Meta Quest 3 headset – diving into virtual and mixed reality

Compared to Meta Quest 2, released in 2020, the new version of Meta’s headset has improvements both on the software and hardware side. With Meta Quest 3, there is full integration of Mixed Reality, a technology the company had already begun to introduce in the previous device.

Before delving into the Meta Quest 3 product, let us briefly clarify what Mixed Reality is.
Mixed Reality (MR) is a technology that blends the real and virtual world. This technology is called mixed because it contains digital elements of both Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). In other words, Mixed Reality allows both technologies to be used in the real world.

Quest 3 features two RGB cameras, one on each side of the headset, which have 18 PPD (pixels-per-degree) and thus offer ten times the resolution of Quest 2.
In addition, thanks to pass-through, a technology already present in previous models of Meta headsets, the spaces and depth around the user are mapped and projected accurately, allowing the user to move freely in the space around while interacting with virtual and augmented reality.

In addition to mixed reality, Meta made improvements to the software and hardware aspects of the product. The main software improvements are:

• graphics resolution and loading times;
• 3D audio;
• direct touch.

Meta Quest 3 headset has two displays, one per eye, with a resolution of 2064 x 2208 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Thanks to Meta’s Infinite Display optical stack, the graphics are state-of-the-art. In addition, the field of view has been expanded to 104° horizontally and 96° vertically, which allows for extended peripheral vision in virtual worlds.

Quest 3 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, a processor optimized for virtual and augmented reality. This ensures exceptional graphics, faster loading of scenes and more defined details. Thanks to this technology, the user will have the impression of being able to interact with virtual content, whether it is a movie, a match or a video game.

The new headset offers an incredible sound experience thanks to speakers integrated with 3D spatial audio, a technology Meta has already pioneered with its previous Quest 2 and Quest Pro headsets. Compared to these models, the sound of Quest 3 is more powerful and richer, with a 40 per cent increase in quality and bass. Thus, the user can feel like an integral part of virtual reality, whether it is a movie or a game.

Direct touch functionality allows the user to use their hands instead of using the touch controller. The 2 RGB cameras and 4 IR cameras allow hand tracking, hand orientation, and finger positions. Simply use hand gestures to tap, scroll, navigate and play.

The hardware has also been slightly improved:

• customizable head strap. The strap is soft and adjustable for any head size. In addition, the top center strap now has a Y shape, which allows a more secure and comfortable fit;
• Touch Plus controller for realistic experiences. Unlike Quest 2, the new Meta headset does not have rings on the controllers, allowing more natural movements. In addition, with TruTouch technology, haptic feedback is given, immersing the user within the game;
• Pancake optics: the choice of pancake optics allows the profile of the headset to be reduced by 40%, making it thinner and lighter. In addition, Quest 3 introduces a side wheel to adjust the distance between the lenses, improving the experience of using the device.

Both Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 are designed for a large audience, used, for example, for gaming and everyday life. Quest 3 has improvements in graphics, a next-generation processor, and is faster at loading content, also it has a lighter design.

The Mixed Reality present in Quest 2 is more limited as the pass-through proposes the images in black and white and at a lower quality. In Quest 3 instead, this aspect is improved, the pass-through and depth sensor combine to perfectly represent the space around the user.

Quest 3 is already available online and is priced higher than Quest 2. All the hardware and software improvements have made Quest 3 somewhat more expensive than Quest 2. The new headset starts at 549.99 €, while Meta Quest 2 starts at 349.99 €.

To learn more about the Quest 3 visor, watch Meta’s video presentation: