in positioning Meta Quest 3 as not just a better value but also a superior product overall. By his assessment, after using the headset, the seemingly laudable high-tech features of Apple Vision Pro appear to pale in comparison to the performance of Meta’s Quest 3.
Bosworth’s personal account of the headset highlights its apparent shortcomings, stating: “As soon as I put the headset on, I can see what trade-offs they made and why they made them. And, perhaps definitionally, those aren’t the trade-offs I would have made.” He also echoes widespread dissatisfaction with Apple Vision Pro’s substantial weight, calling it “very uncomfortable to use” and criticizing its poor weight distribution.
The CTO offered a candid assessment, noting the flaws of Vision Pro, including “motion blur” and design issues. Despite acknowledging the high-resolution and low latency of Vision Pro’s screen as positive features, Bosworth’s perspective unequivocally points towards a substantial discrepancy in user experience between the two products.
The direct criticism from Meta’s highest ranks raises significant questions about Apple’s design choices and technological development, as Meta’s Quest 3 is priced at $499, compared to Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro. Moreover, reports of Vision Pro users returning their headsets due to design and performance issues further underscore the gravity of Bosworth’s and Zuckerberg’s evaluations.
Despite these notable shortcomings, some Apple enthusiasts continue to support the headset. However, the vocal critique from Meta’s CTO against Apple’s Vision Pro has generated substantial attention within the tech industry and raises significant doubt about the product’s viability in its current form.
