VR Work Fails: Quest Pro, Vision Pro Flop

Mark Zuckerberg's 2022 vision of working in VR has not materialized, evidenced by Meta's Quest Pro. This work-focused VR headset, initially priced at $1,500, experienced significant price drops before its discontinuation in January 2025. Further signaling the end of this endeavor, Meta shut down Horizon Workrooms, its metaverse for work, on Monday, February 17, 2026.

Apple's Vision Pro, launched as a 'spatial computer' at $3,500, also faces similar challenges in replacing traditional work devices. While it offers advanced features like multitasking and hand-tracking, its adoption for serious work remains low. The premium price point and inherent discomfort of wearing headsets for prolonged periods are major deterrents.

Beyond hardware costs, practical limitations such as uncomfortable design, heat, and insufficient battery life plague VR productivity. Software input methods, particularly typing, are still rudimentary, despite improvements like Meta's experimental keyboard feature. Even with Bluetooth keyboard compatibility, the experience lacks seamless integration.

Ultimately, the current form factor of VR headsets is not ideal for the demands of modern professional work. Until headsets become significantly lighter, more affordable, and offer substantial improvements in battery life and user experience, the future of work is likely to remain on familiar devices like laptops, rather than strapped to one's face.