This article is also available in:
Français
Meta unveiled the Meta Quest 3 a few hours ago, the new version of its virtual and mixed reality headset.
Meta Quest 3: specs & games
Equipped with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, the Quest 3 is touted as being twice as powerful as the version 2 in terms of graphics. This allows for more defined textures and the handling of more complex 3D visuals. It comes with 8GB of RAM, which is one-third more than the Quest 2, and a display resolution of 2064 x 2208 per eye, as opposed to 3664 x 1920 on the Quest 2. The field of view is 110° horizontally and 96° vertically.
It’s worth noting that the headset is more compact thanks to new lenses. Although the total weight remains roughly the same, having a less bulky headset should provide more comfort.
Additionally, the refresh rate defaults to 90 Hz but can reach 120 Hz in experimental mode, whereas the Quest 2 only reached 90 Hz. This translates to smoother gameplay in certain games and possibly fewer issues for individuals who experience discomfort in virtual reality.
WiFi 6 is supported, allowing wireless streaming of games running on your PC, for example.
Meta emphasizes mixed reality, which is the blending of real life and virtual worlds. Thanks to two RGB cameras (with higher resolution than the Quest Pro) the headset can display the real environment surrounding the person wearing the Quest 3, and the headset can map the room’s depth with various elements. This enables games with virtual elements displayed in your real environment. LEGO Bricktales is a perfect example of this.
Other potential uses include educational scenarios, such as learning to play the piano, and virtual conference tools, which gained popularity in 2020. Mixed reality display would finally allows you to take notes on a physical notepad while being in a mostly virtual space.
Meta insisted, with reason, on the fact that mixed reality reduces the feeling of confinement since you can still see a part of your real environment and the people around you.
Of course, this hasn’t stopped the brand from promoting purely VR games like Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR (also compatible with Quest 2 and Pro), which puts you in the shoes of an Assassin from Ubisoft’s franchise.
Lastly, Xbox Cloud Gaming will arrive on Quest 3 in December, offering the possibility to play many games (Halo Infinite, Minecraft Legends, Forza Horizon 5, etc.) on a large virtual 2D screen. This could be quite practical if you don’t have a television or if you’re on the go.
In terms of pricing, the headset will be sold at $500 for 128 GB of storage and $650 for 512 GB. Keep in mind that the actual available space will be slightly below these numbers since the operating system is installed on the same storage space. Various accessories are available, such as a charging station. The battery is expected to last “up to 2.2 hours” on average.
Pre-orders are now open, with availability on October 10.
What to think of the Quest 3, and what impact will it have on the industry?
Overall, the update is solid. The main drawbacks are the absence of eye tracking, which would have allowed for precise foveal rendering (more detailed rendering where the eyes are looking, and less detailed elsewhere), and the pricing, which confirms that this headset won’t be a mass-market product but rather aimed at enthusiasts. The optimistic predictions of a virtual and mixed reality explosion in every household that we heard a few years ago won’t make sense until such a product becomes truly affordable.
It’s also worth noting that this announcement event paradoxically confirms that the concept of the metaverse, which was dear to Meta until recently, probably doesn’t make sense in the near future. In the Meta Quest 3 spot summarizing the product’s strengths, the closest thing to a metaverse is a segment on Roblox. In other words, Meta basically admits that its Horizon Worlds platform, which did not achieve the expected success (less than 200,000 monthly users in October 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal), is not an app that will attract new customers.
In any case, from a technical standpoint, the offering is solid. High-quality graphics, the presence of Xbox games, and mixed reality titles are promising.
On the pro side, the technical advancements and the affordable price make it an interesting proposition, especially for experiences in museums that won’t visually “trap” the audience. This will make the experience less intimidating and allow for new interactions.
If you’ve never tried virtual reality, we strongly suggest you try out this headset (in-store or through acquaintances) instead of purchasing it blindly. This will help you get an idea of its capabilities.
