The Meta Quest series of AR and VR headsets are trending as popular Christmas gifts this holiday season, with the Meta Horizon companion app climbing to the top of the iPhone App Store charts in the US and internationally. This surge in interest is likely fueled by the launch of the affordable $299 Meta Quest 3S model.
In addition, the Amazon Alexa app has also made its way up the Top Free apps list, reflecting the ongoing popularity of Echo speakers as gift options. Meanwhile, AirPods and the Apple Watch are expected to be among the most widely gifted items this Christmas. However, without a specific companion app, the App Store provides limited insight into the sales of Apple’s own devices.
The lack of visibility into AirPods stems from their integration into the operating system, eliminating the need for an external app. Although the Apple Watch features a companion app on the iPhone, it is pre-installed and therefore excluded from App Store rankings and trending stats.
Insights into the Vision Pro are similarly obscure, but it’s unlikely that Apple’s $3,500 headset will be a common gift choice for most families. In contrast, the more budget-friendly Meta Quest lineup appeals to a wider audience, complete with a diverse selection of entertaining games perfect for family fun on Christmas Day.
Reports suggest that Apple is considering a partnership with Sony to introduce PSVR controller support on Vision Pro, aiming to expand the VR game catalog for its visionOS platform. Nevertheless, consumer interest may stay modest until more affordable versions of the headset become available.
Nonetheless, Apple is not reliant on the Vision Pro for its financial wellbeing. The company will announce its holiday sales results in its quarterly earnings call scheduled for January. A robust mix of iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Mac sales are anticipated to generate substantial revenue, likely totaling billions of dollars.
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