Mark Zuckerberg reveals $499 Meta Quest 3 VR headset in latest metaverse bet
On Thursday, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, took to Instagram to unveil the company’s latest mixed-reality headset, the Quest 3. He touted the Quest 3 as “the first mainstream headset with high-res color mixed reality.” The headset is set to debut this fall and will be priced starting at $499 for the 128GB model. The new device is 40% thinner than its predecessor, the Quest 2, and features a next-generation Qualcomm chipset. Zuckerberg noted that the Quest 3 will be the best way to experience mixed and virtual reality in a standalone device and will be compatible with Quest 2’s entire library of games and apps. The announcement came just ahead of Meta’s Quest Gaming Showcase.
The Quest 3 is expected to compete with Apple’s own mixed-reality headset, reportedly called the Reality Pro, which is expected to be revealed at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference next week. Bloomberg reports that the Apple device could be far more expensive than the Quest 3, with a price point of around $3,000, and capable of virtual video conferencing.
Despite a lukewarm public response to Meta’s efforts in the metaverse, the company has continued to pour billions of dollars into its development. Meta’s latest earnings report revealed a nearly $4 billion loss in the metaverse-focused Reality Labs division. Zuckerberg remains committed to the metaverse vision, stating that the company will continue to focus on both AI and the metaverse for years to come.
FAQs:
What is the Quest 3?
The Quest 3 is the latest mixed-reality headset from Meta, featuring high-res color mixed reality and a next-gen Qualcomm chipset. It is set to debut this fall and will be priced starting at $499.
How does the Quest 3 compare to the Quest 2?
The Quest 3 is 40% thinner than its predecessor and offers high-fidelity color Passthrough, innovative machine learning, and spatial understanding.
What is the Reality Pro?
The Reality Pro is reportedly Apple’s mixed-reality headset, which is expected to be revealed at the Worldwide Developers Conference next week. It is expected to have a much higher price point than the Quest 3 and include virtual video conferencing capabilities.
What is Meta’s commitment to the metaverse?
Despite a lukewarm public response, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains committed to the metaverse vision, stating that the company will continue to focus on both AI and the metaverse for years to come.
In Latest Metaverse Gamble, Mark Zuckerberg Unveils $499 Meta Quest 3 VR Headset.
Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Meta, has revealed the company’s latest mixed-reality headset, the Quest 3, in an Instagram post. The headset will cost $499 for the 128GB model and will become available this autumn. According to Zuckerberg, it will be “the first mainstream headset with high-res colour mixed reality”. The Quest 3 boasts a next-generation Qualcomm chipset and will be 40% thinner than its predecessors. It is also fully compatible with Quest 2’s entire library, with more titles expected to follow.
The Quest 3 announcement comes ahead of Apple’s highly-anticipated first-ever mixed-reality headset, which is set to be released at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. Apple’s headset, supposedly named the Reality Pro, is expected to cost approximately $3,000 and have the ability to replicate functions of iPhones and iPads.
Zuckerberg’s reveal was strategically timed to coincide with Meta’s Quest Gaming Showcase, where the company displayed its latest gaming products. The tech mogul announced that Meta will provide more information about the Quest 3 headset at the company’s Connect conference on 27 September.
Meta has spent billions of dollars on metaverse technology over the past year, despite a limited public response to the project. In April, the company reported a loss of almost $4bn in its metaverse-focused Reality Labs division, yet has continued with development. Meanwhile, the company has doubled down on investments in artificial intelligence. Zuckerberg has stated that Meta remains committed to its metaverse vision, stating that they will “focus on both AI and the metaverse for years now, and we will continue to focus on both”.