Meta Wants to Take on Apple Vision Pro with Upcoming Quest UI Update

March 14, 2024

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Meta appears to be taking on the Apple Vision Pro by including new augmented reality features in its upcoming Quest UI update, which will be released later this year.

Soon after Apple released its first Mixed Reality headset, the Vision Pro, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reviewed it and declared that the “Quest 3 is the better product, despite being seven times less expensive.” It may be true to some extent, given the Quest 3’s similar high-resolution pass-through feature and a weight of 120 grams less than the Vision Pro.

Meta appears to be taking on the Vision Pro with a new UI update for the Quest 3, which will feature a personalized user interface. In a recent ‘Ask me anything’ live session on Instagram, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth said he didn’t want to reveal too many details about the update, but that the new personalized UI will allow users to pin windows so they can walk around and have the windows follow them and anchor windows in real space. This means Meta Quest 3 users will be able to do chores, walk around, and pin a window to the wall, just like the Vision Pro.

While the current version of Quest UI allows you to do some of these things, Bosworth claims the upcoming UI update will make things feel more comfortable and clear.

During the AMA, Meta CTO explained that the update will also improve the typing experience on the Quest headset, allowing users to pin the virtual keyboard to a table and type with all of their fingers.

Additionally, it appears that Meta is developing the capability to communicate with and operate adjacent devices, such as smart plugs, lights, and other networked appliances. Bosworth mentioned in passing how casting and streaming will create new avenues for content consumption on Quest headsets. He proceeded to verify that the Quest 3, like the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, will also have a “lying down mode.”

The Quest UI update is expected to be released later this year, most likely when Meta unveils the highly anticipated Quest Pro 2 headset, which is expected to have more features than the Vision Pro. However, there is no information on when this update will be available.

Apple released the Vision Pro in the US last month. At launch, the “Spatial computer,” running on VisionOS, boasts over 600 apps created specifically for the headset. The Vision Pro uses a combination of hand and eye tracking, allowing users to navigate the user interface hands-free, while the Quest 3 requires users to use controllers to navigate around the interface.