Meta Quest 3: Everything We Know

Mark Zuckerberg and the Meta squad have formally announced the Meta Quest 3, the third model on the VR/MR keychain. Turns out, the entrepreneur will be sharing all the pre-launch details surrounding the headset on September 27, 2023, at the Meta Connect event. So, if you happen to be on the hunt for a fresh portal to the world of virtual reality, then rest assured — the Meta Quest 3 will be launching later this fall.

So, what more do you need to know about it before it hits the shelves? How much will it cost, and how will it compare to the likes of the Meta Quest 2 and other noteworthy headsets? Well, here’s everything we can currently tell you based on the data both Meta and Zuckerberg have posted to date. Meta Quest 3: what is it, and how will it look to compete with the likes of the PlayStation VR2 and the Valve Index? Let’s talk VR.

What Is Meta Quest 3?

To make it clear, the Meta Quest 3 is a virtual reality (VR) and Meta reality (MR) headset — one that will not only have the power to support next-gen games, but a variety of apps and user-created experiences. What’s more, it’ll also be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR chip, which will offer “twice the graphical performance” as the Meta Quest 2. So, clearly a lot more than a simple rehash with a few tweaked components, then.

The good news is, the Meta Quest 3 will be entirely backwards compatible with the Meta Quest 2, which means users will still have immediate access to over 500 games and apps right off the bat. The only real difference, of course, is the boosted resolution, 4MP RGB color cameras, and “10x more” Passthrough pixels that it’ll employ. It’ll also be 40% slimmer than the Quest 2, which will make it a lot easier to not only transport, but experience without queuing any of those unwanted headaches or motion sickness spells.

Meta Quest 3 Price

The Meta Quest 3 will start out with a price tag of $499, making it just under $100 more expensive than the Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro. For those wanting to dive right in to the world of Meta Quest (formerly known as Oculus Quest), the Meta Quest 2 will be slashing its original tag, effectively reverting the base $399 tag back to its launch price of $299 for the 128GB version, and $349 for the 256GB edition.

Of course, $499 is really only the starting price for the Quest 3, meaning, there’ll be even pricier options post-launch. It’s hard to say what the asking price for these beefier models will be, though. Either way, the Meta Connect stream is sure to shed light on what’s to come later this year.

Meta Quest 3 Specs

Firstly, the Meta Quest 3 will launch with a standard capacity of 128GB, with “an additional storage option for those who want more space.” Saying that, Zuckerberg didn’t go into detail about what other storage options will be rolled out, though it’s likely the Quest 3 will also have both 256GB and 512GB models in addition to the bog-standard one.

What’s new here is the sleek design that the Meta Quest 3 fosters — a blueprint that has reportedly been designed from the “inside out.” With a softer mesh strap to support longer periods of play and a three-piece selection of cameras/sensors dotted along the front, users will have the opportunity to delve into an even more life-like experience — one that will accommodate a high-fidelity color Passthrough. This nifty feature will allow users to view the real world in color, unlike a lot of rival VR headsets that opt for a monochrome field.

According to the guys over at Meta, the newfound power to adapt to spacial awareness will let users delve into virtual realities for extended periods of time, “creating limitless possibilities to explore” from the comfort of your own home. What’s more, with the graphical enhancements being leaps and bounds ahead of its former model, players will also have photorealistic environments to not only interact with, but immerse in without any outside distractions. So, again, clearly a step up from its previous launch model.

The good news is, the Quest 3 will also continue to support PC VR via Oculus Link (otherwise known as Quest Link) and Air Link. Having this feature implemented in the next model will allow users to plug the headset into their PCs via a USB-C connector, and essentially experience all the same content through the power of the Oculus PC software.

Meta Quest 3 Release Date

While we can’t say for certain when the Meta Quest 3 will launch, we do know that it’ll be arriving later this year. Specially, in “the fall” of 2023, which slots it somewhere between September and December. Given the fact that the Meta Connect event is taking place in the latter half of September, however, it seems more likely that the Quest 3 will launch sometime in October or November. Don’t quote us on that, though.

What’s Next?

Of course, there’s still plenty we don’t actually know about the Meta Quest 3 — how the Touch Plus’ revised “ergonomic” controllers will differ from the Quest 2’s, for example. That said, with the Meta Connect event set to go live on September 27th, it’s likely that we’ll be getting a much deeper dive into the headset and its goal to open the portal to the Metaverse then. Until that time comes, however, it’s pretty much business as usual — and an extensive session of twiddling thumbs, no less.

If you’re planning on staying in the loop while Meta continues to iron out the creases for its next VR project, then be sure to check in with the official social feed for all the latest updates here. In the meantime, we’ll be adding a big ol’ circle around the Meta Connect stream on our calendars. If you’re about, be sure to check back with us for all the pre-launch details and patch notes.

So, what’s your take? Will you be getting your hands on a Meta Quest 3 when it releases later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.