To some, the Meta Quest 3 is the most effective VR headset obtainable, hitting the appropriate steadiness between next-gen tech upgrades and reasonably priced compromises. To others, it is too costly in comparison with the Quest 2 or not highly effective sufficient in opposition to the premium Apple Vision Pro. We’ve adopted the Quest 3 carefully since its late 2023 launch, monitoring all of its updates, new video games, and controversies. Aside from sharing all of the specs and comparisons to different headsets, we’ll share the whole lot that new Quest 3 homeowners or potential patrons ought to know concerning the headset.If you desire a extra private breakdown of what it is like to make use of the Quest 3, you may learn our Meta Quest 3 assessment for all of the highs and lows. In explicit, we praised the upgraded mixed-reality passthrough in full colour, the extra ergonomic controllers, and the revamped graphical energy, whereas noting some design points and poor battery life.Below, we’ll focus as a substitute on the entire uncooked numbers, costs, equipment, and so forth, that can assist you resolve if it is value upgrading to the brand new headset.Today’s finest Meta Quest 3 offersMeta Quest 3: Price and availabilityThe Meta Quest 3 grew to become publicly obtainable on October 10, 2023. The base 128GB Quest 3 prices $499 / £479 / €549, whereas the 512GB mannequin is $649 / £619 / €699. Aside from storage, you will not discover some other variations, besides that every one 512GB Quest 3 patrons get six months of free Meta Quest Plus, an $8/month subscription that offers you two Quest video games totally free, as chosen by Meta.We have a information evaluating the 128GB vs. 512GB Quest 3 that breaks down the choice. To summarize it briefly, most Quest 3 video games measure about 2–3GB in measurement, however main releases can swell as much as 10GB or extra — particularly with post-launch updates and DLC. 512GB is greater than most individuals want, however in the event you select the default 128GB mannequin, you could have to delete video games to create space.Thankfully, Quest video games help cloud storage, so in the event you do select the 128GB Quest 3, you can also make house in your library and redownload video games later.Meta Quest 3 design and show(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The most seen change to the Meta Quest 3 stems from its pancake lenses, which take up much less house than the Quest 2’s fresnel lenses by magnifying by way of skinny, reflective mirrors as a substitute of 1 thick layer. This makes the Quest 3 headset 40% skinnier in entrance. Despite being skinnier, the Quest 3 weighs barely greater than the Quest 2, which Meta itself attributes to new parts just like the depth sensor, additional cameras, and depth adjuster. Thankfully, the burden distribution is rather more balanced, which means it is not all resting in your brow and slowly creating stress. It’s nonetheless going to really feel heavy after some time, although. Like the Quest 2, the Quest 3 ships with a material strap with velcro to regulate the match, as a substitute of the built-in Elite Strap with rear padding and adjustment knob you get on the Quest Pro. Unlike the only Quest 2 strap, which may slide to at least one aspect of your head, the Quest 3 makes use of a cut up overhead strap design that offers you higher help however “rubs on the top of your ears,” based on our reviewer. That’s why we referred to as a Quest 3 strap alternative the “one accessory you actually need.” It gives a extra snug and safe match, and you’ll even purchase a strap with a built-in battery to enhance the Quest 3’s longevity. Since the Quest 3 has a modular design, putting in a brand new strap ought to solely take you a couple of minutes and would not require any experience. (Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A refined however very important improve from the Quest 2 is how one can change how shut or far the lenses sit out of your eyes, a operate constructed into the facial interface. You’ll select between 4 choices, with the furthest setting leaving sufficient room so that you can put on glasses with out a spacer. Plus, there’s the underrated perk that the full-color mixed-reality means you have got fewer causes to take off the headset and fear about adjusting the match. You can merely double-tap the aspect to go away your sport, see your environment, and resolve no matter real-world concern is going on. Our one frustration with the brand new Quest 3 facial design is the shortage of venting, which may trigger the lenses to fog up out of your face’s warmth. That’s why you might wish to purchase a brand new facial interface that permits for higher air circulation. Moving on to the Meta Quest 3 show, it makes use of an LCD, a cost-saving measure that’ll make its colours much less vibrant than the PSVR 2’s OLED. Putting that apart, although, it is nonetheless a major visible improve over the Quest 2: 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye as a substitute of 1,920 by 1,832 pixels. That offers you an additional 445 pixels per inch (1,218) or 4 pixels per diploma (25).The PSVR 2’s 2,000 by 2,040 pixels (800ppi) falls brief, too, and that headset makes use of fresnel lenses with a trickier “sweet spot” than the Quest 3’s pancake lenses. For comparability, Meta claims that the brand new lenses enhance visible “sharpness” by 25% by creating “significantly fewer stray or scattered light artifacts.” Our expertise with the