Android XR Poses a Critical Challenge That Could Define Meta’s XR Future

Meta has openly expressed its ambition to become the “Android of XR,” but they’re not alone in that quest—Android XR itself wants the same title.

While we can argue about specs or new features all day, one pivotal factor might just tip the scales in favor of Meta—or against it—as it faces mounting competition from tech giants like Google and Apple in the XR arena: flat apps.

Flat apps such as Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord might not be the most thrilling reason to don a headset, but the Vision Pro has demonstrated the immense value in merging familiar apps with XR experiences rather than isolating us from them while using a headset. Android XR now joins this strategy by allowing all existing Android apps on the Play Store on its platform.

Meta’s headsets shine in the gaming world, yet it’s evident that XR’s possibilities stretch well beyond just gaming.

Consider this: A company dedicated solely to gaming, like Nintendo, won’t reach the magnitude of one that builds a multifaceted computing platform like Microsoft. Case in point: Microsoft’s market value is astounding—43 times that of Nintendo. Though the comparison may not be perfect since Microsoft’s reach extends far beyond computing platforms, the analogy speaks for itself.

In the XR race, Meta and Google offer two varying platforms:

Meta’s Horizon OS is home to an exceptional library of immersive apps.
Google’s Android XR offers a vast collection of flat apps.

To seize control of XR, each needs what the other possesses. But who faces the steeper climb?

Meta seems to have the harder task ahead.

Developers of immersive apps are seeking expansion. If porting a hit game to Android XR can increase their user base by 25%, the choice is clear-cut.

Conversely, major flat apps—like Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord—would likely see minimal user growth from porting to Horizon OS. They’d be lucky to increase their user base by even 0.25% compared to their entire Android audience.

You might wonder, “Isn’t Horizon OS based on Android, which should make porting apps straightforward?” True, the technical side may not be overly complex, but for colossal apps with extensive user bases and constant updates, the real challenge lies in ongoing support and maintenance—a significant commitment.

Thus, Google holds a stronger position to attract essential immersive apps to Android XR than Meta does in luring indispensable flat apps to Horizon OS. Without a robust collection of flat apps, Meta’s headsets risk being pigeonholed as purely gaming devices rather than all-encompassing computing tools.

That’s far from Meta’s vision. Meta ventured into XR a decade ago with a clear goal: to secure XR as the “next computing platform” before Apple or Google could dominate.

You might not consider flat apps a crucial element of the XR experience, but undeniably, a platform boasting both key flat apps and immersive apps will outshine a platform that offers only one.

Even if Meta consistently delivers superior hardware—headsets that are, say, 20% faster, lighter, and more cost-effective than Android XR alternatives—I doubt it will matter in the grand scheme, especially if they can’t secure those essential flat apps on their platform.

This represents a significant risk to Meta’s XR vision and one that doesn’t come with straightforward solutions.