Interest in the metaverse to propel both Apple and Meta in 2022, analyst says

AppleInsider · December 31, 2021 9:22PM

Apple and Meta will duke it out for the top-performing tech stock spot in 2022 as investors seek to invest in the metaverse, according to Loup Ventures.

Apple VR glasses

In a new research note, Loup Ventures partner and analyst Gene Munster outlined some of his predictions for 2022. One of them is that Apple and Meta -- formerly known as Facebook -- will duel in 2022, driven by the metaverse's flight to quality.

The metaverse is the idea of connecting within 3D or 2D virtual worlds. Among technology companies, Meta -- true to its new name -- is much more closely associated with the concept than Apple. However, Munster believes Apple is well-positioned to take advantage of the metaverse.

"We believe there is a high likelihood that Apple eventually has a family of products addressing the [metaverse] and we should see a prototype in 2022," Munster writes. "AR or MR glasses are a logical Apple contribution to the metaverse, where we will play and work in more immersive digital worlds."

Although the metaverse might exist primarily in 2D in the next couple of years, Munster believes it'll shift to 3D with a focus on hardware. As such, the analyst says that Apple and Facebook will be pitted against each other in a "race to build affordable and comfortable headsets through which the world can experience the metaverse."

The analyst says that Apple will likely preview an MR headset at WWDC 2022. However, it won't be available for sale until 2023 at the earliest.

Apple has long been rumored to be developing several different AR or MR devices, including a high-end Apple VR visor that could focus on virtual reality and gaming. Apple is also thought to be working on a smaller and lighter "Apple Glass" wearable that could be a companion to an iPhone.

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byronl · December 31, 2021 10:11PM

i’m sure apple will join the metaverse but they won’t use that particular terminology, it’s too much of a buzzword

rattlhed · January 1, 2022 4:03PM

I got an Oculus Quest 2 a couple days ago and it's a sight to behold. Truly has to be experienced to appreciate. I'm very excited to see where this tech goes and what Apple will bring to the table.

AniMill · January 1, 2022 6:06PM

I’m not sold, VERY skeptical. I’ve had several iterations of Oculus and other pro-versions of VR systems, and ALWAYS the same feeling endures: cool but tedious and uncomfortable. We’d play BeatSaber or other games, then quickly tire of the games, but mostly the experience. Too heavy, too claustrophobic, too low resolution, and not wide enough peripheral vision coverage.

But mostly it’s always the discomfort. The reason watching TV became the dominant entertainment consumption media was because it doesn’t put any physical demand on the consumer to use it. Even console game will allow you freedom to play anywhere, only holding a controller. But putting on the headsets are unwieldy and will cause eyestrain leading to headaches. It’s the same as 3D movies and TV, forcing even a simple set of 3D glasses becomes super uncomfortable and annoying after a short time.

VR will survive, but not become Mark Z’s next dominant platform.

mark fearing · January 1, 2022 6:32PM

AniMill said:

I’m not sold, VERY skeptical. I’ve had several iterations of Oculus and other pro-versions of VR systems, and ALWAYS the same feeling endures: cool but tedious and uncomfortable. We’d play BeatSaber or other games, then quickly tire of the games, but mostly the experience. Too heavy, too claustrophobic, too low resolution, and not wide enough peripheral vision coverage.

But mostly it’s always the discomfort. The reason watching TV became the dominant entertainment consumption media was because it doesn’t put any physical demand on the consumer to use it. Even console game will allow you freedom to play anywhere, only holding a controller. But putting on the headsets are unwieldy and will cause eyestrain leading to headaches. It’s the same as 3D movies and TV, forcing even a simple set of 3D glasses becomes super uncomfortable and annoying after a short time.

VR will survive, but not become Mark Z’s next dominant platform.

I agree. I'm old enough to have seen a lot of versions of this stuff (I worked at Sony for a few years in the late 90's and saw some even earlier prototypes). And I remember countless Wired articles and so many gadgets have come and they always go. I'm not sold on the glasses/goggles being the right approach. And while I could very much be wrong here, I think the discomfort and awkwardness is a huge part of it. They are uncomfortable and just leave one feeling rather ... silly, like wearing a huge winter coat that mom made you wear when it wasn't THAT cold out...I feel like it's a niche technology when developed as a headset. But as I said, I'm old, and maybe younger people will take to it in ways I didn't. That's possible. But the general dislocation/discomfort/ of an immersive headset seem destined to be a niche of a niche. I think it's good to think about what this tech asks of a consumer and then compare it to the entertainment experiences one can have without wearing it. And the truth is they just don't offer that much of a compelling reason/experience compared to what we already have to spend that kind of money and put up with the discomfort. It's like Pong was to video games. There must be more and better before most people want to take part in it. I think augmented glasses are interesting, a way to rather seamlessly add a layer of info to your daily life. I'm intrigued by that.

mariowinco · January 1, 2022 11:19PM

Probably technology not there for Oculus to work, same for glasses. As of the announcements, seems to me that in maximum two years there will be something. Long AAPL, Long META

Interest in the metaverse to propel both Apple and Meta in 2022, analyst says

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