Android XR Poses a Significant Challenge for Meta’s XR Goals

Meta has boldly declared its ambition to become “the Android of XR.” Yet, they aren’t the only ones vying for this title; Android XR is hot on their heels with similar aspirations.

When it comes to the battle for dominance in the XR realm, it’s not just about specs or features. The real game-changer could well be the inclusion of flat apps—those everyday favorites like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord. While not the flashiest apps for a headset, Apple’s Vision Pro has proven that integrating familiar iPadOS apps into the XR experience adds immense value. Now, Android XR is following suit by supporting all existing Android apps from the Play Store.

Meta’s headsets might lead the charge in gaming, but it’s clear that the potential for XR technology reaches far beyond just playing games.

Look at it this way: a company solely focused on gaming, like Nintendo, can never reach the massive scale of a tech giant building a comprehensive computing platform, like Microsoft. That’s a big part of why Microsoft’s market worth is 43 times that of Nintendo’s. While this isn’t a perfect comparison—since Microsoft has many irons in many fires—the message is clear.

So let’s compare the two powerhouses shaping the future of XR:

– Meta’s Horizon OS: Queen of immersive apps, with the largest and best library.
– Google’s Android XR: King of flat apps, leading with the largest and best collection.

To truly take over XR, both platforms need to acquire what the other excels in. But who’s got the steeper mountain to climb?

It appears Meta does.

Developers of immersive apps are eager for expansion opportunities. If switching their popular game to Android XR can boost user numbers by 25%, it’s a no-brainer. On the other hand, leading flat apps like Spotify and TikTok have little to gain from joining Horizon OS—perhaps a mere 0.25% increase on their vast Android user base.

You might argue, “Horizon OS is built on Android, so porting should be a breeze!” And sure, the technical hurdles might be minor. But for colossal apps with vast user bases and frequent updates, the real challenge lies in continuous support and maintenance—a hefty commitment.

This situation places Google in a stronger position to draw vital immersive apps to Android XR compared to Meta’s efforts to attract essential flat apps to Horizon OS. Without a broad collection of flat apps, Meta risks turning its headsets into mere gaming tools rather than comprehensive computing devices.

That’s not the future Meta envisioned. The whole point of their XR involvement was to seize control of XR as the “next computing platform,” ideally before Apple or Google swept in.

Even if you don’t see flat apps as crucial to the XR experience, having a platform that offers both flat and immersive apps will undoubtedly edge out a rival offering only one type.

Even if Meta delivers superior hardware consistently—say, headsets that are 20% quicker, lighter, and cheaper than their Android XR counterparts—I still doubt that will matter much if they don’t also provide essential flat apps.

This situation poses a substantial threat to Meta’s XR dreams and presents a challenge with no easy answers.