Apple’s brand new Vision Pro headset has lost one of its competitive advantages over its rivals, as the Meta was announced today which will also add support for spatial video playback to the more accessible Meta Quest. Spatial videos, also known as stereoscopic videos, are videos that Apple customers can take themselves with any iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Support for the feature rolled out with the release of iOS 17.2 in December, allowing users to film in 3D so they can later relive their favorite memories through Apple’s mixed reality headset.
While Meta’s adoption of the feature is a win for Apple in making spatial video more of a standard for 3D recordings, it also makes Meta’s headset more competitive with Apple’s Vision Pro. Starting at $3,500, but costing closer to $4,600 with the necessary add-ons and accessories, as reported by the New York Times, Apple headphones are out of reach for many consumers. Meta’s Quest line, by comparison, has lower-cost options, including the $250 Quest 2, $500 Quest 3, and $1,000 Quest Pro.
Apple’s spatial video will be supported on Meta Quest devices via the v62 software update that’s starting to roll out now, Meta says. Customers will then be able to upload their spatial video recordings to their Meta handset using the Quest mobile app, allowing them to experience their memories in 3D. Meta says uploaded content will be converted for playback on Meta Quest hardware and stored in the cloud, and users will be able to select the videos from the Files menu when they want to watch them.
Additionally, users will be able to manage their videos from the Meta Quest mobile app gallery or the new spatial videos section of the Files menu on your headset. Meta has also created some demo videos that customers can watch to get a taste of the experience, even if they don’t own an iPhone 15 Pro device.
Other improvements in the upcoming update include support for external gamepads, including PlayStation, Xbox and others. PlayStation 5 DualSense and PlayStation 4 DualShock wireless controllers will also get improved support, Meta says. The gamepad can be connected via both Bluetooth and USB-C and can be used with games like Halo Infinite or Forza Horizon 5 with the Xbox Cloud Gaming app (Beta). (The latter requires a supported headset and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.)
Facebook live streaming is also available to all Meta Quest users, following its initial release in the v56 update, the company noted. Users will be able to live stream from the camera icon in the Universal Menu so they can broadcast their VR activities to their friends. Those who stream on YouTube will now also see their chats while live streaming with the new update.
Additionally, Meta Quest users will now be able to perform common actions by looking down at their palm and then performing a simple gesture — such as a short pinch to show and hide the Universal Menu or a long pinch to reset the screen. This change is likely Meta’s response to the Vision Pro’s navigation capabilities, which include operating the device by hand, voice, or vision (eye tracking).
The timing of Meta’s support for spatial video is interesting, coming a day before the public presentation of Apple’s Vision Pro. The addition is a mixed bag for Apple – it will make the iPhone 15 Pro devices a more compelling purchase if spatial videos can be viewed on other VR devices. But it could also tempt customers to spend big on the Vision Pro if they already own a Meta Quest headset or are in the market for new VR gear. While Apple’s Vision Pro may offer better video quality than lower-end devices, it remains to be seen how many customers are willing to pay for the upgrade.
