As competition in the virtual reality (VR) market heats up, Meta has unveiled the latest iteration of its Quest headset line. The new Quest 3, set to be released later this year, boasts improved performance and a more streamlined design. In an Instagram post, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg referred to the Quest 3 as Meta’s “most powerful headset yet”, saying it offers the optimal wireless experience for mixed and virtual reality. The starting price will be $500.
At the same time, Meta plans to reduce the price of currently available Quest 2 headsets to $300. The announcements were made just days before Apple is expected to debut its own VR or augmented reality (AR) device at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
Zuckerberg reaffirmed Meta’s commitment to creating immersive, virtual environments known as the metaverse during a shareholders meeting this week. The Quest 3 is viewed as a crucial tool in this vision.
In contrast, Apple reportedly aims to present its headgear as more akin to designer glasses than a traditional gaming headset. However, it’s expected to be more substantial in size. The company’s strategy appears to involve distributing the device among early adopters and developers to stimulate the creation of unique mixed reality content. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for more inventive and groundbreaking mixed reality headsets in the future.