What you need to know
- XR leaker @Lunayian revealed “exclusive” news about the Meta Quest 3s codenamed “Ventura” or “Panther”.
- It reportedly uses the same Fresnel lenses and screen resolution as the Quest 2.
- It may feature the Quest 3’s Snapdragon chip, Touch Plus controllers, and RGB passthrough.
The Meta Quest 3s, also known as Quest 3 Lite, has leaked several times in the last few months, including some marketing materials and photos. A new leak on Monday gave us a clearer look at what specs to expect compared to the Quest 3 and Quest 2.
On Twitter/X, leaker Lunayian posted an infographic based on having “seen several devkits and spoken to several people familiar with the device.”
Supposedly, the Meta Quest 3s will use the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip as the Meta Quest 3. It could also feature two 4MP RGB cameras with 18 pixels per degree (PPD) passthrough – which matches the Quest 3’s specs despite a different sensor arrangement.
Exclusive: Meta Quest 3s (tentative naming) Project Codenames: Ventura, Panther I’ve seen several devkits and spoken to several people familiar with the device. Here are all the things I learned and am happy to share in a single infographic: pic.twitter.com/OFFURqVODSMay 20, 2024
On the other hand, Lunayian claims that the 3s will have the same 1,832 x 1,920 pixels per eye as the Quest 2, well below the Quest 3’s resolution of 2064 x 2208. This 445ppi resolution boost is one of the key upgrades between the Quest 3 and Quest 2 , which is lost on this budget headset.
Additionally, Meta could bring back Fresnel lenses with only three IPD adjustment points and no redesigned facial interface with inside/outside depth adjustment for glasses. This reduces cost, but the Quest 3’s are more front-heavy and less likely to accommodate every eye width than the Quest 3’s 1mm gaps.
Despite these physical downgrades, the Quest 3s will take advantage of its current-generation chip to support the latest software, such as: B. Automated Space Setup and improved passthrough.
To our surprise, the Meta Quest 3s, with four IR sensors, two RGB cameras, and depth sensing, was able to keep up with its more expensive sibling in terms of camera quality. We’re not sure if the different camera arrangement is related to a difference in quality or if Meta wanted to highlight the Quest 3s as a different device.
Meta continues to see strong Quest 2 sales despite the recent launch of Quest 3, as many prefer affordability over cutting-edge features. This Quest 3s leak shows us how Meta could achieve a lower price point while also making its new headset smart enough to cope with the upcoming Quest 3 exclusives.
Questions remain about controllers and prices
This leak gives a clearer idea of how Meta plans to cut costs, but we don’t know exactly what it will cost. Early leaks suggested an absurdly low $199, while more credible recent rumors suggest $299 is the new target.
Even at $299, we’re not sure how Meta will hit that price with the Quest 3’s expensive upgrades. The answer may depend on whether the Quest 3s comes with controllers.
Lunayian’s leak states that the Quest 3s is compatible with the Quest 3’s Touch Plus controllers. Still, credible sources like Bloomberg have claimed that Meta was “not considering bundling.” [the 3s] with handheld controllers” to achieve a lower price and appeal to Vision Pro fans. While Quest 2 and 3 offer great hand tracking games, many of the most popular games require controllers.
This Quest 3 manufacturing report shows that the headset costs about $430 to make, and that $300 of that goes to the XR2 Gen 2, camera sensors, battery, plastic casing, and packaging – which make up the Quest 3 supposedly shares. The remaining $130 comes from the high-resolution display and pancake lenses, which the 3 will cut corners on.
We’ll have to wait and see if Meta manages this balancing act between quality and cost reduction with the Quest 3s when it releases later this year.
The best VR headset on the market, the Meta Quest 3, costs more than the rumored 3s, but has advantages that gamers will appreciate, such as a more comfortable design with room for glasses, much better resolution, easier IPD adjustment and more.