Launch date, rumors, specs, value, what we need to see

It feels just like the Meta Quest 2 has been round for ages. In reality, the headset has been out for lengthy sufficient that it even went by a mid-cycle rebrand, going from the Oculus Quest 2 to the Meta Quest 2. However if truth be told, it has solely been accessible for 3 years — launched again in late 2020. But that span of time remains to be lengthy sufficient that the {hardware} has began rising lengthy within the tooth, which may’t be helped in such a fast-paced trade like VR.

One in all Meta’s largest VR rivals — Sony — launched its newest entry into the area — the PSVR 2 — in February 2023. With the arrival of this Quest 2 competitor, our eyes have turned again towards Meta to see how the corporate responds.

Though the social media large did launch the Quest Professional in 2022, that headset is a high-end system that doesn’t match into the identical price range tier that the Quest 2 occupies. So we’re nonetheless ready to see the subsequent iteration of the {hardware}. Whereas the corporate has but to point out off the system publicly, we do know {that a} successor to the Quest 2 is coming our manner. Right here’s all the things we all know concerning the upcoming Meta Quest 3.

Though it hasn’t obtained an official announcement, there will certainly be a follow-up to the Quest 2. Will the follow-up be a Quest 3 or one thing new just like the Quest Professional? It’s virtually assured that the subsequent headset Meta places out would be the Quest 3. In reality, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in addition to different leaders within the firm, have talked about the system by identify on a number of events. As well as, the founding father of Meta has even gone so far as to say that the Quest 4 is already within the early levels of growth. It’s possible Meta is planning for the Quest 3 to have the same three-year cycle to the Quest 2.

Will there be a number of fashions?

When the Quest 2 launched, Meta delivered a 128GB mannequin that offered for $299, and a 256GB model that offered for $399. Will the corporate do that once more for the Quest 3? Whereas Zuckerberg and his fellow executives have been very open in discussing their upcoming product, they haven’t talked about something in regard to a number of storage choices. Nevertheless, rumors recommend there could possibly be a mannequin with 512GB of SSD and 12GB of RAM.

Though the storage choices are nonetheless up within the air, we do know there can be a variant. Meta’s VP of VR, Mark Rabkin, advised The Verge that the corporate is growing two different headsets along with the one we find out about — code identify Stinson. One will possible be the successor to the Quest Professional, as he described it as a high-end system. However the different headset was described as a extra reasonably priced Quest 3 variant internally referred to as Ventura.

• Oculus Quest: Might 21, 2019
• Oculus Quest 2: October 13, 2020
• Meta Quest Professional: October 25, 2022

Because of Rabkin’s interview, we all know there can be a number of fashions. However when will these headsets be launched? It’s been confirmed that Meta will launch one of many Quest 3 fashions in 2023. This was revealed throughout a Q3 2022 earnings name from Meta Chief Technique Officer David Wehner.

Conversely, our progress in value of income is anticipated to speed up, pushed by infrastructure-related bills and, to a lesser extent, Actuality Labs {hardware} prices pushed by the launch of our subsequent technology of our shopper Quest headset later subsequent yr.

This launch date solely includes the Stinson mannequin, nevertheless. The Ventura variant is anticipated to launch someday in 2024. There’s additionally a robust risk that Meta will formally announce and launch the Quest 3 throughout its Join convention in October, because it did with the Quest Professional and Quest 2 beforehand.

We’re, on the very least, months away from the Quest 3 announcement. Regardless of that, we have already got a reasonably good thought of the final design Meta might go together with for the headset due to a quite substantial leak. YouTuber SadlyItsBradley (Brad Lynch) obtained leaked schematics of the Quest 3 — the place we discovered concerning the code identify Stinson — that included computer-aided designs (CAD) of the headset. This is identical YouTuber who obtained leaked specs of the Quest Professional that had been later confirmed when an engineering pattern was found after it was by chance left in a lodge room.

Primarily based on the CAD photographs, it seems that Stinson might have the same design philosophy to its predecessor. One side the place it could differ, nevertheless, is the scale. Stinson is believed to make use of pancake lenses — a kind of lens that’s skinny and lightweight — as a substitute of Fresnel lenses, which might permit the headset to be thinner and lighter than the Quest 2. In response to The Verge‘s report, the upcoming VR flagship is 2 instances thinner than the earlier mannequin.

