Android XR Poses a Crucial Challenge to Meta’s XR Aspirations

Meta has made its intentions clear: it aims to become “the Android of XR.” But as you might expect, Android XR itself is also gunning for this coveted title.

Setting aside the usual chatter about specs or features, there’s one pivotal aspect that could decide Meta’s fate as it grapples with the looming competition from tech titans Google and Apple in the XR realm: flat apps.

Now, flat apps like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord might not scream excitement when you think of their role in a headset. Yet, the Vision Pro, with its support for a vast array of flat iPadOS apps, has demonstrated the significant boost that comes from blending the XR adventure with these familiar apps. This keeps users connected with their digital staples even when donning a headset. Not to be outdone, Android XR is mirroring this strategy by enabling all current Android apps available on the Play Store to function seamlessly.

Though Meta’s headsets are undoubtedly top-tier in the gaming sector, there’s no denying that XR’s scope stretches well past just gaming.

Think of it like this: a company that focuses exclusively on gaming, say like Nintendo, will always have a narrower reach than one that builds a comprehensive computing platform, like Microsoft. This partly explains why Microsoft’s market value is astronomically higher—by about 43 times—compared to Nintendo. Sure, it’s not a perfect parallel (as Microsoft’s ventures extend beyond just computing platforms), but you see where I’m going with this.

So, we’re standing at a crossroads with two XR powerhouses in the scene:

Meta’s Horizon OS, boasting the most extensive and top-notch collection of immersive apps.
Google’s Android XR, showcasing the vastest and finest selection of flat apps.

To truly rule the XR universe, both need to acquire what the other has. But who’s facing the steeper climb?

It appears Meta finds itself in a bit of a pickle.

Developers of immersive apps are constantly on the hunt for expansion. If a hit game could snag an additional 25% user base simply by migrating to Android XR, the choice is quite straightforward.

On the flip side, for big-name flat apps like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord, the prospect of moving to Horizon OS doesn’t promise a significant user surge. The boost might barely scratch the surface at 0.25% of their current total on Android.

You might argue, “Isn’t it a breeze to port apps since Horizon OS is Android-based?” Technically speaking, that’s correct—the porting process should be relatively simple. However, for these mammoth apps with colossal user bases and never-ending updates, the true test lies in upkeep and support, making it a substantial commitment.

Given these dynamics, Google seems better positioned to entice key immersive apps to the Android XR platform than Meta is to draw the crucial flat apps into the Horizon OS fold. Without a substantial roster of flat apps, Meta’s headsets risk being pigeonholed as just immersive gaming devices rather than versatile computing gadgets.

And that’s precisely what Meta wants to avoid. Their foray into XR a decade ago was driven by the ambition to spearhead the new computing era before Apple or Google seized the reins.

Sure, you might scoff at the idea of flat apps being critical to the XR experience, but there’s little doubt that a platform marrying both essential flat and immersive apps will outshine one that only offers one or the other.

Even if Meta’s hardware advances—let’s posit they consistently produce headsets that are 20% faster, lighter, and more affordable than their Android XR counterparts—that won’t necessarily clinch victory in the grand scheme. The real determinant will be whether they can deliver the core flat apps on their platform.

This presents an existential threat to Meta’s XR dreams, one that lacks clear-cut solutions.