Meta has officially unveiled the Quest 3 virtual reality headset, and it’s coming this fall with numerous improvements over the second-gen headset. Meta is vague about the nitty-gritty specs, but we know the basics, including a 40% thinner frame and double the graphics performance thanks to a new Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. Sound good? You’ll be able to order one this September.
The Quest 3 has the same basic shape as the Quest 2, with a strap that goes over the top of the head and all the computing hardware behind the screens. The biggest visual differences are the prominent sensor windows on the front of the device. While the Quest 3 doesn’t have the advanced face-tracking features of the Quest Pro (something you may find preferable), it does get an upgraded passthrough mode with full-color video.
Meta’s new headset also borrows from the Quest Pro in the optics department. The pancake lenses allow for a much more compact form factor. Meta says the Quest 3 is 40% slimmer than the last headset. The Quest 3 looks like it follows the contours of the face better as a result. Even if the weight is unchanged, this will make the Quest 3 less ungainly. The controllers are getting a slimmer profile, too. The “Touch Plus” controllers no longer need the bulky sensor rings, and the “TruTouch” haptics will bring a more immersive gaming experience. The Quest 3 will also support hand tracking out of the box.
All of Meta’s standalone VR headsets run on turbocharged phone hardware. The Quest 2 used the Snapdragon XR2, a VR-optimized chip based on the Snapdragon 865. According to Meta, the Quest 3 will have twice the graphical performance of the old model. Zuck and company didn’t reveal the chip, but it’s most likely the upcoming Snapdragon XR3. This chip is expected to be available in the latter half of 2023 with a design based on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Meta says the Quest 3 also has a higher display resolution, but it’s unclear what that is.
The Meta Quest 3 will retail for $499.99 with 128GB of storage. There will also be a larger storage variant for more money. The Quest 2 isn’t going away, though. In fact, it’s going to get a little better. First, Meta is reversing the previous price increase on June 4, leaving the Quest 2 at a starting price of $299.99. An update will roll out soon to the Quest 2 and Quest Pro that boosts CPU performance by up to 26%. On the graphics side, the Quest 2 and Quest Pro could see 19% and 11% performance boosts, respectively. Although, you don’t get something for nothing. This will probably negatively impact the already middling battery life of these headsets.
We expect to hear more about the Quest 3, including pre-order details, at the Meta Connect conference later this year. It’s set to take place on September 27-28.
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