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

Meta has made it clear that its ambition is to become “the Android of XR.” However, it appears they aren’t the only ones with that goal. Say hello to Android XR—Google’s own contender in the space.

Let’s cut to the chase: while specs and features are crucial, the real battlefield where Meta might face stiff competition from Google and Apple is in the realm of flat apps.

Sure, flat apps like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord might not seem like game-changers for headsets. But take a look at Vision Pro. It’s proving just how valuable the integration of existing iPadOS apps can be, enhancing the XR experience by connecting users with the familiar. Android XR is hopping on the bandwagon by making all Android apps available from the Play Store.

Meta’s headsets shine when it comes to gaming, yet the future of XR is about so much more.

Specializing solely in gaming won’t get anyone—like Nintendo—to scale like a giant that builds a comprehensive computing platform, such as Microsoft. Consider that Microsoft’s market value is 43 times that of Nintendo. While the comparison isn’t apples-to-apples (Microsoft’s influence extends beyond computing platforms), the logic still holds.

In today’s XR race between Meta and Google, we see two major platforms:

Meta’s Horizon OS boasts the most expansive and high-quality immersive app library.
Google’s Android XR showcases the broadest and most impressive flat app library.

For either to reign supreme in XR, they need what the other offers. So, who’s facing a steeper hill to climb?

Meta appears to have the steeper challenge.

Developers creating immersive apps are eager for expansion. If their popular title can snag an extra 25% of users by moving to Android XR, the choice is straightforward.

On the other hand, significant flat apps like Spotify or Snapchat won’t see the same kind of growth by shifting to Horizon OS. Adding a mere 0.25% to their user base by expanding beyond Android would be an optimistic outcome.

You might think, “But Meta’s Horizon OS is based on Android, wouldn’t that make app porting a cinch?” Technically, it eases the transition. However, for massive apps with millions of users, the real challenge lies in long-term support and regular updates, which is anything but trivial.

Consequently, Google seems better positioned to lure leading immersive apps into the Android XR fold than Meta is in inviting crucial flat apps to Horizon OS. Without an array of flat apps, Meta’s headset aspirations could be curtailed to just immersive gaming consoles rather than becoming all-encompassing computing devices.

That’s a direction Meta hopes to avoid. The company’s foray into XR over the past decade was driven by a desire to guide XR as the “next computing platform,” anticipating preemptive moves by Apple or Google.

Even if you don’t see the necessity of flat apps in XR, the truth remains: a platform that seamlessly provides both key flat and immersive apps is bound to outperform one that offers only one category.

Let’s say Meta builds superior hardware—consistently crafting headsets that are 20% faster, lighter, and more affordable than similar Android XR devices. Frankly, hardware alone won’t be the deciding factor. The presence of essential flat apps is what’ll tip the scales in the long run.

This represents a significant threat to Meta’s XR vision, one that doesn’t present a straightforward solution.