I don’t see VR going mainstream, at least not in personal space like mobile phones and computers, or even gaming consoles do. We are far from Ready One Player. But that does not stop Meta (formerly Facebook) from continuing to push it.
However, Meta is now less adamant about the notion of strict VR devices. Meta has recently unveiled a new VR device, the Metal Quest 3 which, like the Quest Pro, supports mixed reality and offers full-color passthrough which lets you see a color version of the physical space around you, courtesy of the external cameras.
So what can you do with this feature? Well, you can play a virtual piano on your coffee table, or open a portal to another dimension right in your living room – all while high-fidelity, full-color Passthrough keeps your physical surroundings in sight and with over 10 times more pixels compared to the Meta Quest 2.
You can quickly and seamlessly switch between a fully immersive experience (VR) and a blended environment with virtual elements overlaid on your physical surroundings (AR) by double-tapping the side of the headset.
Some of the key highlights include double the graphic processing power of Quest 2, the world’s first device to be powered by the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform developed in collaboration with Qualcomm, lightning-fast load times, 4K+ Infinite Display boasts 30% more resolution than the Quest 2, enhanced sound clarity and bass performance, and 40% louder audio range over the Quest 2.
All these are packed in a slimmer, sleeker, and more comfortable device – thanks to Meta’s next-gen pancake lens optical stack that gives Quest 3 a 40% slimmer optic profile compared to Quest 2, a redesigned, thinner profile with a more customizable fit, balanced weight distribution that the previous gen Quest, and a soft adjustable strap design.
The new Meta Quest 3 will drop on October 10. Meanwhile, eager consumers are welcome to pre-order the “world’s first mass-market mixed reality headset” for a starting price of US$499.99 for the 128 GB version and US$649.99 for the 512 GB model.
Images: Meta.
