The year 2024 was a significant year for Standalone headsetswhich have established themselves as the standard. Devices such as the Meta Quest 3 and the Meta Quest 3S offered excellent value for money. The Quest 3S, available for 350 euros, made Mixed reality experiences accessible to a broader target group.
Another highlight was Metas Project Orion Prototypewhich shows the future of XR devices with a compact design and suitability for everyday use.
The ability to seamlessly embed virtual objects in the real world was originally made possible by devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2 introduced. This headset, an industrial device with a price tag of over 4,000 euros, was never intended for the consumer market.
The Meta Quest 3 set a new standard in 2024, however: as the first Consumer-grade headset brought them Mixed reality into the mass market at a price of less than 1,000 euros. Over one million units were sold within the first three months.
Manufacturers such as Pico and HTC followed suit with their devices, such as the Pico 4 Ultraand finally made mixed reality the new standard.
In 2024, Microsoft discontinued production of the HoloLens 2 one. The HoloLens 2 was originally a pioneer in the field of Mixed reality and brought technologies such as the integration of virtual objects into the real world onto the market for the first time.
Although the innovations of the HoloLens 2 were groundbreaking, over time they became standard in more affordable devices such as the Meta Quest 3. After all, the high price of 4,000 euros was no longer in line with today's market requirements, which favor cost-effective solutions for end users.
The legacy of the HoloLens 2 can be seen in the advanced Mixed reality functionswhich are now available in devices well under 1,000 euros. It remains a milestone in the history of XR and has laid the foundation for today's technology.
The Apple Vision Pro set new standards in 2024 with its extraordinary resolution of 23 million pixels and enormous computing power. However, acceptance remained limited with a price tag of 3,500 euros: Only around 150,000 units were sold.
Innovations such as a virtual workspace, in which monitors can be seamlessly integrated into the room, have now been adapted by Meta with Windows 11. The way in which windows can be Hand tracking was taken over by Meta.
The integration of Mixed reality functions opened up new control approaches. Eye tracking, as in the Apple Vision Pro, did not become standard due to high costs and cumbersome calibration.
In contrast to this Hand tracking has proven to be more user-friendly and robust. It works without calibration and enables natural interactions such as gripping or pulling. By 2025, it should be further established as the standard.
Another trend was the introduction of Android XRGoogle's new operating system for XR devices, developed in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm was developed. Samsung plans to work with Project Moohan Android XR is based on an open platform and could represent a strong alternative to existing systems such as Apple's VisionOS and Meta's ecosystem in the long term.
Despite the many positive developments in the XR hardware market many had it in 2024 Software start-ups difficult to secure new investor funds. After the general hype surrounding the Metaverse has subsided, the focus of the tech industry has increasingly shifted to Artificial intelligence (AI) shifted. XR hardware has set new technical standards, but the ecosystem of applications and content is lagging behind. This shift in investment flows poses major challenges for smaller developers, while the XR industry is looking for sustainable business models.
The year 2024 has shown that the success of XR devices depends on a combination of price, functionality and innovation. The Apple Vision Pro impressed with its technology, but fell short of expectations due to its high price.
The Meta Quest 3 demonstrated how affordable Mixed reality experiences can reach the mass market. The transition from devices such as the HoloLens 2 to consumer-grade headsets marks a decisive milestone for the industry.
Are you interested in developing a virtual reality or 360° application? You may still have questions about budget and implementation. Feel free to contact me.
I am looking forward to you
Clarence Dadson CEO Design4real
