The Meta Quest 3 launched late last year and has already been a success for Meta. If you are considering buying a VR headset, here are all the details you need, including price and specs.
The Meta Quest 3 has started off strong, with its mixed reality features and sleeker shell proving a hit amongst immersive technology users. With the launch of Apple’s Vision Pro just around the corner, Meta will be hoping that their headset is good enough to find off the competition.
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The Quest 3 is packed with two Touch Plus controllers and a free digital copy of the recently released VR role-playing game (RPG) Asgard’s Wrath 2, a title that received high praise in our review.
If you are interested in stepping into VR or want to upgrade from your existing VR headset like the Quest 2, then this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Meta Quest 3.
Where to buy the Meta Quest 3
The VR headset has launched everywhere, including major retail sites like Best Buy and Amazon.
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This headset comes in two variants, and both come bundled with a game, Asgard’s Wrath 2. You can get the 128GB bundle for $499, while the 512GB version will come in at $649.
Meta Oculus Quest 3 release date
Meta Quest 3 was released on October 10, 2023. The headset was announced earlier this year and has been made available to purchase starting October 10.
Meta Oculus Quest 3 price
The Meta Quest 3 has been priced at $499. While the Quest 3 comes with many upgrades over the Quest 2, it is still highly competitively priced and accessible for those wanting to get into VR.
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Meta Oculus Quest 3 specifications
Meta has decided to release the Quest 3 in a couple of storage variants – 128GB and 512GB. Unfortunately, there is no “middle ground” or the 256GB storage variant that could’ve proved to offer the best value for money.
Powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, Meta claims that the Quest 3 delivers twice the graphics processing power of its predecessor, the Quest 2. Additionally, the Quest 3 also receives a memory upgrade, featuring 8GB of RAM compared to the Quest 2’s 6GB. It’s worth noting that the Quest 3 falls short of the Meta Quest Pro’s 12GB RAM offering.
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The Quest 3 offers a slight improvement in display specifications. The headset has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smoother visuals right out of the box. While the Quest 2 has an experimental 120Hz mode, integrating it into the Quest 3 is a welcome addition.
Meta has also upgraded the display of the Quest 3. Referred to as the 4K+ Infinite Display, the Quest 3 utilizes two LCDs with pancake optics to achieve a resolution of 2,064 x 2,208 pixels per eye. Meta claims this enhancement results in nearly 30% higher resolution than the Quest 2. The Quest 3 boasts a resolution of 25 pixels per degree (PPD) in virtual reality and 1,218 pixels per inch (PPI).
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When utilizing the full-color video passthrough feature, the resolution does experience a slight decrease. In mixed reality, the resolution stands at 18 PPD, powered by two RGB cameras, as opposed to the 25 PPD resolution in virtual reality. Nevertheless, this is still an upgrade, as Meta states that the passthrough mode offers “over 10x more pixels compared to Quest 2 and 3x more pixels compared to Quest Pro.”
In terms of refresh rate, the Quest 3 offers a native 90Hz refresh rate with an experimental 120Hz option. While there is hope that future updates may enable a 144Hz refresh rate, the maximum available is 120Hz.
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One area in which the Quest 3 does not receive an upgrade is battery life. It maintains the same battery life as the Quest 2, with Meta stating that it typically lasts around 2.2 hours but can reach 2.9 hours when used solely for media consumption. The headset can be fully charged from 0% in two hours using the included 18W charger, which is consistent with the charging capabilities of the Quest 2.
Meta shrinks its headset
The Quest 3 is 40% smaller than the Quest 2, regardless of the hardware being embedded within it.
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Much like the PSVR2, the Quest 3 also features a dial to switch up your interpupillary distance, a boon. Additionally, the Quest 3 will also be using “Pancake” lenses. This allows for the headset to be slightly slimmer and helps distribute the weight of the headset much better than older, more outdated Fresnel lenses that we’ve seen on older devices. The PSVR2 uses Fresnel Lenses, though we prefer the Pancake options on the Quest Pro.
XR2 Gen 2 or XR3?
The Meta Quest 3 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 system-on-chip (SOC). The chip will use an Adreno 730 GPU, with 2.4 teraflops of power. This is based on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is also featured in the Samsung Galaxy S23.
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This is a significant increase on the Quest 2’s limitation of 1.2 teraflops, and even the Quest Pro’s 1.8 teraflops of power. Named “Project Haliday” the XR2 Gen 2 will also have a huge impact on the Quest 3’s visual fidelity.
The GPU power boost will also help with the AR functionality of the device, enhancing augmented and mixed-reality applications and products.
Meta Quest 2 or Meta Quest 3 – which one whould you buy?
The Meta Quest 3 has turned out to be a behemoth of a consumer VR headset. Though it falls just short of the most powerful VR headsets from Meta, it offers significant upgrades over the Quest 2. The Pancake lenses, in addition to the boost in visual fidelity, allow for some of the best wireless VR experiences around.
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The Quest 2 is now several years old, and while it’s still a great headset in its own right, it’s getting a little bit long in the tooth.
Looking at the upgrades and the value for money the Quest 3 offers over the Quest 2, the Quest 3 should be an obvious choice unless you’re on a shoestring budget.
Make sure to read our other guides.
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Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.
