The Meta Quest 3 is on its manner – though not till later 2023, based mostly on what the corporate has stated to this point.
Whereas Meta introduced the high-end Meta Quest Professional at Meta Join 2022, there was no signal of the successor to the vastly widespread Meta Quest 2.
So, when ought to we anticipate to see the Quest 3 and, extra importantly, what can we anticipate from the next-gen digital actuality headset?
Whereas it’s early days, there are already whispers and leaks that give us a tough thought of what to anticipate from the Quest 3, together with early launch date rumours and have leaks.
When Meta first started teasing the Meta Quest Professional in 2021, many assumed it’d be the successor to the Quest 2. In fact, now we all know that it’s a wholly completely different headset with a spotlight past gaming.
The excellent news is, we don’t have too lengthy to attend for a real successor – a launch in 2023 appears more and more possible for the Meta Quest 3.
A 2023 launch was promised in Meta’s This fall 2022 earnings name – which befell on 1 February 2023 – when CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid it out fairly clearly: “Later this yr, we’re going to launch our subsequent technology client headset.”
Whereas Zuckerberg doesn’t point out the Quest 3 explicitly, the reference to a ‘client headset’ is telling – Meta considers the present Quest 2 to be a consumer-focused headset, not like the skilled/inventive focus for the Quest Professional.
A 2023 launch is backed up by analyst Brad Lynch, who means that the upgraded Meta Quest 3 shall be revealed at Meta’s Join 2023 occasion and launched quickly after. If the corporate sticks to the identical schedule as current years, that would imply an October 2023 reveal for the Quest 3.
Whereas it’s possible far too early for Meta to have priced up the upcoming headset – particularly if it’s not due till the tip of 2023 – Mark Zuckerberg has calmed the nerves of VR followers that have been scared by the excessive $1500/£1500 price ticket for the Meta Quest Professional.
Whereas some have been anxious that the excessive worth of the Quest Professional may level in the direction of a better worth for the entry-level VR headset, Zuckerberg confirmed in an October 2022 interview with Stratechery that the Quest 3 shall be within the “worth vary of $300, $400, or $500, that zone.”.
With that in thoughts, we anticipate the Quest 3 to value the same quantity to the $399/£399 Meta Quest 2, however we’ll replace this part if we hear something completely different.
What is going to the Quest 3 specs and options be?
Whereas it’s not due out for some time but, the Quest 3 has already been the topic of various leaks, giving us a good suggestion about what to anticipate from the upcoming VR headset.
Improved efficiency
The Meta Quest 2 sports activities Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR 2 platform, providing the spectacular standalone efficiency we’re all accustomed to.
It’d be protected to imagine that Meta and Qualcomm would proceed that relationship with the Quest 3 and the next-gen Snapdragon cell platform, which ought to be accessible by the point the Quest 3 goes into manufacturing.
VR analyst Brad Lynch initially steered that Meta may take a special route, as a substitute growing its personal chipset for the upcoming headset. The analyst claimed the corporate was rumoured to be engaged on a chip with a “give attention to a GPU that’s higher designed for VR masses,” as to “not depend on an SoC that every one smaller XR gamers will use”.
Nonetheless, in a follow-up YouTube video in late September 2021, Lynch now means that the Quest 3 will certainly sport the next-generation Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset alongside a boosted 12GB of RAM and as much as 512GB of storage.
Whereas that doesn’t give us a lot to go on, it appears to substantiate that the Quest 3 may have higher graphics efficiency, which ought to translate to raised, extra immersive video games and apps accessible on the standalone platform.
Up to date LCD shows
One other prediction from Lynch means that the Quest 3 will supply fairly the improve within the show division. Whereas Lynch initially steered a swap to OLED was on the playing cards, newer leaks recommend that Meta has determined as a substitute on a higher-res, quicker LCD panel than that of the Quest 2.
In accordance with Lynch, the Quest 3 will sport an LCD show with a decision of 2064×2208 per eye and an elevated 120Hz refresh price – that’s each increased decision and quicker than the top-end Quest Professional, which bodes effectively for shoppers.
Whereas the Quest 2 has supplied an experimental 120Hz mode for the previous few months, it’s unique to apps and video games that assist it, with Meta Dwelling and different OS parts nonetheless rendered at 90Hz. The bounce to 120Hz will convey a notable bounce in smoothness irrespective of the place you’re utilizing the headset.
Not a lot else is understood in regards to the show tech, together with subject of view, but it surely’s thrilling nonetheless.
Combined actuality
Our greatest have a look at the Meta Quest 3 additionally comes from Lynch, who showcased leaked CAD renders of the upcoming headset in late September 2022, giving us a good suggestion of what to anticipate from the next-gen headset – together with specs that affirm Meta is planning to shift focus in the direction of blended actuality.
The video gives significant insights into what to anticipate from the next-generation VR headset, codenamed Venture Stinson internally, which basically appears to be a mix of the Quest 2 and Quest Professional.
The leaked CAD renders appear to recommend the headset shall be extra targeted on blended actuality than merely digital actuality with extra cameras, possible with color passthrough capabilities just like the Quest Professional.
That is smart within the gentle of the corporate’s This fall 2022 earnings name, when Zuckerberg promised that the Quest 3 “will characteristic Meta Actuality” – the corporate’s identify for its tech to mixed digital actuality and augmented actuality options in the identical {hardware}.
It’s additionally stated to have the identical pancake lenses because the Professional headset, which permits for a extra compact type issue, and it appears like there shall be a manually adjustable IPD wheel on the underside of the headset too. That’ll make it a lot simpler to regulate the IDP than the Quest 2, which requires you to take the headset off.
The massive distinction between the Quest 3 and Quest Professional? Lynch claims that the Quest 3 received’t embody eye or face monitoring, two essential options of the Professional headset. It’s possible a cost-saving measure greater than something, permitting Meta to maintain the value of the Quest 3 down and extra reasonably priced for patrons – particularly with inflation ranges rising quickly in lots of areas all over the world.
The video goes into granular element about parts like cooling and audio, so sit down and put together for an 18-minute unofficial deep dive into the Quest 3.