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Highlights:
- Microsoft’s Metaverse Hardware Plans: Microsoft (ASX: MSFT) is collaborating with Samsung to develop new metaverse hardware, potentially competing with Apple’s Vision Pro. This move would place Microsoft alongside Apple (ASX: AAPL), Google (ASX: GOOGL), Meta (ASX: META), and Nvidia (ASX: NVDA) in the list of top ten global companies actively working on metaverse technology.
- Device Details and Market Position: The new Microsoft device, expected to be mass-produced in 2026, will feature OLED panels from Samsung and focus on spatial computing rather than traditional virtual reality. Despite not being specifically targeted at the [metaverse], it will still be capable of interacting with [metaverse] applications.
- Expanding Metaverse Hardware Market: The market for metaverse and virtual reality hardware is growing, with major players like Apple, Google, Meta, and Nvidia investing heavily in the sector. Microsoft's upcoming project highlights the ongoing expansion and competitive landscape within the metaverse technology market.
Microsoft to Compete with Apple’s Vision Pro by Developing Metaverse Hardware with Samsung
Microsoft (ASX: MSFT) is reportedly set to challenge Apple’s Vision Pro headset by creating new metaverse hardware in collaboration with Samsung. If true, this will mean that five of the ten most valuable companies in the world—Apple (ASX: AAPL), Google (ASX: GOOGL), Meta (ASX: META), Microsoft, and Nvidia (ASX: NVDA)—are all working on advancing metaverse technology.
According to South Korean outlet The Elec, Microsoft plans to order hundreds of thousands of OLED panels from Samsung for this upcoming device, expected to be mass-produced in 2026. The Verge reports that this new device will be a headset designed for spatial computing, rather than traditional virtual reality. Although it’s not specifically aimed at the [metaverse], it will still offer a different level of immersion that can interact with [metaverse] applications.
Metaverse Hardware Landscape
The term "metaverse" doesn’t refer to a single location but rather a range of digital experiences, much like the internet. Devices designed for the [metaverse] include large screens, such as TVs, and smaller screens integrated into virtual reality headsets.
Despite the confusion and hype surrounding the [metaverse], the market for both virtual reality and [metaverse] hardware is growing. Apple is working on a successor to its Vision Pro, while Google is developing a new mixed-reality headset in partnership with Magic Leap. Meta continues to invest heavily in its [metaverse] division, and Nvidia’s GPUs remain crucial for powering the graphics and AI behind these digital environments.
If The Elec’s report is accurate, Microsoft’s new project will bring the number of top ten global companies involved in developing metaverse hardware to five.
