The Meta Quest 3: The First Wireless, Mass-Produced Mixed-Reality Headset!

MicroCenterOfficial

Written by Sean Mekinda

Today is the release of the Meta Quest 3, Meta’s newest entry in their line of entirely wireless mixed and virtual reality. The Quest 3 is the most powerful headset from Meta yet, with a slew of new features, updates, and improvements.

Not only is the Quest 3 an incredible upgrade from previous Quest headsets, but it is also the world’s first mass-market mixed reality headset, bringing the incredible power of “Meta Reality” to everyone. Whether you’re looking to VR for gaming or productivity, the Quest 3 is ready for you!

What makes the Quest Line Unique?

For a long time, VR was synonymous with wires. You needed wires to connect your headset to your computer. You needed wires to connect the external cameras to your computer. You needed a high-end computer and all the wires that came with that. When the Quest 1 released back in May of 2019, that all changed.

The Quest 1 was truly wireless, letting anyone with open space dive deep into the world of VR and experience everything it had to offer – no wires needed. Rather than use the power of a desktop computer (and several cameras) to create a VR space, the Quest used its own on-board cameras and computer components to create a VR space, wherever you were! Since the launch of the first Quest, Meta has continued to improve and revolutionize the wireless headset, culminating in their most recent release: the Quest 3.

Not only does the Quest 3 feature the high-quality virtual reality experience you’ve come to expect, but it also launches mixed reality ahead with advanced, full-color Passthrough so you can experience what virtual reality has to offer without losing sight of the real world behind it.

Comfort Improvements with the Quest 3

There’s no denying that early VR headsets were a bit unwieldly. But that is absolutely changing. Meta continues to improve the portability and wearability of their headsets, and the Quest 3 is no exception. The Quest 3 has a 40% slimmer optic profile than the Quest 2, making it a sleeker, more comfortable headset.

Meta didn’t just slim the Quest 3 down, however. Improvements were also made to weight distribution to give the headset a more balanced feel. Also added is a soft, adjustable strap to make size adjustments – whether it’s to include glasses or just to make it fit your hairstyle and face better – easier than ever.

Gaming on the Quest 3

The take-it-anywhere appeal of the Quest line is stronger than ever with the Quest 3, as the capabilities keep growing. The Quest 3 uses a new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 CPU to deliver double the graphical processing power of the Quest 2. That means faster load times and greater details in your favorite games.

The display and optics have also seen an update, with a 30% increase in resolution over the Quest 2 thanks to the 4K+ Infinite Display. That’s 1,218 pixels per inch, giving the Quest 3 the best resolution in the entire Quest lineup – even the Quest Pro!

The full color passthrough will also enable you to interact with our world in entirely new ways. Apps and games that make use of mixed reality can offer depth and experiences not yet seen on consumer-grade hardware. Watch movies on your walls and play games on your actual tables with incredible clarity.

Productivity on the Quest 3

The Quest 3 isn’t all fun and games though. With the inclusion the Meta Reality – Meta’s breakthrough mixed reality technology – you can do more with less. Apps on the Quest 3 will allow you to create a full at the drop of a hat. Emulate your personal desktop setup with keyboards, mice, and in-app multi-monitor displays to keep your productivity levels high even while you’re away from your home computer!

Importantly, this takes up almost no space. No monitor stands and no wires mean you can set up your virtual workstation wherever you are, whether it’s a tiny hotel desk or sitting on a bench, waiting for a train. You can have access to everything you need on multiple displays without struggling to figure out how to connect an extra monitor to your laptop.

The Quest 3 is available today!

Of course, all of that is just the beginning. The Meta Quest 3 is available now and while it already has over 500 games, apps, and experiences ready for you to explore, more are constantly on the way. So don’t wait, jump in on the future of work and gaming today with the Meta Quest 3!

Julia_V

I have the Rift S at home. Admittedly having the wire around is a little bit nerve-wracking. Improvements on wireless headsets are always welcomed. :)

ricardo_ortega

How much Meta has improved the meta quest over the time period. I currently own the quest 2 and overall it has been fun playing with it with my little room space. 

ChaosDTV

Definitely some major improvements since quest 2