So between Meta and Google, we have two XR platforms:

  • Meta’s Horizon OS has the largest and best library of immersive apps.
  • Google’s Android XR has the largest and best library of flat apps.

To dominate XR, both need what the other has. But who faces a bigger challenge?

Meta, it seems, is in a tougher spot.

Immersive app developers are hungry for growth. If a popular game can gain 25% more users by porting to Android XR, the decision is obvious.

By contrast, major flat apps (like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord) stand to gain relatively little growth from porting to Horizon OS. They’d be lucky to gain even 0.25% more users than they already have on the entirety of Android.

  • @[email protected]English
    4•8 days ago

    Even if Meta makes better hardware (let’s say they just consistently make headsets that are 20% faster, lighter, and cheaper than the equivalent Android XR headset), I still don’t think that will matter in the long run[…]

    I disagree with this conclusion. I think XR will remain mainly used for immersive experiences, rather than a stand-in for a phone or tablet. For that, price, performance and comfort all matter!

    • @fer0nOPMEnglish
      2•8 days ago

      I’ve seen a few comments that made the same point and I‘m in the same camp, but there could also be selection bias going on, because everyone who currently uses vr headsets is by definition into experiences and doesn’t really care about 2d apps.

      I can also image that people come for 2d Android apps and then stay for immersive stuff.