In one other departure from Quest 2, the Quest 3 seems to have a dial positioned on the backside. When you have a look at the picture with the underside angle, you’ll discover that the dial is an interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment wheel — one thing that didn’t seem within the earlier system.

It’s value mentioning that even when these photographs are the true deal, they aren’t definitive. Meta might at all times make modifications to the design earlier than launch time.

Sadly, the CAD renders didn’t embrace the controllers, so we’re in the dead of night there — for now. But it surely’s believable that the corporate might simply hold the controllers as they’re. It’s unlikely Meta would make drastic modifications like PlayStation was compelled to do with its personal VR controllers.

After we moved on from the Oculus Quest to the Meta Quest 2, the second-generation headset noticed an enchancment in decision, velocity, and ergonomics. The Quest 3 is more likely to see enhancements in these areas as nicely, however extra importantly, it could acquire some new must-have options. Because of the schematics leak, plus current interviews, we have now fairly a bit of knowledge to sift by.

It’s believed that the Quest 3 might incorporate among the expertise within the Quest Professional, so let’s begin by specializing in the {hardware} and go on from there. Within the final part, we mentioned that the construct of the system needs to be harking back to the Quest 2, nevertheless, it’ll possible be thinner and lighter as a result of pancake lenses. There additionally seems to be to be an IPD adjustment wheel — one thing that can can help you widen or slim the hole between the lenses to match your eye distance.

Transferring on to the show, Lynch says that the anticipated decision is perhaps 4,128 by 2,208 pixels or 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye. If that is true, that might be a 30% enchancment over the Quest 2’s 1,920 by 1,832 pixels per eye. And Meta might use uOLED shows this time round, however we have now additionally heard rumors suggesting OLED or mini LED. These shows might have a 120Hz refresh price as nicely — one thing the Quest 2 acquired again in 2021.

As well as, the headset seems to have a four-camera array, two aspect cameras for monitoring, and a depth sensor. Apparently, it seems that the components obligatory for eye and face monitoring are lacking, based mostly on the CAD photographs. Zuckerberg made a giant deal about eye and face monitoring throughout Meta’s Join 2022 keynote and added them to the Quest Professional, however that is probably not a function within the Quest 3.

One thing else we discovered from the leak is that the system could possibly be powered by a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. When you’re conversant in cellular processors, this chip is actually a variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 — the most recent chip from Qualcomm working on this yr’s strongest telephones. This could be the largest enchancment of all, because the Quest 2 runs on an XR2 Gen 1, the equal of a Snapdragon 865 chip — consider the Samsung Galaxy S20 5G.

The Quest 3 might also get a pleasant bump up within the RAM and storage division. As we talked about earlier, rumors recommend we could possibly be in retailer for 512GB of SSD and 12GB of RAM. It’s unclear if this is able to be the bottom mannequin or the dearer variant.

When you’re questioning what the aim of the depth sensors are, apparently they’re meant for combined actuality. In The Verge‘s report, Rabkin defined that combined actuality is a core focus for the Quest 3 and it “can be an enormous promoting level.” Moreover, Rabkin says their builders are working arduous to make combined actuality “really feel higher, simpler, extra pure.”

With the combined actuality expertise, there can be an enchancment to the Quest’s passthrough imaginative and prescient function. On the Quest 2, this function — known as guardian — is in black and white, and it may be troublesome to see shiny screens. However guardian has been upgraded to what the corporate calls “sensible guardian.” Hopefully, the function will give the person a clearer view of their environment, be able to scanning objects within the room, and provides the video feed a splash of colour. Rabkin states that Meta is aiming to make a headset the place:

You’ll be able to stroll effortlessly by your home realizing you may see completely nicely. You’ll be able to put anchors and issues in your desktop. You’ll be able to take your espresso. You’ll be able to keep in there for much longer.

It’s potential that this expertise may be used to assist enhance hand monitoring. That is one thing that’s slowly gotten higher with updates on the Quest 2, however might nonetheless use some work.

