Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap: Worthwhile, or Unnecessary?

The Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap (and the Elite Strap with an added battery pack) is probably one of the top accessories you’ve considered buying if you have Meta’s new mixed reality headset.

After all, while Meta’s standard head strap isn’t terrible, it’s hard to resist the promise of greater comfort and a longer battery life (if you choose the option with the extra battery). Released alongside the Meta Quest 3, the Elite strap promises greater ergonomics, ensuring you can use your headset for longer without discomfort.

The only problem is that even the basic version of the head strap (without the battery) is pretty pricey, costing an extra $69.99. If you want to upgrade both your comfort and battery life at the same time, you’ll spend around $129.99. That’s a lot of money for budget-conscious consumers.

So, is the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap actually worth your hard-earned cash?

I tested the accessory to find out.

Quick Verdict: Slightly Overpriced

As I mentioned in my Meta Quest 3 review, the standard head strap on the Quest 3 is decent – it’s better at distributing weight than some of the straps used on previous Meta models. However, it’s not ideal, you’ll still feel a lot of pressure on your face and neck after a while.

The Elite Strap does a good job at upgrading the ergonomics of the Quest 3, allowing you to enjoy your VR experience for longer. Plus, if you choose the version with the extra battery, you can potentially double your headset’s battery life.

However, I think there are cheaper solutions out there, that offer a similar experience (if not better). In my opinion, the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap is decent, but it’s definitely not a necessary purchase.

What is the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap?

The Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap was one of the first official Meta accessories introduced for the Quest 3. I’m not entirely sure why the company didn’t simply use the Elite Strap’s design on the actual headset to begin with, as it certainly addresses a few comfort issues.

There are two versions of this strap available. The first is the basic Elite Strap, which essentially gives you more comfort and stability as you explore virtual environments. The compact and lightweight design reduces facial pressure and helps distribute the weight of the headset evenly, so you’re less likely to end up with those annoying red marks around your nose and eyes.

This strap is also highly adjustable, just like the basic Meta Quest 3 strap, with an adjustment dial that allows you to fit your headset perfectly to your face. The accessory even fits into the Quest 3 charging dock, so you don’t have to take everything apart when powering up your device.

The second version of the Elite Strap (which offers better value for money, in my opinion) includes an added battery. For around double the price of the standard strap ($129.99 vs. $69.99), the Elite Strap with the battery promises to extend your game play by up to 2 hours.

You can also charge your headset and head strap at the same time with a single charging cable. Obviously, the extra battery adds a little more weight to the headset, but since the battery is placed on the back of the strap, it does offer a decent level of balance.

Is the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap Worth It? The Good Points

Like most of the official accessories available for the Meta Quest 3, the Elite Strap is more “substance” than style. It doesn’t enhance the appearance of your VR headset in any way, but it does a good job at boosting comfort.

If you’re looking for enhanced ergonomics, the Elite Strap effectively upgrades the entire VR experience. It offers a more “easily adjustable” setup than the integrated strap on the headset. In fact, you can adjust the fit in various ways to the point where you can rest assured the device isn’t going to slip off your face, even if you’re moving around a lot.

Beyond the better fit, you’ll also benefit from less discomfort during length extended reality sessions because the strap does a great job of moving some of the weight of the headset away from your face. If, like me, you start to feel a lot of strain on your nose and cheekbones after wearing a VR headset for a while, this strap will come in handy.

Plus, it’s worth noting that the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap is designed to be a lot more durable than the standard strap. It feels a lot sturdier overall, which is helpful if you’re worried about the strap breaking when you’re sharing your headset with multiple people for immersive collaboration.

The Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery: A Better Option?

While the standard Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap does a good job at boosting comfort levels, it feels a little overpriced for what you get. I think Meta should have included the standard strap on the headset to begin with, particularly considering a lot of people have complained about the fit of the Quest 3.

There are plenty of unhappy customers on Reddit who say that the strap is constantly slipping off their head, even after they’ve adjusted it to fit their face.

The Elite Strap with the added battery definitely offers more value. I’ve mentioned before that one of the biggest problems with the Meta Quest 3 is its limited battery life. You only get about 2-3 hours of usage time overall on a single charge, depending on the apps you’re using.

The Elite Strap with the battery pack promises to increase the battery life by another 2 hours, which is handy if you’re using VR a lot. The only problem? The battery pack doesn’t always work. In fact, Meta issued a “voluntary recall” earlier this year for the strap, after multiple customers reported that their headset couldn’t recognize the battery.

Some users on Reddit even reported that they had to ask for multiple replacements before the accessory worked, which isn’t ideal.

Meta says that it has fixed the “firmware issue” that prevented the strap from working in the past, so if you order a new Elite Strap now, you hopefully won’t encounter this problem, but there’s no guarantee. The issue with the headset recognizing the strap wasn’t the only problem either.

According to some reports, certain users were unable to charge the battery on their strap at all, rendering the accessory useless.

Is the Elite Strap Worth It?

So, is this accessory worthwhile? It all depends on your personal priorities and preferences. If you’re going to be using the Meta Quest 3 for everything from immersive collaboration to training, then comfort is likely to be important for you. It’s definitely worth upgrading your strap if you’re sick of having to take your headset off and rub your face every hour or so.

There’s definitely a major improvement in comfort from the standard strap. I also appreciate the extra battery life you get from the powered strap (if it works).

However, I have found plenty of alternative third-party options on the market that offer similar results. The ZyberVR Battery head strap, for instance, costs about $60 on Amazon, and includes the battery you get from the more expensive version of Meta’s strap, (which is double the price).

Plus, you don’t necessarily need to rely on a battery-powered strap if you want your Quest 3 headset to last for longer without charging. You can always experiment with settings to extend the battery life a little, or you can consider using a power bank instead.

The Quest 3’s USB-C charging cable lets you connect a battery pack, which you can keep in your pocket or wear in a holster around your waste. This will extend the battery life of your Quest 3 much more than the Elite Strap with a battery.

For instance, a 20,000 mAh power bank could give you up to 6 hours of additional playtime rather than just two extra hours. If you want both battery power and comfort, you could combine your power bank with a third-party strap option, and save a decent amount of cash.

The Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap: Finishing Thoughts

Ultimately, the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap has some benefits. It improves the comfort of your headset and can give you extra battery life if you choose the more expensive option. However, there are other options out there that offer similar (if not better) features for a fraction of the price.

If you want to stick exclusively with products created by Meta, then the Elite Strap is definitely better than the built-in strap on the standard headset. If you’re more budget-conscious, though, I’d recommend checking out the options offered by third-party vendors.