Quest 3’s visible readability fortunately lives as much as Meta’s advertising. (Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)We’ll additionally level out that the passthrough decision is 18 pixels per diploma. That’s 7 PPD fewer than its commonplace VR PPD, however 10X higher than the Quest 2 and 3X higher than the Quest Pro, sufficient to make your environment totally seen whereas sporting the headset. In our exams, we discovered we may learn our cellphone or smartwatch screens with out eradicating our headsets, although it is nonetheless a bit blurry.Of course, in the event you evaluate the Apple Vision Pro vs. the Quest 3, you may discover that the Vision Pro hits 3,386 pixels per inch or 34 pixels per diploma, with micro-OLED shows that supply a stunning 92% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. But is that this decision enhance value paying an additional $3,000? Frankly, we’re glad with what the Quest 3 brings to the desk already.As a ultimate Quest 3 design level, the newer headset has a redesigned interpupillary distance (IPD) wheel with 13 spacing settings at 1mm aside. The Quest 2 supported 56–70mm IPDs with three fastened settings, leaving loads of customers caught with a less-than-ideal distance. Now, anybody from 53–75mm can use it, and discovering the appropriate lens spacing will probably be simpler. Meta Quest 3 specsSwipe to scroll horizontallyMeta Quest 3SpecificationsChipsetSnapdragon XR2 Gen 2RAM8GBStorage128GB ($499); 512GB ($649)Display Decision2064 x 2208 pixels per eye (LCD); 1,218 pixels per inch; 25 pixels per diploma Display refresh charge90Hz; 120Hz (experimental)Field of view110º horizontal; 96º verticalPassthrough decision18 pixels per diplomaLensesPancake (40% slimmer than Quest 2)IPD vary53mm-75mmHeadset dimensions184 x 160 x 98 mm, 515gController dimensions126 x 67 x 43mm, 126gConnectivityBluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, USB-CBattery life2.2 hours (common)One of the primary causes to improve from the Quest 2 is the efficiency hole. The Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 has twice as quick graphical efficiency and improved loading occasions in comparison with the Quest 2’s Gen 1 chip. You additionally get an additional 2GB of RAM. In apply, this permits builders to patch Quest 2 video games so as to add higher shadows, lighting, textures, and so forth. Plus, after all, you get mixed-reality modes that the Quest 2 cannot help with its low-res, black-and-white passthrough. One factor that hasn’t modified with the brand new era: the Quest 3 battery life is simply as brief because the Quest 2’s, if not worse. Meta estimates it lasts 2.2 hours per session or 2.4 hours for gaming, however we have discovered it is often near 2 hours flat except you utilize a battery pack. Once useless, the Quest 3 takes two hours to recharge; it ships with an 18W energy adapter and charging cable within the field. (Image credit score: Nick Sutrich / Android Central)Qualcomm says this chip works with the brand new Wi-Fi 7 commonplace, however Meta has solely promised Wi-Fi 6E router help to date. The quicker Wi-Fi ought to assist with improved PC VR gaming, however you may nonetheless follow a USB-C Link cable for probably the most dependable connection. Meta improved the speaker high quality for the Quest 3, claiming it hits a 40% louder quantity with elevated bass in comparison with the Quest 2. You nonetheless have the 3.5mm headphone jack for personal audio and sparing your neighbors, however in any other case, you might not want to purchase Quest 3 headphones in the event you’re proud of the built-in answer. If you personal the Quest 2 or PSVR 2 and are contemplating shopping for this headset, now we have guides on the Quest 3 vs. Quest 2 or Quest 3 vs. PSVR 2 that can assist you resolve. Meta Quest 3 gamesAll of your Quest 2 video games will switch over to the Quest 3, as your account will not change. Our outdated checklist of the most effective Quest video games nonetheless applies to the brand new headset, and we are able to hope to see quicker loading occasions for these video games, too.From now on, the entire upcoming Quest video games will launch concurrently on the Quest 2 & 3. Although a few of these video games can have a singular Quest 3 patch with enhanced graphics, that is not a assure. The enhanced Snapdragon chip will decrease loading occasions routinely, however many builders cap refresh charges and belongings with the Quest 2 in thoughts, since extra individuals have the older headset.For probably the most half, the one Quest 3 exclusives will probably be video games that require full-color combined actuality, one thing the Quest 2 cannot supply. If you are a brand new Quest 3 proprietor, we have really helpful the 5 finest Quest 3 launch titles to get you began. Meta Quest 3 equipment(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Thus far, Meta has introduced these official Quest 3 equipment:Meta Quest 3 Silicone Facial Interface ($40)Meta Quest Active Straps for Touch Plus Controllers ($40)Zenni VR Prescription Lenses for Meta Quest 3 ($50)Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap ($70)Meta Quest 3 Carrying Case ($70)Meta Quest Link Cable ($80)Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery ($130)Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock ($130)Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers ($300)Most of those names will look acquainted. You’ll purchase these Quest 3 equipment to enhance the