Meta has been quite vocal about its ambition to become “the Android of XR.” Interestingly, that’s exactly the ambition that Android XR itself harbors.
More than just the specs or features, a key determinant in this race to dominate the XR field against Google and Apple could be the integration of flat apps. These flat apps—think along the lines of Spotify, TikTok, Snapchat, and Discord—might not seem like the most thrilling peripherals for a headset at first glance. However, Apple’s Vision Pro has demonstrated that intertwining familiar apps with the XR experience adds significant value. Instead of isolating users, it enriches the headset experience. Android XR appears to be following that playbook by enabling support for all Android apps available on the Play Store.
Meta’s headsets might be at the pinnacle of gaming experiences, but the potential of XR extends well beyond that.
Consider how a company like Nintendo focuses on gaming and reaches a certain scale, yet a tech giant like Microsoft, which builds comprehensive computing platforms, is valued far higher. Of course, Microsoft’s activities span beyond just computing platforms, but the comparison sheds light on the broader scope companies need to compete at the highest level.
Currently, we see a battle between two titans: Meta’s Horizon OS, known for its superior library of immersive apps, and Google’s Android XR, shining with its extensive library of flat apps.
For either of these platforms to really lead the XR domain, they need a blend. But which company faces a steeper hill to climb?
Meta seems to have a tougher task ahead.
Immersive app developers are driven by growth opportunities. If porting a game to Android XR potentially expands its user base by 25%, developers would jump at the opportunity. On the flip side, existing flat apps like Spotify or TikTok might see minuscule growth—perhaps only around 0.25%—by transitioning to Horizon OS, considering their widespread usage on Android.
You might argue, “Surely porting an app to Horizon OS should be straightforward since it’s based on Android.” The technical transition might indeed be easy, but for colossal apps with vast user networks requiring incessant updates, the challenging part lies in sustaining that support, which isn’t a trivial undertaking.
Hence, Google’s position seems stronger in drawing immersive apps to Android XR compared to Meta enticing major flat apps to Horizon OS. Without these essential flat apps, Meta’s headsets risk being perceived simply as gaming consoles, rather than versatile computing devices.
This predicament is far from what Meta envisioned when it embarked on its XR journey a decade ago, aiming to pioneer the “next computing platform” before heavyweights like Apple and Google could seize the opportunity.
You might not consider flat apps crucial for XR, but the platform that successfully integrates both flat and immersive apps will likely edge out the competition.
Even if Meta consistently delivers superior hardware—making headsets that are 20% faster, lighter, and more affordable than Android XR counterparts—I doubt long-term success hinges on those attributes without access to essential flat apps on their platform.
This situation presents an existential threat to Meta’s XR aspirations, a challenge without an evident resolution.