Meta is in a little bit of a predicament with regard to the pricing of the Quest 3. Primarily based on The Verge‘s report we talked about earlier, the corporate desires to keep up enthusiasm by conserving the worth low. Nevertheless, it’s essential to do not forget that Meta was additionally compelled to boost the worth of the Quest 2 final summer season due to inflation. In consequence, the 128GB mannequin of the Quest 2 went from $299 to $399, and the 256GB model went from $399 to $499.

We might see Meta aiming for this value vary once more. In reality, Zuckerberg confirmed as a lot in an interview in October 2022. “There can be a Quest 3 and that’s within the value vary of $300, $400, or $500, that zone,” Zuckerberg advised Stratechery. It’s unsure the place the corporate will land in that vary, however with the technological enhancements and extra highly effective processor, it’s not farfetched to imagine it is going to be dearer than the Quest 2’s authentic value.

Nevertheless, Rabkin revealed that Stinson isn’t the one Quest 3 mannequin within the works. The corporate can also be reportedly growing a extra accessible headset codenamed Ventura. “The purpose for this headset could be very easy: pack the largest punch we are able to on the most engaging value level within the VR shopper market,” Rabkin advised The Verge. Understanding this, it’s potential Ventura might nail that $299 candy spot that Stinson might miss.

On the subject of video games, apps, and experiences, it’d be good to suppose that Meta would make the Quest 3 suitable with what was accessible on the prior system. Whereas it will make sense to bolster the launch library this fashion, there’s no assure that can occur. And this wouldn’t be the primary time Meta steered away from backward compatibility.

When you bear in mind, Meta used to supply a bit headset referred to as the Oculus Go. When the Quest 1 got here round a yr later, the corporate enabled compatibility for software program launched for the Go and used emulation to imitate the controls. Nevertheless, backward compatibility for these video games was dropped for the Quest 2. In response to former Oculus Consulting CTO John Carmack, “Help was take away[d] on Quest 2. I completely misplaced the inner debate over backwards compatibility.”

Because the management schemes between the Quest 2 and three possible gained’t be all that totally different, there’s a very good risk current software program will nonetheless be playable on the next-generation headset.

Transferring on to the launch lineup, we all know that Meta plans to have 41 new apps and video games accessible on the time of launch. What these titles are is at the moment unknown as they’ve but to be revealed. However we do know {that a} fair proportion of those video games can be from Oculus Studios. We additionally know the group is working with third events to convey video games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Murderer’s Creed VR to the platform as nicely.

As we talked about within the value and launch date part, the system is anticipated to be wherever between $300 to $500. Clearly, we wish the Quest 3 to be as reasonably priced as potential, however it could show troublesome for Meta to hit the $300 value mark with that highly effective Snapdragon chip sitting in there. If Zuckerberg might promote it at $450 or beneath, it might nonetheless be a gorgeous supply whereas undercutting the PSVR 2 by $100. But when it finally ends up being too costly, shoppers may have to attend for Ventura to return out in 2024.

One of many largest drawbacks of the Quest platform is the in-headset app retailer. In reality, Rabkin cites the poor UI and UX as one of many predominant causes engagement with the platform has dropped for the reason that final vacation season. On desktop, the Oculus Retailer is simple to navigate, uncover new releases, and seek for upcoming video games. The VR model of the shop is the exact opposite, making it troublesome to do issues like preorder or rapidly discover new titles. We wish to see the VR retailer get a revamp with a extra user-friendly UI.

If you see one thing unbelievable or do one thing superb in VR, you’re possible going to need to share a screenshot or clip. Whereas it’s potential to share media with others on the Quest 2, it’s by no means been an incredible expertise in comparison with different headsets. There have been just a few updates to deal with this, however there’s nonetheless a approach to go. We wish to see Meta make this course of so simple as PlayStation makes it on the PSVR 2.

Having spectacular {hardware} is sweet, however what’s going to in the end decide the success of the Quest 3 is the software program. The Quest 3 not solely wants high-quality experiences, but in addition apps that may solely be discovered on the Quest. If the Quest 3 shares its complete library with different headsets, then the one differentiator Meta can lean on is the very fact the headset is self-contained. So it will be good if Meta might sprinkle in a very good variety of exclusives into its assortment.

That’s all the things we need to see on the Meta Quest 3. What do you hope for many? Tell us by voting within the ballot beneath.