Meta Quest 3 Now Has October 10th Release Date With Prices Starting From £479.99

Meta has officially announced the release date of its Quest 3 Mixed Reality headset and successor to the Quest 2 offering the next generation in VR and MR technology.

Meta Quest 3 With Mixed Reality

The Quest 3 has caught my eye as the idea of upgrading from my Oculus Rift CV1 because of its annoying cable setup and base stations, is quite a tempting plan. The Quest 3 expands upon the Quest 2 primarily with the introduction of Mixed Reality alongside the existing VR technology. Mixed reality is a combination of the virtual world and our world allowing for a spectrum of more unique experiences. It provides a seamless transition from the moment you put on your headset providing a full-colour passthrough of the world around you with over 10x more pixels than the previous Quest 2. Mixed reality allows for your games to interact with your environment for example, a virtual ball can be dropped and will actually bounce on your floor or in the game Drop Dead: The Cabin, the zombies can smash through your walls and crawl over your furniture.

Improved VR Gaming Experience

Mixed Reality is great, but we’re all here for the VR gaming experience which the Quest 3 enhances against its predecessor. The Quest 3 makes use of the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform which Meta helped develop in collaboration with Qualcomm. This chip enables fast load times and incredibly crisp details which is aided by the 4K+ Infinite Display delivering nearly a 30% leap in resolution compared to the Quest 2 with 25 pixels per degree and 1,218 pixels per inch. This display also uses a next-gen pancake lens optical stack which gives a 40% slimmer profile without compromising the depth of visual immersion, additionally, sharpness is increased by 25%.

To get a better idea of the improvements, Meta has provided a video comparing the Quest 2 and Quest 3 in The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.

Comfort and Design

The Quest 3 features a thinner profile with a more customizable fit with improved weight distribution allowing for significant comfort improvements over the previous Quest 2. It can be adjusted to your hairstyle, and face shape and provides support for those with glasses, all with the soft adjustable strap design. On top of all this, the straps and facial interface can be personalised with a choice from multiple colours for something that is truly your own. I imagine the face cover fabric is a lot more comfortable than the foam you get on the CV1, but I feel like leatherette would be nicer for cleaning and less sweat absorption.

Improved Controllers

The controllers have ditched the tracking ring and now offer improved sensations through TruTouch haptics. The comfort has been improved with a more ergonomic design allowing for natural hand movements, making this even better is the fact that controllers aren’t needed with the integration of hand tracking and direct touch. Not sure I’m fond of the removal of the tracking ring as it did act as a great way to protect your hands against accidental knocks and bumps.

Price and Availability

The Quest 3 launches on October 10th with prices starting at £479/$499 for the 128GB model and £619.99/$649 for the 512GB model, for a limited time you will also get Asgards Wrath 2 with your Quest 3.

Visit meta.com/quest-3 for more information.

Meta also offers the following accessories:

Comfort & Control

• Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap—$69.99 USD: Play in comfort with this adjustable, ergonomic head strap that easily adjusts to fit most head sizes with the turn of a dial. This lightweight strap takes pressure off your face and evenly distributes the weight for a more comfortable fit.
• Meta Quest 3 Silicone Facial Interface—$39.99 USD: Wipe away sweat and dirt easily and get right back to your next workout or gaming session. This soft, silicone facial interface provides a cleaner feel and comfortable fit on your face. Get a perfect fit and block out unwanted light from entering your Meta Quest 3.
• Meta Quest Active Straps for Touch Plus Controllers—$39.99 USD: Play with confidence and intensity with these premium, adjustable straps that give extra grip and stability for your Meta Quest Touch Plus Controllers. Designed to comfortably fit most hand sizes, Active Straps provide added stability and effortless grip while you play, navigate, and gesture in virtual and mixed reality.

Personalization

• Meta Quest 3 Facial Interface & Head Strap—$49.99 USD: Express yourself in bold color and stay comfortable. The fabric facial interface provides breathable cushioning while blocking out unwanted light. And the color-matched, flexible head strap fully adjusts to fit most head sizes for added support. Available in Elemental Blue and Blood Orange.
• Zenni VR Prescription Lenses for Meta Quest 3—$49.99 USD: Enjoy a seamless viewing experience without the hassle of glasses. Lightweight and easy to install, these lenses are custom made by Zenni for your exact prescription. Designed specifically for Meta Quest 3, they provide a perfect fit and high-quality visual experience.

Performance

• Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery—$129.99 USD: Play in comfort and get up to two hours additional VR game playtime with this adjustable ergonomic head strap that features a built-in, lithium-ion battery. Easily adjusts to fit most head sizes while distributing the weight for a more comfortable fit. Charge your headset and head strap battery simultaneously with a single charging cable.
• Meta Quest 3 Charging Dock—$129.99 USD: Be ready to play and stay organized with an all-in-one wireless charging dock for the Meta Quest 3 headset and controllers. Includes rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for your controllers. The charging dock is also compatible with our other accessories including Elite Strap, Elite Strap with Battery, and Active Straps (sold separately).
• Meta Quest Link Cable—$79.99 USD: This cable, which is currently in-market for Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro, will also work with Meta Quest 3. Connect your headset to your computer, unlocking a new level of gaming with titles optimized to play on PC.
• Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers—$299.99 USD: Upgrade to self-tracking controllers for a more premium, balanced feel with improved haptic feedback. The self-tracked design allows for a full 360-degree range of motion, while TruTouch Haptics include localized and VCM haptics upgrades. Fine motor controls include precision pinch motion and joystick for increased control of every gesture. Meta Quest Touch Pro Controllers are currently in-market and also work with Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro.

Convenience

• Meta Quest 3 Carrying Case—$69.99 USD: Take your headset and accessories on the go with style and protection. Designed for your Meta Quest 3 headset, Touch Plus controllers, charging cable, adapter, headstrap (standard or Elite), and Active Straps, this official accessory ensures a perfect fit, durability, and convenience anywhere you take your gear.