Comparing Pass-Through Quality of Mixed Reality Devices: A User Experience Study During Real-World Tasks

TL;DR

This study evaluated the pass-through quality of three mixed reality headsets during real-world tasks, finding that Apple Vision Pro provided superior visual experience and user ratings compared to Meta Quest 3 and Varjo XR3.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of pass-through quality across three leading mixed reality devices during real-world tasks.

Findings

Apple Vision Pro had the highest pass-through quality ratings.

Participants reported lower workload and cybersickness with Apple Vision Pro.

Meta Quest 3 and Varjo XR3 had lower pass-through quality ratings.

Abstract

In extended reality, pass-through enables users to view their real-world surroundings via cameras on the headset, displaying live video inside the device. This study compared the pass-through quality of three devices: Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3, and Varjo XR3. Thirtyone participants performed two tasks, reading a text and solving a puzzle, while using each headset with the pass-through feature activated. Participants then rated their experiences, focusing on workload and cybersickness. Results showed that the Apple Vision Pro outperformed the Meta Quest 3 and Varjo XR3, receiving the highest ratings for pass-through quality.