Meta recently unveiled its next-generation virtual reality (VR) and mixed-reality (MR) headset, the Meta Quest 3, which is scheduled to begin shipping this fall at a price point that starts at $500.
While Apple is widely speculated to unveil its own mixed-reality headset at next week’s 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference, Meta’s announcement arrives a week early.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, shared the news of the Quest 3 on Facebook and Instagram.
According to Zuckerberg, the headset is “the first mainstream headset with high-res color mixed reality” capabilities. He stated that it is “more comfortable” than the Quest 2 and is 40% thinner.
Quest 3 will work with all more than 500 VR experiences, games, and apps from Quest 2’s library.
According to a blog post by Meta, “Quest 3 is the supercharged, all-in-one headset you’ve been waiting for — no wires required.” The next-generation Snapdragon chipset, created in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies, is featured in this headset for the first time. According to Meta, the Quest 2 chipset has more than twice the graphics capability of the Snapdragon graphics processing unit (GPU) from the previous generation, resulting in smoother performance and “incredibly crisp details in immersive games.”
Beginning June 4, the 128 GB Quest 2 will cost $29.99 (down from $39.99 at present), while the 256 GB model will cost $349.99 (down from $429.99 at present).
Since changing its corporate name two years ago, Meta’s Reality Labs division, which includes Quest and related goods and technologies, has cost the company billions of dollars in losses.
The Reality Labs sector reported first-quarter sales of $339 million in 2023, a 51% decrease from the same period last year, and an operating loss of $3.99 billion, an increase of 35%.
Meta has stated that more information would be made available during the Meta Connect conference on September 27.
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