Apple Vision Pro is already one of the most discussed techs of 2024. Of course, one of the most burning discussions about Apple’s ambitious new VR headset is about its steep price tag. Before you start weighing down its pros and cons, here’s what you can buy instead of Apple Vision Pro with a $3500 budget.
First and foremost, it’s important to keep in mind that Apple Vision Pro does come with an impressive arsenal of innovative features. Some of these would be its brilliant display, hand and eye tracking features and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem in virtual reality.
Indeed, there is a plethora of other features that make Apple Vision Pro a powerful contender in the VR landscape. However, its biggest and most glaring issue also makes it a prestigious product instead of a go-to VR headset. That’s why we will be focusing on the items you can buy instead of Apple Vision Pro.
5. An Ambitious Gaming PC
You can buy a high-end gaming PC that will last for years instead of Apple Vision Pro. In fact, you can purchase two high-end gaming-focused PCs that will offer a smooth experience in the most recent AAA games.
A typical high-end gaming PC costs around $1000. With some of the best peripherals taken into account, a beast of a gaming PC could cost you $2500. That’s still $1000 less than an Apple Vision Pro.
4. Every Next-Gen Gaming Console
You can also be a multiplatform gamer who has access to pretty much all the recent video game libraries. With $3500, you can get your hands on a brand new PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Steam Deck OLED, and Nintendo Switch OLED instead of Apple Vision Pro.
- PlayStation 5: $589
- Xbox Series X: $589
- Steam Deck OLED: $466
- Nintendo Switch OLED: $387
- Xbox Series S: $353
We’re still far from reaching the cost of an Apple Vision Pro headset, let alone exceeding it. That’s why you can also throw a 4K TV in there to play all your games on a vibrant screen.
3. Every Major Gaming Handheld Console in the Last Decade
Yes, you read that right. With the cost of an Apple Vision Pro, you can buy a second-hand PSP, PS Vita, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck OLED, Asus ROG Ally, and most recently, Lenovo Legion Go.
It’s up to you whether you want to build a massive collection of handheld gaming consoles, though. However, keep in mind that you can do it while also getting some extra accessories for your handhelds. Even with all those prices combined, you’ll still have money left. You can still use it to buy something instead of Apple Vision Pro, like some of the most exciting PS VR2 games.
2. A Humble Home Theatre Room
You can also consider diving into a wonderful home project that will enrich your household. Instead of Apple Vision Pro, how about you create a rather humble theatre room inside your house? You can buy pretty much every vital item you need for this project, including the installation costs.
For $1000, You can get a high-level TV and a soundbar to support it. On top of that, you can also get a solid subwoofer for a much more immersive theatre room. If you wish, you can also add a 5.1 sound system into the equation. You would still have enough money to buy tech instead of Apple Vision Pro.
1. Every Other Competing VR Headset
Yes, that’s correct. You can buy Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, Meta Quest 2, Sony PlayStation VR2 and even a Valve Index VR Kit by slightly exceeding the price of an Apple Vision Pro. Here’s the price list of the best VR headsets in 2024:
- Meta Quest 3: $500
- Meta Quest Pro: $890
- Meta Quest 2: #250
- Sony PlayStation VR2: $600
- Valve Index VR Kit: $1400
Since it’s possible to get deals on these VR headsets, it’s actually possible to get all of them for $3500. While there is no solid argument as to why someone would do that, it’s a great example to show how expensive Apple Vision Pro is.
Final Thoughts
There is a plethora of high-end tech that you can buy instead of Apple Vision Pro. But that doesn’t mean you should steer clear of it due to its steep price tag. Vision Pro does come with some of the best VR features out there. It’s also Apple’s first foray into the VR market, and it’s contested by Meta Quest 3. This competition should hopefully result in different alternatives and more affordable iterations of Apple Vision Pro in the future.
On the other hand, the competing VR headsets don’t have any major drawbacks when compared with Apple Vision Pro. Despite lacking a coloured passthrough, some of the most popular VR headsets still offer wonders.
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- My journey into the world of video games began at four, when I was first introduced to arcade machines in 1996. Over the past decades, I've been fortunate enough to witness the incredible evolution of gaming, as it has grown from a niche hobby to a thriving art. Today, I'm dedicated to creating content that celebrates all genres of games. We will talk about them at Player.me.