Meta has just released a new headset, Quest 3, saying that this is not only a huge leap forward for the Quest series of products, but also Meta’s overall outlook for the future. Quest3 is not just a VR headset like Quest2, but a mixed reality device like Apple VisionPro. This means that when you wear the headset, you can see everything happening in the real world and interact with things around you. Quest3 starts at $499.99 and is available for pre-order now, with shipping starting on October 10th.
Meta had announced the launch of Quest3 back in June of this year, when it was trying to hit the market ahead of the release of VisionPro. "You don't need cables, you don't need a battery pack," Quest3 product manager Palwasha Khatri said at a press conference. Even now, Meta is clearly trying to position itself as a more mainstream mixed reality headset.
Meta has significantly fleshed out the device's spec sheet. Quest3 is equipped with the second-generation Snapdragon XR2 processor and 8GB of memory. Meta claims that the graphics performance has doubled that of Quest2, and is even much better than QuestPro, which uses the previous generation XR2 chip. The cheapest Quest3 comes with 128GB of internal storage, and you can get 512GB for $649.99. Meta says battery life is "similar to Quest 2," which means anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours, depending on what you're doing.
The Quest3's lens is by far the best Meta has launched: there is an LCD display with a resolution of 2064x2208 in front of each eye, using a similar display configuration to the QuestPro. The field of view of Quest3 is 110 degrees horizontally and 96 degrees vertically, which is about 15% more than Quest2 and slightly better than Pro. The lenses can also be adjusted using a new wheel on the outside of the headset to make it easier to find a suitable position for different people.
Some of the Quest 3's specs and technology are borrowed from the Pro, while others are natural upgrades from the three-year-old Quest 2.
The most important hardware difference is the cameras: Two new full-color cameras on the front of the headset greatly improve video pass-through, and users can choose to use the Quest 3 in fully immersive VR mode, or in what it calls a "hybrid" mode that lets you see both the real-world environment and whatever game or content you're watching.
While this isn't quite holographic augmented reality yet, it's a step in the right direction. To switch between different modes, you can use the controller or double-tap two fingers together; this double-tap gesture is also a core function of VisionPro and seems to have become the conventional way of operating the headset.
The headset itself is slightly smaller, and is actually slightly heavier than its predecessor (515 grams compared to Quest2’s 503 grams). Meta says the redesigned headset is more comfortable to wear, but we’ll have to wait and see.
As expected, the Quest3's TouchPlus controller eliminates the large tracking ring and instead uses an infrared sensor to track position. Of course, Quest3 also supports hand tracking, so users can give up the controller if they want.
As for what the Quest 3 can do, Meta still seems to view it as a primary gaming device. All Quest2 games can be played on the new headset. Meta is also pitching it as a fitness and wellness device, which has become popular in the VR space thanks to apps like Supernatural. Of course, Meta still has Horizon Worlds and Horizon Workshops, and a big dream about the future of the metaverse, but the release of Quest 3 seems more focused on current possibilities.
Quest 3 is packed with upgrades and the promise of new features. We've already tried out the headset, but we'll need more testing to see if it's the mainstream mixed reality headset Meta promises. But after the failure of QuestPro, at least Meta seems to be back on the right track.