Just before Apple Inc. entered the market, Meta Platforms Inc. unveiled its most recent portfolio of head-worn gadgets, laying new claim to the virtual and augmented reality sector. A new generation of expensive mixed-reality headsets was introduced by the company.
The Quest 3 headset was formally presented by the firm at its annual Connect developer’s conference, with a price increase of $200 to $500. Additionally, it unveiled second-generation smart glasses that were created in collaboration with Ray-Ban, a luxury eyewear manufacturer.
The Quest 3, which Meta previewed earlier this year after Bloomberg published a hands-on look at the device, will offer better performance than the Quest 2 starting in 2020. It also marks the transition from VR to mixed reality, which combines virtual and augmented reality.
This is a very important moment for Meta's hardware. Although the company has dominated VR glasses for years, Apple is ready to release the Vision Pro headset and host a showdown in the coming months. Like the Quest 3, the Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset with unique Apple technology and content. The Vision Pro has Apple's marketing muscle behind it, but also a much higher price tag: $3,499.
What's new in the latest Quest 3 headset?
Quest 3 is the latest attempt to broaden the appeal of the technology. Users of the headset can switch between VR and mixed reality (known as XR) by double-tapping the side of the device. The user can use the more immersive VR option while watching a movie or playing a game, and then switch to XR mode while browsing the web and viewing photos. In this case, the information and images are superimposed on the real views around the user.
Quest 3 Features
Quest 3 has 30% higher resolution, new lenses and faster Qualcomm Inc. chip, there are also two-color pass-through cameras that allow users to see the world around them. The latest headset has twice the processing power of the Quest 2, allowing for better graphics rendering, smoother operation and faster application loading. It's also thinner than the Quest 2 and adds improved speakers and new controls.
The device looks similar to the previous version but has three sensors on the front. The left and right modules are cameras, while the middle sensor is a new component that determines where objects and walls are located in the user's space. Thanks to this, the device can automatically set up virtual protective barriers so that the user does not enter, for example, the table. It can also be used for gaming, such as a game that allows players to shoot objects at a wall.
After struggling to monetize VR headsets, Meta Quest 3 is looking to capitalize. This increases the price of the device by 67% for the 128GB storage model. The Menlo Park, California-based company also offers a $650 version with 512 gigabytes of space.
Quest 3 goes on sale October 10th. Raising prices due to slow sales is a gamble for Metal. It has failed to attract consumers to its top-of-the-line Quest Pro model, which costs $1,000. But all the products in its range cost a fraction of Apple's new Vision Pro, due out in early 2024.
Meta New software and smart glasses
Apart from XR, Meta is planning new software to attract users. The company partnered with Microsoft Corp. to enable the device to stream games from the Xbox Cloud Gaming service. Meta also released another version of its smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Luxottica Group SA's Ray-Ban. The last version was not a success, but Meta hopes to attract consumers with something more like regular glasses.
The latest version offers new frame options as well as improved speakers and better cameras. Unlike the sci-fi vision of augmented reality smart glasses that can display digital content, this product is less ambitious. It focuses on taking photos, recording videos, making calls and listening to music.
The new models come in two styles, Wayfarer and Headliner, and offer a choice of standard, polarized, transition and prescription lenses. The $299 glasses also come in a variety of sizes and colors, including glossy, matte black, and a new clear version that reveals the electronics inside. The new models have a 12-megapixel camera and five microphones. This compares to the dual 5-megapixel sensors and three microphones of the previous version.