Meta’s Quest 3 headset may feature color cameras for more lifelike pass-through video

Meta’s Quest 3 VR headset won’t arrive until later this year. However, we now have a better idea of ​​what to expect from the device, courtesy of Bloomberg’s , who says he went with a prototype to better understand how the Quest 3 would stack up against Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset. Gurman reports the prototype, codenamed Eureka, “feels far lighter and thinner” than its predecessor. He says the head strap “feels a bit sturdier,” too, and uses fabric on the sides instead of plastic like the Quest 2.

More consequentially, the front of the device reportedly features a new design incorporating an upgraded sensor suite. Three “vertical pill-shaped sensor areas” house two color video pass-through cameras, two standard cameras, and a depth sensor. As Gurman notes, this is a significant upgrade from the Quest 2, which doesn’t come with color pass-through or a depth sensor. The presence of the former means you won’t need to designate walls in your play space.

The lower front of the headset features the tracking cameras, while the bottom has a volume rocker and a wheel for adjusting the interpupillary distance. This means you can tweak the Quest 3’s IPD without taking the headset off, something you can’t do with the Quest 2.

“The actual clarity and VR display within the Quest 3 feel similar to the Quest 2 – despite rumors of the resolution being slightly higher,” Gurman writes, noting the pass-through for mixed reality applications and overall performance improvements significantly. Hua Hai Quest 2. Speaking of the former, he says there is a “night-and-day improvement” thanks to the added dual RGB cameras. “I was able to use my phone even while wearing the headset, something that often seems impossible on the Quest 2,” he continued. As for performance, the Quest 3 features Qualcomm’s next-generation processor, allowing for reduced app launch times and more consistent frame rates in games.

Specifically, Gurman says that the Quest 3 doesn’t include face and eye tracking, which means the headset won’t support Foveated rendering. This is a feature that you This allows the system to prioritize its limited computing resources on the areas you are viewing. Another feature the Quest 3 won’t carry over from the Quest Pro are controller-mounted cameras, though Gurman says Meta is trying to improve peripheral tracking in other ways.

“Meta has not yet settled on pricing for the device, but those involved in its development believe it could come in at more than the Quest 2’s $400,” Gurman said, adding the company Se Quest 2 can be kept “at a low cost”. He adds that Meta’s new Quest Pro “doesn’t have plans to release any time soon.” The company is reportedly planning to announce the Quest 3 sometime in October, which aligns with what company executives said when asked when consumers can expect the new Quest headset.