Report: Meta & LG’s Rumored Vision Pro Competitor Set to Launch in Early 2025
According to a report from South Korean outlet The Korea Economic Daily (Korean), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be in-country this week to finalize a deal with LG regarding a previously rumored competitor to Apple Vision Pro, which is reportedly set to be jointly built by the two companies for release in early 2025.
Meta and LG to Launch Competitor to Apple Vision Pro
A report from The Korea Economic Daily suggests that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be in South Korea to finalize a deal with LG regarding the development of a competitor to Apple Vision Pro. The joint project is expected to result in the release of a high-performing XR headset in early 2025.
According to industry sources, Zuckerberg will meet with LG Electronics CEO William Cho to discuss plans related to the joint development of XR headsets. Executives from LG Group's IT component subsidiaries are also expected to be present.
This is not the first rumor of a potential partnership between Meta and LG for XR headset development. Previous reports have indicated that the companies are planning to release a low-cost Quest model in 2024, as well as a high-end 'Pro' model.
Competition with Apple Vision Pro
The report also mentions that the Meta-LG XR headset is intended to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. While details about the headset's specifications and features are not yet known, sources believe that Meta will need to bring something unique to the table in order to surpass Apple's offering.
Douglas Lanman, Senior Director of Display Systems at Reality Labs Research, has previously discussed the potential features of a next-gen XR headset, including holographic optics, multi-view eye-tracking, and varifocal displays. It remains to be seen whether these features will be included in the Meta-LG headset.
With Meta's focus on XR technology and Apple's strong foothold in the market, it will be interesting to see how the competition between the two companies unfolds in the coming years.
What's Next for Meta and LG
While the report provides some insights into the potential partnership between Meta and LG, it is still unclear what the future holds for the two companies. Rumors of collaboration have been circulating for some time, but concrete details about their joint XR headset venture are yet to be revealed.
In the meantime, Mark Zuckerberg's presence in South Korea suggests that the deal is moving forward. If all goes well, consumers can expect a high-performing XR headset from Meta and LG in early 2025, offering a competitive alternative to the Apple Vision Pro.
As the XR market continues to evolve, partnerships and competition between major players like Meta, LG, and Apple will shape the future of virtual and augmented reality technology.
