Compare Apple Vision Pro M5 vs Meta Rift S
In this technical comparison between the Apple Vision Pro M5 and the Meta Rift S, we analyze the key features to help you choose.
The display is a highlight, featuring a resolution of 23 million pixels total (approx. 3660×3200 per eye) for the Vision Pro M5 versus 2560×1440 total (1280×1440 per eye) for the Rift S.
Choosing between these two VR Headsets models often comes down to your budget, with prices around 3499 USD and $399 (at launch).
| Specifications |
Apple Vision Pro M5 |
Meta Rift S |
|---|---|---|
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| Launch | ||
| Version | October, 2025 | May 2019 |
| Display | ||
| Type | Micro-OLED (3D display system) | Single Fast-Switch LCD (RGB Stripe) |
| Resolution | 23 million pixels total (approx. 3660×3200 per eye) | 2560×1440 total (1280×1440 per eye) |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, and 120Hz | 80Hz |
| Field of view | ~100° Horizontal | ~115° |
| Brightness | ~5,000 nits (internal) / ~100 nits (perceived) | Standard SDR (Not officially rated for high-peak nits) |
| HDR | Yes (Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG) | Not supported |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Custom Three-element Catadioptric (Pancake-style) | 2nd Generation Fresnel Lenses (Reduced god rays) |
| IPD adjustment | Automatic/Electronic (51mm–75mm) | Software-only (Fixed lens distance at 63.5mm) |
| Eye relief | Adjustable via Light Seal sizes & magnetic ZEISS inserts | Adjustable via a button on the bottom of the headset (Slides the visor forward/back) |
| Tracking & Input | ||
| Tracking type | 6DoF Inside-out (12 cameras, 5 sensors) | Oculus Insight (6DOF Inside-out tracking) |
| Controller tracking | No physical controllers (Supports PS/Xbox gamepads) | 5 Integrated cameras on the headset |
| Hand tracking | Yes (High-precision gesture system) | No |
| Eye tracking | Yes (High-performance LED/IR camera system) | No |
| Facial tracking | Yes (Used for "Persona" avatars and EyeSight) | No |
| Performance | ||
| Processor / Chipset | Apple M5 chip + Apple R1 chip (12ms latency) | None (PC-powered) |
| RAM | 16 GB Unified Memory | Dependent on PC (Minimum 8GB recommended) |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB | None (Games are stored on the connected PC) |
| Mixed Reality Features | ||
| Passthrough | Real-time 4K Stereoscopic Color Passthrough | Passthrough+ (Monoscopic, Black & White) |
| Depth sensing | LiDAR Scanner + TrueDepth camera system | Software-based (Using camera parallax) |
| Audio | ||
| Built-in audio | Dual-driver Spatial Audio pods | Integrated directional speakers (located in the headband) |
| 3.5mm jack | No (Supports AirPods Pro with H2 ultra-low latency) | Yes |
| Mic | Six-microphone array with directional beamforming | Integrated dual-microphone array |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wired | Proprietary Battery Connector (USB-C on the battery) | 5-meter tethered cable (DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.0) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | No |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | No |
| PCVR support | Official Mac Virtual Display (Supports Ultra-wide 4K/5K) | Native (Primary mode) |
| Compatibility | ||
| Platforms | App Store (visionOS), iPad/iPhone App Support | Oculus Home, SteamVR, Viveport |
| Supported OS | visionOS 2.0 or later | Windows |
| Comfort | ||
| Weight | 750 – 800 g (with Light Seal and Head Band) | 500g (Approx. 1.1 lbs) |
| Strap type | Solo Knit Band and Dual Knit Band (Included) | Halo Headband with rear tension dial (Lenovo design) |
| Face interface | Magnetic "Light Seal" (Various sizes) | Replaceable foam gasket |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 2.5 hours general use / 3 hours video | N/A (Headset is powered via USB) |
| Charging method | USB-C (via external battery pack) | No |
| External battery support | Required (Headset is tethered to external pack) | Not required; controllers use 1x AA battery each |
| Misc | ||
| Inside the box | Headset, Battery, Solo/Dual Bands, Light Seal, Cover | Rift S Headset, 2x Touch Controllers, Headset Cable (5m), Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter, 2x AA batteries |
| Price | 3499 USD | $399 (at launch) |
| Full Details | Vision Pro M5 - Full Specifications | Rift S - Full Specifications |