The Meta Quest 3 is much better to the Quest 2. It’s more comfortable, more powerful, easier to use for extended periods of time, and just plain better. If that’s all you wanted to know about Meta’s new headset, now you know. The passthrough enhancements alone — the fact that I can now easily retrieve my coffee / safely wander across the room without taking off my headset — make this a worthwhile update, even if you bought a Quest 2 only a couple years ago and haven’t used it as much as you hoped you would — make this a worthwhile upgrade.
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But that’s about the only thing I can say with confidence about Quest 3. Because, when I think about it, I’m not sure what the Quest 3 is at all. If it’s a VR headset, it’s certainly better than the Quest 2 from 2020, but it’s also nearly double the price. If it’s a cutting-edge mixed reality headgear supposed to usher in a future where the digital and real worlds merge flawlessly, it has some severe faults and far too little content. It’s amazing as a super-immersive game system, but its library can’t compete with Sony and Microsoft.
Organized ✅ Ready to play ✅
— Meta Quest (@MetaQuestVR) November 15, 2023
Get your #MetaQuest3 all-in-one charging dock: https://t.co/MGufUc5TV2 pic.twitter.com/R8B5nxC7Lm
Meta continues to refer to the Quest 3 as “the first mainstream mixed reality headset.” Strictly speaking, that’s correct: at $499.99 for the 128GB device and $649.99 for the 512GB model, it’s a substantial jump from the $299.99 Quest 2 beginning price but still on the right side of the too-expensive line, especially when compared to Apple’s upcoming $3,500 Vision Pro. And, unlike the mixed reality gadgets we’ve seen from Magic Leap, Microsoft, and others, this one can be purchased by an individual user. What Meta really wants is for this to be more than just the greatest low-cost headset. It wants Quest 3 to be the one that gets people excited about, using, and developing for mixed reality.
Release date of Meta Quest 3
The official Meta Quest 3 is now up for purchase!
As of right now, you can get Asgard’s Wrath 2 for free when you buy the 128GB model. In addition to the free game, if you upgrade to the 512GB model, you’ll also receive a six-month subscription to Meta Quest Plus. The deadline for placing a preorder is January 27, 2024.
The Quest 3 is available for pre-order from a few shops or the Meta Store in 23 countries. Preorders are accepted via Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart in the United States. Customers in the UK can preorder from Curry’s, Argos, and Amazon.
The Meta Quest 3 is presently unavailable for purchase in China, although this appears to be about to change. The Wall Street Journal claims that Meta is traveling back to China and bringing the Quest 3 along. But it’s anticipated that this Quest 3 variant—which some analysts have called a “Quest 3 Lite”—will be less expensive.
Meta Quest 3: Specifications
| Price | $499.00 (128GB), $649 (512GB) |
| Launch date | September 27 |
| Release date | October 10 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| Display | 4K+ Infinite Display (2 LCDs, each with 2064 x 2208 pixels) |
| Storage | 128GB, 512GB |
| Full-color passthrough | Two RGB cameras (18 PPD) |
| Rate of refresh | 120Hz (experimental), 90Hz (native). |
| Viewing Angle | 110 degrees horizontally, 96 degrees vertically |
| Dimensions | 184 mm x 160 mm x 98 mm |
| Weight | 515 grams |
| Battery life | (estimated) up to 2.9 hours |
| Charge period | 2 hours (estimated) |
| Backwards compatible | Yes |
| Eye tracking | No |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.2 are both supported. |
What is contained in the package
| Charging dock |
| 2m cable |
| Quick start guide |
| Safety and warranty guide |
| Rechargeable controller batteries |
The cost of Meta Quest 3
The Meta Quest 3 costs $499 in the United States for a device with 128GB of storage, which is $100 more expensive than the Quest 2’s $299 starting price. For $649, a device with 512 GB of storage is also available.
The 128GB variant’s launch pricing in the UK is £479, while the larger 512GB model is £619. The 128GB variant’s launch pricing in the European Union is €549, while the 512GB model is €699. The 128GB base model’s launch price in Australia is AU$799.
Design of Meta Quest 3
According to Meta, the Meta Quest 3 has been totally redesigned from the “inside out”. Although the headset’s main design is identical to that of the Quest 2, its optic profile is now 40% thinner, partly because of pancake lenses. In order to enable full-color video passthrough, it also features a daring trio of two pill-shaped RGB cameras and a depth projector on the front of the headset.
Additionally, a new Lens Distance Adjustment Wheel makes it possible to fine-tune interpupillary distance (IPD) with greater accuracy. The IPD range supported by the headset is 53 mm to 75 mm. The Quest 2 required a glasses spacing insert, but the built-in eyeglasses and depth adjustment do away with that requirement.
In Quest 3, the speakers are also given an additional boost. According to Meta, the Quest 3’s audio range is 40% louder than the Quest 2’s, and it generates 3D spatial music with more bass and clarity. If you prefer to use your own headphones for more immersive audio, there is a 3.5 mm headphone port.
Features of Meta Quest 3
Of course, the main attraction of the Quest 3 is its mixed reality functionality, which is made possible by the full-color video passthrough in the headset. You may switch between immersive VR content and passthrough-facilitated AR experiences, including holographic overlays, with a double-tap on the side of the headset. See our guide to the new mixed reality elements in Meta Quest 3, five of which are available for use right away as you receive the headset.
All of the Quest 2’s content, including the greatest Meta Quest 2 games, will also be available to the Quest 3. You won’t run out of experiences or games to play with Meta Quest 3 because over 100 new Quest 3 apps and updated Quest 2 apps are coming to the game by the end of the year. Check out our compilation of the Meta Quest 3 titles that we currently know are on the way.
Thanks to the Quest Link and Air Link, the Quest 3 can now use Windows PCs and enjoy the PC VR functionality of the Quest 2. This entitles you to play almost all of the top VR games. It will also have access to Meta Quest Plus, just as Quest 2. For just $7.99 a month, Quest Plus, Meta’s VR gaming subscription service, gives users access to two carefully chosen titles each month.
One feature that needs a significant upgrade? Now the Quest boundary function can automatically scan your playspace to identify your playspace boundary, thanks to the six powerful camera sensors in the Quest 3. An enormous help in ensuring mixed reality experiences work well is Quest 3’s ability to autonomously scan your area in 3D and determine where walls, floors, furniture, and other surfaces are located.
Q: can you play the games you have on quest2 on the new quest 3??
Yes! Games purchased for any Quest product, including Quest 1 and Quest 2 should be compatible on newer Quest 3 hardware.
Q: How much are games? Are there free games? How much are games subscription?
Game and subscription costs are decided by the developer of the application! Our platform allows developers to upload their own games to be purchased, or downloaded for free. These applications can be located from headset itself, or the store page here: https://www.meta.com/experiences
Q: Can one use the device for video chats using messenger as the platform?
While you cannot do video calls on Quest 3 at this time, you can use messenger for general messages and normal calls. Check out our “Use Messenger on Meta Quest” article here: https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/in-vr-experiences/social-features-and-sharing/messenger-in-vr
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