After three years since the arrival of the Oculus Quest 2, Meta is finally showcasing the next generation of consumer-focused virtual reality hardware. Meta Quest 3, exhibited by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the Meta Connect presentation, is described as a virtual reality and mixed reality portal. The new title comes with the promise of more than twice the performance.Competition is heating up in the virtual world
The most defining feature of the Quest 3 headset is its ability to quickly see the world outside the headset. While you’re in an app on Quest 3, double-tap anywhere on the headset and you can exit the virtual world and go into “toggle” mode. Other improvements include “pancake lenses,” a type of optical lens that makes images sharper and provides higher resolution, first used in Meta’s $1,499 Quest Pro.
The launch of Meta’s newest VR headset comes at a time when a war with Apple is looming in the virtual reality space. Many in the tech industry believe Apple’s entry could expand the overall market and create new winners, similar to how the iPhone leapfrogged the smartphone market.
So far, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has had a head start. The Quest 2 was by far the best-selling VR headset, selling about 10 million units last year, down slightly from the pandemic peak, according to one industry estimate. Apple’s Vision Pro headset won’t go on sale until next year and will be much more expensive than Meta’s headsets, starting at $3,499.
But despite the Meta’s current sales success, it’s unclear how many Quest 2 owners use it on a daily or weekly basis.
Meta Quest 3 comes with major upgrades
The hardware has been significantly updated, with a new headband strap and a slimmer hood shape. The headband splits the top strap in two to better distribute weight. Still, the entire headset is slightly heavier than its predecessor, weighing 515 grams. The speakers of the device have also been improved and provide a better quality sound experience.Meta Quest 3 gets the power it seeks with the Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip. According to Meta, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip inside the Quest 3 offers twice the graphics performance of the Quest 2 (Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1). The extra power on the chip is used to power displays with a resolution of 2,064 x 2,208 per eye, higher than the Quest 2’s resolution of 1,832 x 1,920 per eye. The additional pixels make it easier to read the text inside the header. Meta says users can expect around two hours and 12 minutes of battery life.
The biggest improvement in usability is the Quest 3’s emphasis on crossover; That is, the cameras on the outside of the device will work like transparent glasses that can also show computer windows and other graphics. The Quest 3 can also scan the room around you so that apps can warn you when you’re about to hit your surroundings.
The Quest 3 that Meta launched will be compared to Apple’s more expensive Vision Pro headset. But while Apple is packing as much expensive technology into its headset as possible to enable its own crossover mode, which it calls “spatial computing,” Meta is trying to pack most of its features, or at least some of them around, at a fraction of the price.However, if there is a significant difference between Meta and Apple at this point, it is that Meta designed the Quest primarily as a gaming device. Apple, on the other hand, positions Vision Pro as a new computer. Meta says it has prepared 500 games and applications for the title, including Ghostbusters, Assassin’s Creed and the Stranger Things experience developed with Netflix. Quest 3 will also be able to run Quest 2 games with backward compatibility.
Meta Quest 3 price
While the 128GB version of Meta Quest 3 starts at $500, the 512GB version will be sold with a price tag of $650. Pre-orders are now open and the title will be sent to owners on October 10. Additionally, the company is giving free VR-exclusive RPG Asgard’s Wrath 2, which will be released on December 15, to anyone who purchases Quest 3 between now and January 27, 2024. Those who choose the 512 GB model will be able to use the Quest+ subscription, which offers two free games per month and costs $ 8 per month, for 6 months free of charge.
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