The future of VR: Apple's Vision Pro and the best alternatives 2025!

The future of VR: Apple's Vision Pro and the best alternatives 2025!

CES 2023, Las Vegas, USA - Virtual Reality is on everyone's lips again! Especially the latest models, such as the Apple Vision Pro for a proud 4,000 euros and the cheaper Meta Quest 3S for around 300 euros, caused a sensation. With so many options, it is not easy to keep an overview, but the variety of features and pricing makes the hearts of technology enthusiasts beat faster. According to Computerbild , VR glasses have developed greatly in recent years, with most modern headsets being wireless and equipped with their own technology.

The main market for VR glasses is dominated by META and HTC, both of which operate their own platforms and app stores. While Meta convinces primarily through the Quest series, HTC brings special features into play with the Vive series, which are particularly interesting for PC gamers. These VR glasses are not only suitable for games, but also offer office applications. Gamers who rely on consoles can also get their money's worth with the PlayStation VR, while Xbox gamers can access meta and HTC glasses via cloud services.

The latest models in detail

A real bang in the VR world is the HTC XR elite . This modular headset is suitable for both VR and mixed reality applications and enables hand tracking. With a compact design, it is particularly light and also offers a full color RGB-pass through-through camera. Gamers and professionals can benefit from the possibility of using several virtual monitors and wirelessly streaming content via WiFi 6e. The price-performance ratio of almost 1,000 euros could be fine for some, provided that the diverse uses and the technical equipment are taken into account.

In comparison, the Meta Quest 3S is an excellent performance, especially for the price-conscious buyer. With a price of around 329 euros, users receive powerful mechanisms such as hand gestures control and a sound that makes you want more. However, users have to live with a somewhat lower display resolution, which is sufficient for most applications, but may not be entirely up for professional purposes.

Future of VR glasses

The VR industry is booming and the numbers are impressive. According to Statista , the market will grow to around 28.8 billion US dollars in 2026. More and more people go for VR headsets-around 6.8 million devices are being sold this year. For 2028, an increase to 22.9 million devices is forecast.