With Microsoft announcing that the developer edition of the HoloLens AR headset was available for preorder and will be shipping on March 30, other companies with similar offerings have started to follow suit. Just after Microsoft made its announcement, it was the turn of Meta to take the covers off its augmented reality headset, the Meta 2, and reveal its price tag.

Importantly, the price tag of the Meta 2 AR headset is much cheaper at $949 while the HoloLens has a $3000 tag. Commenting on the Meta 2, TechCrunch states that price is not going to a major differentiator when it comes to AR headsets but field of view is. It goes on to add that this is where Meta 2 has an advantage as it has a 90 degree field of view (FOV). This is especially important to an AR headset as its surroundings are not black like that of the Gear VR and consists of physical objects that users can see.

The field of view of the Meta 2 could give it an advantage compared to the HoloLens in which it has shrunk. This reduced field of view on the HoloLens has been pointed out by many and it appears that the company behind the Meta 2 decided to keep it tethered via a cable to ensure that the 90 degree FOV was maintained.

However, the Meta 2 is still in the development stage and so it has a number of bugs that are evident in demos. Another interesting feature that many have been pointing out in the Meta 2 is that people will actually be able to pick up and move virtual objects with their hands when they are wearing the headset. Also, objects displayed in the headset remain in place even though users are walking around them. This feature, according to Engadget, is very neat. However, it also points out that the headset needs a lot of refinement before it is released commercially and developers who preorder the headset now are expected to receive it in Q3 of this year.