Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Meta’s $1,299 VR Glasses Challenge Apple Vision Pro
Meta made a new virtual-reality headset that is much cheaper than Apple’s Vision Pro.
Meta’s device is expected in Spring 2027 and costs $1,299.
It weighs about 100 grams because its main computer and battery sit in a small pocket device connected by a cable.
Apple’s headset weighs about 600–650 grams and keeps its computer inside the headset.
Meta’s glasses are designed for watching movies, using several virtual computer screens, and playing games.
They can show IMAX-style movies and connect to Mac or Windows computers.
Apple’s headset has a wider view and works closely with Apple’s ecosystem.
Meta supports physical controllers and many VR games, while Apple focuses more on hand gestures and regular gamepads.
The main choice is between Meta’s lighter, cheaper design and Apple’s wider, more self-contained experience.
Meta unveiled $1,299 VR Glasses planned for release in Spring 2027, compared with Apple’s $3,699 Vision Pro.
Meta’s headset weighs about 100 grams by moving its processor, battery, and storage into a tethered 300-gram pocket puck.
Apple Vision Pro offers a wider field of view and on-device M2 and R1 chips, but weighs about 600–650 grams.
Meta promotes cinema, virtual workspaces, and gaming with Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced certification, PC connections, and Quest compatibility.
Meta supports Touch Plus controllers and more than 75 hand-gesture-controlled titles, while Vision Pro lacks dedicated motion controllers for advanced VR games.
- Who
- Meta, led by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple are the companies being compared.
- What
- Meta unveiled $1,299 VR Glasses designed for entertainment, virtual workspaces, and gaming, positioning them against Apple Vision Pro.
- When
- Meta plans to release the VR Glasses in Spring 2027; the unveiling occurred at Meta Connect.
- Where
- The products are intended for use in homes, workplaces, and other personal environments; the unveiling took place at Meta Connect.
- Why
- Meta is challenging Apple by emphasizing lower price, lighter weight, comfort, and gaming support rather than maximum field of view or on-device computing.
Meta’s lightweight value approach
Apple’s immersive premium approach
Comfort and hardware
Meta’s lightweight value approach
Meta moves the processor, battery, and storage to a tethered pocket puck, allowing an approximately 100-gram open-sided frame designed for longer use.
Apple’s immersive premium approach
Apple places its M2 and R1 chips, cooling fans, and glass enclosure in the headset, creating a heavier 600–650-gram device but an all-in-one computing experience.
Cinema and immersion
Meta’s lightweight value approach
Meta emphasizes comfort, Dolby Vision, spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced certification, and Disney and Marvel 3D content in an open-sided design.
Apple’s immersive premium approach
Vision Pro offers a wider approximately 100-degree horizontal field of view and deep integration with Apple TV+ 3D movies, supporting a more enclosed immersive experience.
Work and gaming
Meta’s lightweight value approach
Meta supports Mac and Windows connections, virtual displays, virtual desk surfaces, Touch Plus controllers, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and more than 75 hand-gesture-controlled titles.
Apple’s immersive premium approach
Apple offers high-resolution Mac Virtual Display integration and hand tracking, but the lack of dedicated motion controllers has limited support for advanced 6DoF gaming titles.
- Meta VR Glasses price
- $1,299, approximately Rs 1.24 lakh
- Apple Vision Pro price
- $3,699
- Meta headset weight
- Approximately 100 grams
- Apple headset weight
- Approximately 600–650 grams
- Meta release timing
- Spring 2027
- Meta battery life
- Up to 3 hours
- Apple Vision Pro battery life
- Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours
- Meta display and view
- 5K Micro-OLED, 37 pixels per degree, and a 70-degree horizontal field of view