Any XR headset can now run Meta Horizon OS, and that should worry Google

Any XR headset can now run Meta Horizon OS, and that should worry Google

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Meta has opened its Horizon OS to other manufacturers, expanding the potential for mixed reality devices.
ASUS and Lenovo have already announced plans for new gaming/productivity headsets built on Horizon OS.
Google’s rumored Android-based XR OS could finally launch at the upcoming I/O, setting up a showdown with Meta’s platform.

In a move that could reshape the mixed reality landscape, Meta today announced that it is opening up its Meta Horizon OS to third-party manufacturers. Formerly known as Quest OS, this Android-based operating system has powered Meta’s successful Quest line of headsets. Now, other companies will be able to leverage Horizon OS to create their own mixed-reality devices.

This announcement comes just weeks before Google’s anticipated unveiling of its own Android-based Extended Reality (XR) operating system. The timing suggests that Meta is making a preemptive strike to maintain dominance in the rapidly maturing XR market.