Motley Fool Money
“Maybe the Headset Isn’t the Way”
Sat Jul 08 2023Description
The episode discusses Meta's struggle with retention of their Quest headsets, Apple's release of the Vision Pro headset, the comparison between Vision Pro and Quest, the future of headsets and spatial computing, and investment opportunities in immersive technology.
Insights
Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest
Apple's Vision Pro headset has a high price tag but may still see adoption due to Apple fans' loyalty. Meta's Quest line of headsets has a lower price point compared to the Vision Pro.
Future of Headsets
The form factor of current headsets needs improvement for extended wearing comfort. It may take time for the form factor to evolve and become more seamless. There is speculation on whether headsets are the ultimate interface for spatial computing.
Investment Opportunities
Gaming is a large market opportunity for investors, with companies like Microsoft trying to acquire Activision Blizzard. Alternative ways to invest in immersive technology include companies like Cadence Design Systems and Applied Materials. Axon Enterprise is an interesting investment opportunity as it utilizes immersive technology for training and education purposes.
Chapters
- Meta's Struggle with Retention
- Apple's Vision Pro Headset
- Comparison between Vision Pro and Quest
- Future of Headsets and Spatial Computing
- Investment Opportunities in Immersive Technology
Meta's Struggle with Retention
00:01 - 06:54
- Meta is struggling with retention of their Quest headsets despite selling 20 million units.
- Meta is struggling with retention and keeping people engaged with their headsets.
Apple's Vision Pro Headset
00:01 - 06:54
- Apple has released its new headset, the Vision Pro, which has a high price tag but may still see adoption due to Apple fans' loyalty.
- The Vision Pro is Apple's first step into immersive technology and they are likely to iterate and improve on it in the future.
- Apple's strong subscription base and loyal customer following can contribute to the success of their immersive technology offerings.
- Apple aims to justify the cost of their Apple headset by offering entertainment and laptop replacement use cases.
- Apple has a loyal user base and resources to give their all in the immersive technology space.
Comparison between Vision Pro and Quest
00:01 - 06:54
- Meta's Quest line of headsets has been in the market for a while and has a lower price point compared to the Vision Pro.
- The initial iteration of the Vision Pro is not meant for mass consumer adoption but rather to build Apple's spatial computing ecosystem.
- Apple is working on cheaper versions of their hardware in order to achieve mass consumer adoption in the future.
- The use case for the Vision Pro is seen as a potential replacement for laptops and TVs, including watching movies and experiencing 3D content.
Future of Headsets and Spatial Computing
06:30 - 13:42
- The initial price of $3,500 for the Vision Pro may not be unreasonable if it can effectively replace laptops and TVs.
- Apple plans to release a cheaper version of the Vision Pro in two years.
- The form factor of current headsets needs improvement for extended wearing comfort.
- It may take time for the form factor to evolve and become more seamless.
- There is speculation on whether headsets are the ultimate interface for spatial computing.
- Companies are already incorporating augmented reality technology into windshields without using headsets.
Investment Opportunities in Immersive Technology
13:18 - 20:37
- Gaming is a large market opportunity for investors, with companies like Microsoft trying to acquire Activision Blizzard.
- Alternative ways to invest in immersive technology include companies like Cadence Design Systems and Applied Materials.
- Cadence Design Systems is a company worth investing in, complemented by applied materials on the hardware side.
- Applied materials manufactures specialized equipment for semiconductor manufacturers, which will be in high demand as augmented reality devices require increasingly complex and smaller chips.
- Axon Enterprise utilizes immersive technology for training and education purposes, making it an interesting investment opportunity.
- Axon is a potential player in the hardware market for augmented reality products.