Comparison of three XR worlds: Apple's luxury, Samsung's ambitions, and Meta's mass hit!

Apple Vision Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3

While Meta is cutting costs and targeting the mass market of cheap goggles, Apple and Samsung are aiming much higher – both companies want to define a new quality of image in augmented reality with micro-OLED 4K. However, the differences between these three platforms are colossal – both in terms of technology and price.

Revolution in Screens: Micro-OLED vs. LCD

It is the screens that create the biggest gap between ChooseTV, Galaxy XR, and Quest 3.

While the Meta headset uses simple low-contrast LCD panels, Apple and Samsung have implemented micro-OLED with brightness and color control for each pixel. Both devices support HDR (including HDR10 and HLG), and Apple adds Dolby Vision as well.

• Apple Vision Pro: 3662×3200 pixels per eye (23 million total)

• Samsung Galaxy XR: 3552×3840 (27 million)

• Meta Quest 3: only 2064×2208 (9 million)

The difference in sharpness, contrast, and color depth is visible to the naked eye – it's an entirely different visual league.

Operating Systems: Three Philosophies

Meta Quest 3 runs on Horizon OS, which is a modified version of Android. The system is fast and simple, but limited – it lacks streaming applications and premium-class tools.

Samsung Galaxy XR debuts with Android XR, created in collaboration with Google. It is an open, ambitious platform with Gemini AI integration, allowing you to look at an object and immediately get voice information about it.

On the other hand, Apple Vision Pro with visionOS is a completely different dimension – desktop power in a portable form, a unique ecosystem of applications, and exclusive 8K 3D video content.

Immersion and Content: Apple's Advantage

Vision Pro utilizes the Apple Immersive Video format (8K 3D, 90 fps), encoded in MV-HEVC – an experience unreachable for the competition.

Apple has also created its own spatial audio format (ASAF) and a library of over 300 3D films, available exclusively on visionOS.

Samsung technically supports the same codec but does not have access to the Apple ecosystem. Meta, on the other hand, does not support MV-HEVC at all.

Computing Power: M5 Beats Everything

The differences here are drastic.

Apple Vision Pro is powered by the M5 chip, which scores over 17,800 points in Geekbench – that's over seven times more than the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 in the Galaxy XR (around 2450 points).

Meta Quest 3 with XR2 Gen 2 performs even worse.

In practice, this means that Apple can run full-fledged desktop-class applications, while the competition remains at the smartphone level.

Control and Sensors: Apple and Samsung with the Advantage

Vision Pro and Galaxy XR support eye and hand tracking, and also feature depth sensors (including Lidar in Apple).

Quest 3 relies mainly on controllers – without eye tracking and with a simpler set of cameras.

All three headsets offer spatial audio and a similar number of 3D cameras.

Weight, battery, and price

Samsung is situated between the extremes – more expensive than Meta, but significantly cheaper than Apple. Vision Pro is luxury equipment, almost a prototype of the future, while Quest 3 remains the cheapest ticket to the VR world.

Availability and Prospects

For now, only Meta Quest 3 is widely available in the world.

Galaxy XR and Vision Pro are only reaching select markets – mainly the USA and Korea.

However, the competition is just beginning, and with three giants – Apple, Samsung, and Meta – vying for users' attention, the future of XR looks incredibly interesting.

• Apple Vision Pro – the absolute peak of technology: the highest quality image, M5 power, and unique content, but at a prohibitive price.

• Samsung Galaxy XR – a balance between quality and price; modern Android XR with AI from Google.

• Meta Quest 3 – the cheapest, but also the most limited. A great start for beginners.

Three different philosophies, three visions for the future. And for users – finally a true choice in the world of XR.