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Was there a serious competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro at CES?

Apple’s Vision Pro is a potentially revolutionary product. As the tech giant prepares for its release, speculation grows about the potential competitors in the immersive technology market.

Apple’s dominance in various industries makes it difficult to predict whether Vision Pro will face significant competition.

The battle to dominate augmented reality is taking place in an era of rapid technology advancements. Apple is a pioneer in augmented reality. To compete with Apple, other companies may have to step up their game.

It was CES 2024 that provided the backdrop for making educated guesses about whether Vision Pro would be seriously challenged when it is released in February.

While I was unable to attend CES for the first time since over 20 years because of a family issue, I got a thoughtful and deliberate online perspective in order to answer this question. 

Explore the landscape of tech, and examine the unique features which could make the Vision Pro stand out. My big takeaways.

Asus AirVison M1

(Image Credit: Asus)

AirVision M1 is more closely associated with smart glasses than virtual or mixed reality headsets. These displays can be worn like glasses but are more suited to creating virtual screens rather than 3D content.

AirVision M1 users can see both the screen directly in front of them and their immediate environment thanks to Micro OLED displays with 1080p resolution for each eye. This screen is also brilliant with brightness of up to 1,100nits and coverage of 95% DCI-P3 colors.

Vertical field of vision is 57°, which is greater than the 40° of most AR glasses and the natural vertical sight of 55°.

Users can place multiple virtual screens around them instead of one display, and they can view the location of their source device in three degrees of liberty. The local device connects to the host using a USB Type C connection, with a hidden port in the frame.

Users can control the playback of content and move between screens using a multi-purpose touchscreen on the frame side. The remote conferencing system comes with speakers and microphones that are noise-cancelling and a 3D display option. Asus did not comment on pricing or availability.

Sony’s ‘Nameless’ Headset

Sony, who already makes headsets for PlayStation 5, announced that it would work with Siemens on a system to create spatial content. The headgear, which is still unnamed, is described by Sony as a “high quality XR head mounted display and controllers dedicated for interaction with 3D object.”

With six cameras and sensors on the outside, this standalone headset with a 1.3-inch microdisplay in 4K will allow users to observe their environment through a see-through function. The pointing controller allows for precise work while the ring controller can be used to manipulate objects.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Platform combined with Sony’s proprietary render technology allows it to draw 3D human faces and realistic objects in real-time.

Contrary to the PlayStation VR, this new version is designed for content creation. This includes 3D models creation and modification within a virtual or blended-reality environment.

Xreal Air Ultra

Xreal’s second-generation Air AR glass was showcased at CES. The company built on the popularity of its first version. The Xreal Air 2 Ultra, which was released in December after the Air 2 Pro and Air 2 were released, was the star of the show at CES.

The Ultra version is an AR Glass made of titanium that offers several improvements compared to the Air 2 model. It also marks the company’s entry into the world of spatial computing.

Two 3D cameras mounted on each side of the device map the environment and provide six degrees of freedom of movement for the glasses. These cameras are also used for other functions such as gesture recognition and tracking.

Xreal Air 2 Ultra 6DoF AR glasses (Image Credit: Xreal)


Each eye is powered by a tiny Sony OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1080p Resolution. In 3D mode, the refresh rate drops to 90Hz. The glasses have a 52-degree viewing angle, 500 nits (250 nits when in 3D mode) and three different dimming levels to enhance immersion. Two microphones were integrated into the onboard audio system for enhanced privacy.

Samsung S22, S23 and an “Xreal Custom Computing Unit” (currently in development) will be initially compatible with spatial computing components. When connected via USB C to a Mac or iPhone and Nebula for Mac in beta, it can be used as video output.

Currently, pre-orders are being taken for the $699 Xreal Air 2 Ultra. This product is aimed more at developers than the general population, and shipments will be made by the end of the month.

Qualcomm’s New AR/VR Chipset Could Upset the ‘Apple Cart’

You’ve heard it before. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ platform made a big splash at CES 2020 with its release of the AR and VR headsets market.

Qualcomm is confident that it can provide new technology for mixed-reality, virtual-reality, and other experiences. This will be achieved by introducing an innovative single-chip design with many implications on battery life, product performance, and product design.

The Plus model, based on the XR2 Gen 2 chip, offers 20% more CPU and 15% more GPU frequencies than comparable products. This allows the chip to deliver up to 4.3K resolution per eye. Its photo-realistic level of resolution is a direct challenge to Apple Vision Pro.

(Image Credit: Qualcomm)

Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 will be eight times faster in terms of artificial intelligence. The Qualcomm upgrade will improve users’ visual perception, and it can support up to twelve simultaneous cameras. This allows the chip to process more information about user motion and environment.

Moreover Qualcomm has revealed that they are working with Google and Samsung “to offer leading XR Experiences by utilizing Snapdragon XR2+Gen 2.” This implies that Google and Samsung are using the chip to make gear, probably headsets.

Qualcomm developed its own VR/MR reference design utilizing Tobii’s eye-tracking technologies.

The Bottom Line

Apple is unlikely to be surprised by any of these CES 2024 products. As I have said before, I think that the majority of players who will compete with Apple want Vison Pro’s success to establish the market.

Vision Pro is an expensive solution at $3,499 and this creates a huge price umbrella opportunity for companies that have more affordable solutions.

Sony’s announcement of a headset is similar to Apple’s in terms of specs and functionality, but the product is aimed more at developers than a general audience.

Apple’s mixed reality headset controls the user’s view, but Xreal and other smart glasses that are similar to it look more like Microsoft’s HoloLens, with its infamous augmented-reality overlay.


Apple’s chances are not hurt by Qualcomm’s announcement, as the technology will be used in future hardware launches. OEMs have months to go before they can realize this.

Qualcomm’s Reference Design or the collaborations between Google and Samsung are not yet available to the public, as they’re not meant for mass release. However, neither of the two collaborations with Google or Samsung have been announced beyond a simple statement that indicates they’re being developed. Samsung may announce its Vision Pro rival at the Unpacked event that takes place late in January.

The company with the most compelling killer app will win this market. This will allow the wider market to see the potential of AR VR and XR. Apple’s ecosystem and developer advantages are huge.

Apple will have to crack the nut if it wants to bring Vision Pro on the market this quarter. We’ll find out soon.