Apple’s new mixed reality headset is expected to be announced within the next few weeks. The PlayStation VR 2 and Vive XR Elite have already been released. Meta Quest 3 could be the biggest of all.
Meta’s follow-up to the most popular VR headgear in the world will be available by 2023. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has confirmed that it will cost the same as the Quest 2. This should make it a much more affordable headset than the one Apple is preparing.
Meta Quest 2, $400 at Meta. Will it be the best too? What can we expect?
Quest Pro (left), next to Quest 2 (right). The Quest 3 is smaller than the Pro in front, but has the same elastic head straps as the Quest 2.
Scott Stein/CNET
Price: Around $400 or so?
Meta’s Quest Pro headset, aimed at professionals, was an unqualified failure. It started out at $1,500, but is now down to $1,000. Meta’s Quest 3 headset should be priced at $400, the same as the Quest 2 headset. (Although this is a price increase over the original $300 price for the Quest 2). It could be a bit more expensive, but it’s likely to have better features and performance.
This would be cheaper than the PlayStation VR 2 which requires a PlayStation 5 in order to function. It would also be thousands of dollar less expensive than the Apple headset, which is estimated to cost $3000 by many industry observers.
Watch This:Meta Quest 3: Why I wear it and Why You Should.
Features: Mixed Reality, but not eye tracking
Mixed reality is the future of VR. It combines VR with real-world environments using passthrough camera footage projected in-headset. Apple’s headset will be able to achieve the same thing as Vive XR and Quest Pro.
Quest 3 will have color passthrough camera, just like Pico 4, Vive XR Elite, and Quest Pro. Quest 2 only has a basic monochrome camera for passthrough. Quest 3 may also feature better depth-sensing capabilities. This could be achieved through either improved sensors on the headset or computer vision algorithms. Meta’s mixed reality app selection is bare at the moment, but a Quest 3 with a wider appeal could lead to more games and apps.
Last year, VR/AR YouTuber Bradley Lynch described a number of Quest 3 features based on Meta leaks. This details what is expected: a depth-sensor will be onboard.
Eye tracking is not always included. Quest Pro features eye and face tracking that can be disabled in the settings. It is not used by all apps. PlayStation VR 2 relies on eye tracking to optimize graphics, but is also tethered and does not have to worry about battery drain. The Quest 3 may skip this feature in order to save money, or because Meta hasn’t yet addressed the privacy implications.
But a new processor is on the way. It’s possible that the aging Snapdragon XR2 will get a real follow-up. (Reports suggest it will be a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2). This would improve graphics, speed, and battery performance for the new headset. Qualcomm has a long-term partnership with Meta and will unveil new XR processors that are destined for other devices. This could be a brand new chip like the XR2 for the Quest 2 was.
According to Lynch’s last-year report, storage sizes and RAM could be upgraded, with a new 512GB option becoming available.
The Pico 4 (left) is significantly smaller in the front than the Quest 2 (right), but the battery gets moved to the larger back strap. The Quest 3 should also be smaller, with the battery staying in the front.
Scott Stein/CNET
Slimmer design
Meta’s “pancake optics”, improved lenses for the Quest Pro, slimmed the front of VR headsets compared to the Quest 2. They also made the lens clearer. Last year, the Pico 4 headset (another affordable Quest 2-range VR head-set) added pancake optics. This upgrade should also be given to the Quest 3 headset, which will result in a smaller headset than the Quest 2.
Smaller can mean more portable. New cases and accessories will emphasize this. It would be great to have a Quest 3 that is easier to transport on trips. HTC’s Vive XR Elite can be folded down to the size of a large pair of glasses with an optional tube-shaped carrying case.
The Quest Pro controller (right) is a big redesign over the Quest 2 controller (left).
Scott Stein/CNET
The controller could be compatible with Meta’s Quest Pro controllers
Meta has updated its controllers to the Quest Pro. It added cameras for improved tracking and shrunk the size. The controllers currently cost $300 each, and are an upgrade for Quest 2 users. Would Meta include these with Quest 3 instead? Could they still be available as optional upgrades?
A second possibility would be a redesigned controller set. Meta does not seem to be ready to completely get rid of the controllers for the Quest. However, this seems to the long-term plan as the hand tracking continues improving.
Lynch showed leaked images of the headset in 2014, which suggested that the Quest 3 could be charged using the Quest Pro dock.
Once again, games should be the main focus.
Meta’s experiments with work and social apps, aka the metaverse, haven’t taken hold, so gaming (alongside fitness) is the main use of the Quest 2. Meta’s June 1 games showcase will emphasize that the Quest 2 console is first and foremost a gaming console.
The Quest 3 is expected to debut in the fall and will be promoted as a console that can provide many benefits for fitness, social interaction, and work. Meta is the safest choice, and its console-level pricing makes it a reasonable proposition, especially in a year when there won’t be other consoles debuting.
Will Quest 3 ignite a wave mixed reality apps?
Quest 3 is a more mixed reality-focused device, and it’s cheaper than Quest Pro. This should trigger a new wave of apps that use mixed reality. This is the biggest feature of Quest 3, and since Apple will likely show mixed reality a lot, this could mean that developers finally adopt a more AR mindset. Meta has the best chance to take Quest beyond its VR-centric status.
You should wait to purchase a headset if you are looking for one.
The fall is not far off. Quest 3 could be the best Meta-VR headset and one of the most affordable options when it launches. Wait and see what comes next before buying a headset, especially since both the Quest 3 and Apple’s headset are on the horizon.
Virtual reality and VR gaming: More information
The Best VR Headsets for 2023 PSVR 2 Review: the New Best VR Gaming Headset
Meta Quest Review: Still the best VR headset for nowMeta Quest Hands-on: What $1500 Can Do for the MetaverseBest Meta Quest gamesBest PSVR 2 games
All our coverage of virtual reality is available here.
