Mark Zuckerberg has announced the Meta Quest 3, Meta’s next-generation virtual and mixed reality headset, which will be launched later this year. The headset boasts a higher resolution, stronger performance, breakthrough Meta Reality technology, and a slimmer, more comfortable form factor. The Quest 3 will be available in all countries where Meta Quest is currently supported this fall. The headset starts at $499.99 USD for 128GB of storage, and Meta will offer an additional storage option for those who need it. Be sure to mark your calendars for Meta Connect, which returns this year on September 27, as they have more to share.
Meta’s Most Powerful Headset Yet
The Quest 3 headset utilizes advanced technology to elevate content appearance by combining Meta’s highest resolution display and pancake optics. To bolster the extra pixels, this headset comes with a powerful next-generation Snapdragon chipset designed in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies. With more than double the graphical performance of the previous Snapdragon GPU in Quest 2, the chipset enables smoother performance and exceptional clarity for an immersive gaming experience.
Immersive VR + Breakthrough Meta Reality in a Single Device
Immerse yourself in the ultimate gaming experience with Quest 3 and its Meta Reality technology that seamlessly integrates the virtual world with your physical surroundings. This cutting-edge technology surpasses existing mixed reality technology by recognizing and responding to objects in your physical space, allowing for natural and effortless navigation. With high-quality color Passthrough, advanced machine learning, and spatial understanding, you can interact with virtual content while simultaneously exploring the physical world, providing endless opportunities for adventure. From playing virtual board games on your kitchen table with Demeo to enhancing your living room with virtual art using Painting VR, or even exploring a fully immersive world that defies reality, the possibilities are limitless.
Quest 3 makes Meta Reality available to more people at a lower price point, making it their first mass-market offering to deliver cutting-edge VR and MR experiences in a single device, setting a new benchmark for future headsets.
Redesigned for Comfort + Control
The Quest 3 headset is a more comfortable option compared to Quest 2, thanks to its 40% slimmer optic profile. The Touch Plus controllers have been redesigned by Meta to be more streamlined and ergonomic, with outer tracking rings removed due to advancements in tracking technology. This makes the controllers feel like a natural extension of your hands and occupy less space. TruTouch haptics, previously seen in Touch Pro, are also included to provide a more immersive experience. Additionally, Meta offers a premium experience with their fully self-tracked Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers. The headset also supports hand tracking out of the box, allowing you to explore without controllers through Direct Touch, which lets you use just your hands to interact with virtual objects.
World’s Best Library of Immersive Content
Quest 3 is fully compatible with the Quest 2 catalog of over 500 VR games, apps, and experiences, and more titles are expected to be added. This means that Quest 3 has the world’s best selection of immersive experiences from the very beginning. You can watch today’s Meta Quest Gaming Showcase for a summary of new games and updates coming to the Quest Platform, as well as a preview of Quest 3’s flagship adventure.
Quest 2 Gets New Lower Prices, Plus a Performance Upgrade
Meta is excited for Quest 3 and plans to share more later this year at Connect. However, we should not forget about Quest 2.
Meta Quest 2 transformed the VR industry when it first appeared in 2020, ushering in a new era of gaming, fitness, and more. It is already one of the most affordable ways to get into VR, and it is about to get even better. Starting June 4, Meta will lower the price of Quest 2 to $299.99 USD for the 128GB SKU and $349.99 USD for the 256GB SKU, making it accessible to even more people.
An upcoming software update will improve the GPU and CPU of Quest 2 and Quest Pro. Quest 2 and Pro will experience up to a 26% CPU performance increase and up to a 19% GPU speed increase for Quest 2 and 11% for Quest Pro. As developers take advantage of these changes, Meta says you can expect smoother gameplay, a more responsive UI, and richer content on both headsets. Dynamic Resolution Scaling will also be available for both Quest 2 and Quest Pro, so games and apps can take advantage of increased pixel density without dropping frames.
Quest 3 sets a new standard for mixed reality and immersive gaming, but Quest 2 remains Meta’s most affordable entry point to VR. The Pro version is optimized for work uses, with face and eye tracking for more authentic self-expression in meetings. Meta will continue to sell Quest 2 and Pro alongside Quest 3 and ship new software updates to enhance the Quest experience.
