Meta unveils Quest 3 VR headset

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a surprising announcement last Thursday, unveiling the highly anticipated “Quest 3” virtual reality (VR) headset through a post on Instagram. This revelation, however, clashed with Apple’s scheduled disclosure of its own high-end edition VR headphones.

Priced at $499 for the base model featuring 128GB of storage, the Quest 3 boasts several improvements over its predecessor, the Quest 2. The new headset is 40% slimmer and equipped with next-generation Qualcomm microchips, promising a more immersive and satisfying VR experience. It was only days ago that a journalist rated the VR headset very high after having a first-hand experience with it.

Apple expected to release its highly-anticipated VR headset

Zuckerberg’s unexpected announcement came just days ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, where many expect the tech giant to unveil its much-anticipated VR device, dubbed “Reality Pro.” Many expect Apple’s offering to come with a hefty price tag of around $3,000, surpassing the cost of Meta’s Quest 3.

Rumors surrounding Apple’s confidential VR appliance surfaced in January, suggesting that it would cater to virtual video meetings and emulate various functionalities of iPhones and iPads.

The timing of Zuckerberg’s disclosure was particularly noteworthy as it preceded Meta’s Quest Gaming Showcase, an event showcasing the company’s latest gaming products. Zuckerberg hinted that more details about the new headset would be revealed during Meta’s Connect conference scheduled for September 27th.

In a separate newsletter, Meta praised the features of the Quest 3, emphasizing its Hi-Fi color Passthrough, advanced machine learning capabilities, and spatial awareness, all of which enhance the interaction between virtual content and the real world, offering users endless possibilities for exploration.

Despite public skepticism, Meta, under Zuckerberg’s leadership, has invested billions of dollars in Metaverse innovation over the past year, demonstrating a commitment to advancing this emerging technology, regardless of societal concerns

Photo Credit: Meta