Meta Quest 3 Mixed Reality headset officially unveiled

The Meta Quest 3 virtual and mixed reality headset was formally revealed by Mark Zuckerberg. It will cost $499.99 and be available "in all countries where Meta Quest is currently supported" this autumn.

Given that the release is still months away, the timing of the announcement may appear unusual. That is, until you recall that Apple's WWDC is coming up next week, and rumor has it that the firm will finally unveil its long-awaited headset at that time. So, this is most likely a case of Meta attempting to grab a little of Apple's thunder while it still has the opportunity.

Meta Quest 3 has a better resolution than Quest 2 and is powered by "a next-generation Snapdragon chipset," which Meta claims will give "more than twice the graphical performance as the previous generation Snapdragon GPU in Quest 2." Full-color passthrough is also supported for high-resolution color mixed reality use cases.

In comparison to its predecessor, the new headset boasts a "40% slimmer optic profile" and fully revamped Touch Plus controls. Because of advancements in tracking technology, the outside tracking rings are no longer required, making the controllers seem "like a more natural extension of your hands." TruTouch haptics, first seen in the Touch Pro, are also included - and speaking of which, the Touch Pro controllers may be used with the Quest 3 if purchased separately.

Hand tracking is also supported right out of the box. The Quest 3 will work with the Quest 2's catalog of over 500 VR games, apps, and experiences. If you want to learn more about the Quest 3, you may visit the official website and register your information.