Meta Quest 3 Release Date, Price, Specs, and Rumored Features
You can order custom Meta Quest 3 skins here!
Virtual reality is the new holy grail of the gaming world. After years of big names jockeying for position, one tech titan has reached the VR mountaintop: Meta. With CEO Mark Zuckerberg fully behind the Metaverse concept and everything it entails, headsets such as the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro have earned a loyal following.
The impending release of the Meta Quest 3, also known as the Oculus Quest 3, shows that the company plans on taking an even bigger slice of the virtual and mixed reality marketplace. Meta Quest 3 rumors are making their rounds online, so let's dive into everything we know so far. Get ready to speculate on what Meta has in store later this year.
Release Date
The latest trend in consumer electronics is to announce a hot new device — and then give it a release date a few short weeks away. It's a fantastic strategy, as it whips consumers into a frenzy without giving them time to forget about the latest gadget coming to the market. Analyst Brad Lynch seems to believe Mark Zuckerberg and Meta will deploy this same tactic with the Meta Quest 3.
The device has already been confirmed for a 2023 release during a company earnings call, so Lynch speculates that Meta Connect 2023 would be the perfect time to take the wraps off the Meta Quest 3. If history repeats itself, we can expect the Meta Quest 3 to hit store shelves in late October or early November.
Price
Meta caused a minor stir in 2022 with the announcement of a surprising $100 price increase for the Meta Quest 2. This move bumped the cost of the standalone Quest 2 up to $399 — a price point that is very likely to be brought back for the Meta Quest 3. It remains to be seen whether multiple SKUs will be available at varying price ranges. Typically, this approach gives budget-conscious consumers a viable option.
Rumored Specs
VR headsets don't typically grab headlines with cutting-edge technical specs; that's the domain of their gaming console cousins or the latest iPhones. Still, it's fun to speculate on what could be inside.
What we know for certain is that the Meta Quest 3 will be powered by a Qualcomm chipset. Now, the only question is: which one? There's no denying the prowess of Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 GPU and its exciting uses in both augmented reality and face tracking, so it could be an exciting internal option.
Pancake lenses featuring OLED displays make for an exciting package if they do indeed find their way inside the Meta Quest 3. The company has already utilized pancake lenses in the Meta Quest Pro, leading many to believe it's only natural to bring this technology to the next device. The number of pixels in each display may remain a mystery, but it's safe to assume these devices will be comparable with the Meta Quest Pro.
Key Features
Mark Zuckerberg has always had ambitious plans for the Metaverse and the headsets that will bring it to life. Now, it's up to the Meta Quest 3 to entice consumers to enter that world. Not content to just create another device that can play VR games and run basic apps, Meta wants to combine the best of VR and AR and make it available in one device.
Mixed-reality gaming experiences will still be plentiful on the Meta Quest 3, but a lack of eye-tracking support slightly curbs the enthusiasm of gamers who crave the ultimate mixed-reality headset. Thankfully, AR experiences will pick up the slack, along with a much-improved passthrough function and depth sensor that will allow users to see the real world through their Meta Quest 3 like never before. CAD users and those situated at workstations will love the ability to switch off their work with the press of a button.
Sizing Up The Competition
Both Apple and Sony are poised to step into the ring with VR headsets released in 2023. No stranger to the VR games market, Sony is hoping to build on the success of the original PSVR — one of the best VR headsets ever released for gaming. With a late February 2023 release, PSVR2 will have a leg up on the Meta Quest 3, although its $549 retail price will do it no favors.
Meanwhile, Apple's rumored device could be released around the same time as the Meta Quest 3, stealing Meta's thunder and giving consumers some tough choices on how they spend their money. Of course, new VR adopters on a budget can always settle for one of the older Oculus Quest 2 devices if money is tight.
Potential Concerns for Meta
With so much competition, a slip-up in just one area could spell trouble. Price could be one pitfall, especially if Apple's VR headset somehow manages to come in under $500. Given Apple's history of releasing high-end products at premium prices, that seems unlikely. Having the best VR games will be a major selling point for some, which could put Meta in a bind considering Sony's PSVR2 is tailor-made for gaming. Battery life will certainly need to improve in Meta's follow-up to the Quest 2.
Embrace the Future of VR With Customized Skins
There's a real possibility that Meta could be biting off more than it can chew. Creating an all-in-one headset that can tackle both AR and MR gaming experiences is a tough ask, even for a company that's seemingly okay with losing billions of dollars in the process. Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are in the VR game for the long haul, so it's in their best interest to offer the most compelling product at a competitive price.
Will the Meta Quest 3 meet those demands and live up to the high standards of its ambitious owners? Only time will tell. Until then, there's nothing wrong with dreaming of a bright gaming future. Bring a fresh feel to each experience; level up your current headsets and other essentials with customized VR skins. Start today with our easy-to-follow Create Your Own process — or reach out to learn more.