battery life, retailer and cost the headset, play PC VR video games, and so forth. One new factor to notice: now you can purchase straps and facial interfaces in new colours like orange and blue, not simply the same old white. They’re additionally fairly costly! And in a single occasion, Meta’s Elite Strap with Battery had a charging firmware concern that required a recall. The present model on the market is fastened, however it nonetheless annoyed those that this costly accent did not work as meant.Thankfully, third-party Quest 3 accent makers like BoboVR, AMVR, and KIWI Design have already made extra reasonably priced equipment, with extra within the works for later this 12 months. Check our information on the most effective Quest 3 equipment to see the place to get began. Most of your outdated Quest 2 equipment will not work with the Quest 3. Thanks to the redesigns to the brand new headset, most of this outdated tech will not match correctly. We know that some Third-party accent makers like BoboVR have promised to launch mod kits to make your outdated equipment work, however there isn’t any assure each model will do that.So far, we all know that your outdated Link cables ought to proceed to work, in the event you do not wish to depend on Air Link and the brand new Wi-Fi 6E capabilities for wi-fi PC VR. And in the event you personal the Quest Pro controllers (usually $300), you should utilize these rather than the Quest 3 Touch Plus controllers. Quest 3 post-launch informationThese are the primary post-launch Quest 3 updates, bulletins, and controversies that you’re going to wish to learn about!After its early October launch, the Quest 3 obtained the v59 software program replace that added a battery saver mode, in Meta’s try to counteract its brief battery life. It additionally made it simpler to arrange a mixed-reality house routinely as a substitute of drawing the house manually.We realized in November 2023 that Meta tried to get the Play Store on Quest headsets, however Google did not wish to play ball. We realized later, throughout some public Meta-Google beef, that Google would solely present its apps if Meta agreed to make Quest headsets run totally on Android, with Google in command of software program. Because of this, the Quest 3’s productiveness software program continues to be meager in comparison with the Vision Pro’s. As a part of this drama, Meta instantly disabled Chromecasting sooner or later final 12 months earlier than restoring the function resulting from a flurry of Quest person complaints. (Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)We then realized that the Meta Quest 3 prices about $430 to make, which means that Meta barely makes any revenue on headset gross sales and should recoup its funding in sport and accent gross sales. In December, Meta launched the v60 replace with new Horizon Home environments and boundary fixes, however it additionally got here with some behind-the-scenes bugs slowing down sport efficiency that took Meta a while to replace. On the extra optimistic entrance, this replace resolved longstanding mic points that plagued followers of social VR video games. With the February Quest v62 replace (Meta skipped v61), the Quest 3 made a ton of mixed-reality fixes and updates that appeared to instantly goal the recently-launched Apple Vision Pro, like help for iPhone 15 spatial movies and a pinch hand gesture. Mark Zuckerberg proved later that month that Meta had Apple on its thoughts, “reviewing” the Apple Vision Pro in a Threads video that bashed the rival headset and referred to as the Quest 3 a “better product, period.”In March, Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth began hinting a few main Quest UI overhaul, one which’s but to reach. He hinted that it’ll present a revamped keyboard and put a heavy emphasis on combined actuality, together with stationary and pinned menus and apps.Most lately, Meta unveiled a brand new AI-backed function referred to as SceneScript that can routinely map your room format, together with partitions, doorways, and furnishings. It ought to make it quite a bit simpler to play in numerous areas, with out having to consistently redraw boundaries. The Meta Quest 3 prices $200 greater than the Quest 2 did at launch. In trade, it delivers vital visible, efficiency, and luxury upgrades throughout the board, maintains its wi-fi design regardless of the elevated energy calls for, and provides mixed-reality apps. Full-color combined actuality helps you to faucet out of video games and clearly see your own home house as a substitute of a nauseating black-and-white blur. You can incorporate your environment into video games like Supernatural, so that you by no means want to fret about by accident punching a wall. And some MR video games make your bodily house a part of the expertise. We can assume that the Quest 4 will take one other few years to reach, however we have additionally heard rumblings a few Quest 3 Lite with the identical CPU however a number of main cuts to hit a $200 price ticket, reminiscent of delivery with out controllers. In idea, if the Quest 3 prices an excessive amount of, you might watch for its cheaper sibling, as long as you are keen to just accept the trade-offs.
Meta’s newest
The Meta Quest 3 VR headset delivers highly effective Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 efficiency, a extra balanced and cozy design, full-color combined actuality, and among the best VR shows we have ever seen. It arrives on October 10.