The Meta Quest 3 is on its means – though not till later 2023, primarily based on what the corporate has stated to date.
Whereas Meta introduced the high-end Meta Quest Professional at Meta Join 2022, there was no signal of the successor to the vastly common 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. After all, now we all know that it’s a wholly totally different headset with a spotlight past gaming.
The excellent news is, we shouldn’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 autumn 2022 earnings name – which happened on 1 February 2023 – when CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid it out fairly clearly: “Later this yr, we’re going to launch our subsequent era shopper headset.”
Whereas Zuckerberg doesn’t point out the Quest 3 explicitly, the reference to a ‘shopper headset’ is telling – Meta considers the present Quest 2 to be a consumer-focused headset, not like the skilled/artistic focus for the Quest Professional.
A 2023 launch is backed up by analyst Brad Lynch, who means that the upgraded Meta Quest 3 will probably be revealed at Meta’s Join 2023 occasion and launched quickly after. If the corporate sticks to the identical schedule as latest years, that might imply an October 2023 reveal for the Quest 3.
It’s value noting that the corporate does have an occasion earlier than then. It can maintain a Quest Gaming Showcase on 1 June, promising “double the information” of final yr’s equal occasion. That stated, beforehand this was strictly a software program showcase, and we’re anticipating the identical this time round. Nonetheless, there’s an outdoor likelihood of a Quest 3 reveal – or no less than a superb tease of the headset – so it might nonetheless be value tuning in.
Whereas it’s possible far too early for Meta to have priced up the upcoming headset – particularly if it’s not due till the top 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 value of the Quest Professional may level in direction of the next value for the entry-level VR headset, Zuckerberg confirmed in an October 2022 interview with Stratechery that the Quest 3 will probably be within the “value vary of $300, $400, or $500, that zone.”.
With that in thoughts, we anticipate the Quest 3 to value an analogous quantity to the $399/£399 Meta Quest 2, however we’ll replace this part if we hear something totally different.
What’s 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 plenty of 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 conversant in.
It’d be secure to imagine that Meta and Qualcomm would proceed that relationship with the Quest 3 and the next-gen Snapdragon cellular platform, which must be obtainable by the point the Quest 3 goes into manufacturing.
VR analyst Brad Lynch initially instructed that Meta may take a special route, as a substitute creating its personal chipset for the upcoming headset. The analyst claimed the corporate was rumoured to be engaged on a chip with a “deal with a GPU that’s higher designed for VR masses,” as to “not depend on an SoC that each 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 could have higher graphics efficiency, which ought to translate to higher, extra immersive video games and apps obtainable 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 instructed a swap to OLED was on the playing cards, more moderen leaks recommend that Meta has determined as a substitute on a higher-res, sooner 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 charge – that’s each greater decision and sooner than the top-end Quest Professional, which bodes nicely 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 help it, with Meta Dwelling and different OS components nonetheless rendered at 90Hz. The soar to 120Hz will deliver a notable soar in smoothness regardless of the place you’re utilizing the headset.
Not a lot else is understood in regards to the show tech, together with discipline of view, however it’s thrilling nonetheless.
Blended 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 verify Meta is planning to shift focus in direction of blended actuality.
The video gives significant insights into what to anticipate from the next-generation VR headset, codenamed Venture Stinson internally, which primarily appears to be a mix of the Quest 2 and Quest Professional.
The leaked CAD renders appear to recommend the headset will probably 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 sensible within the gentle of the corporate’s This autumn 2022 earnings name, when Zuckerberg promised that the Quest 3 “will characteristic Meta Actuality” – the corporate’s title 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 kind issue, and it appears like there will probably 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 large distinction between the Quest 3 and Quest Professional? Lynch claims that the Quest 3 gained’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 purchasers – particularly with inflation ranges rising quickly in lots of areas world wide.
The video goes into granular element about components like cooling and audio, so sit down and put together for an 18-minute unofficial deep dive into the Quest 3.
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