Meta Quest 3 — everything we know so far

Oculus Quest Pro features
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The Meta Quest 3, previously known as the Oculus Quest 3 until Meta rebranded it, is expected to arrive this year, and potentially bring with it a whole suite of upgrades. 

And we should hope so, as the Meta Quest 2 is nearly three years old, and arguably due for an upgrade. While the Quest 2 offers one of the best all-in-one VR experiences, there's scope for improvement. 

Going by the leaks and rumors so far, we can expect more power and better features, with augmented reality also added into the mix. So with that in mind, here's what we know about the Meta Quest 3 so far. 

Meta Quest 3 news (updated March 8)

Meta Quest 3 release date  

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the Meta Quest 3 will be launched later this year.

And other official and unofficial murmurings around the Querst 3 have it pegged for a 2023 launch. We'd place a cautious bet that it'll debut in the fall. 

Meta Quest 3 price  

Meta Quest 3 is likely to have boosted specs over the Quest 2

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

A major leak reportedly from within Meta has spilled a lot of information on the Quest 3, not only supporting a lot of the information in this article, such as more power and a slimmer design, but also emphasizing that the price tag will sit at $400 or above. 

This puts it in line with the recent Meta Quest 2 price increase. The Quest 2's 128GB version starts at $399 and 256GB version starts at $499.

Meta Quest 3 specs and rumors  

Facebook's parent company, Meta is doing a lot with VR prototypes, which would suggest Meta is looking at new VR hardware. We expect that the Meta Quest 3 will have a 120Hz display by default. The current Quest 2 currently supports a 120Hz refresh rate but it needs apps to upscale content to meet that mark. A speedy refresh rate out of the box would be much appreciated, especially by those who can suffer from motion sickness when using VR headsets. 

According to Brad Lynch (opens in new tab), a VR analyst, the expected resolution for the Quest 3 is 4,128 by 2,208 pixels or 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye. This represents a 30% upgrade over the Meta Quest 2’s 1,920 by 1,832 pixels per eye. 

Lynch's subsequent leak unleashed a bevy of specs for the Quest 3. First, the Quest 3 looks set to be a mixed reality headset rather than strictly a virtual reality headset. It plans to do this with a combination of a four-camera array and a depth sensor to allow for mixed reality elements. This may be an indication that the rumored Apple VR/AR headset is shifting the consumer VR market. 

In Meta's recent earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed this saying that the Quest 3 will get Meta Reality — the technology that allows the headset to be used for both augmented reality as well as virtual reality. This was seen in the Meta Quest Pro and will now make its way to the relatively cheaper Quest 3. 

With mixed reality on the Quest 3, the headset could get a huge boost in its passthrough mode, giving users a more clear view of their surroundings while wearing the headset.

Renderings of the Meta Quest 3 based on leaked CAD images

(Image credit: SadlyItsBradley/Marcus Kane/Twitter)

Additionally, the device is expected to get slimmer and sport a couple of upgrades. Lynch says that the Quest 3 should get an upgrade to the next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, which is rumored to be codenamed “Project Halliday.” 

Speaking of the Snapdragon XR2, Meta has supposedly been working with chip maker Qualcomm to create a second-generation version of this mobile chip, which could have double the graphics power of the Meta Quest 2. This would like result in virtual reality environments and experiences rendered in higher visual fidelity. 

The Quest 3 could also get a bump in RAM and storage to 512GB SSD and 12GB RAM. There is no indication if this would be the specs for the base model or a possible max specs for the headset. 

PICO 4 introduced pancake optics to virtual reality and the Quest Pro will likely follow suit. It seems that pancake optics are becoming the standard for lens design. The technology allows manufacturers to create thinner, more compact display lenses, which can ultimately contribute to increasing resolution or making room for additional cameras. Without pancake optics, consumer-grade VR could potentially stagnate, so it is nice to see that it may be becoming the standard rather than an expensive feature.

Quest 3 looks set to reintroduce fine-tuning the interpupillary distance (i.e. the distance between lenses). This is a seemingly small quality-of-life change, but it gives users a more comfortable experience, particularly compared to the Quest 2.

The Quest Pro has been rumored to require a charging dock for its controllers and the CAD renderings Lynch shows in his video suggest that the Quest 3 will include a similar charging port. 

More recently Lynch found mention of “Eureka” in the Quest app, a name that's widely believed to refer to the Quest 3. Lynch noted that this is a clue that software development kits are being shipped out to developers. From that, we can posit that the Quest 3’s hardware has been nailed down and it will be a handful of months until the headset is ready to launch. 

On top of that, come code mining into the app found mention of QR code scanning capabilities and a form of eye relief mechanism for the headset. Apparently, the code notes: “you can adjust your lens depth by pressing the buttons inside and pulling the headset forward or backward.” This could be useful for people who can suffer from eye strain when using VR headsets. 

Meta Quest 3: What we’d like to see 

We were very impressed with the Meta Quest 2, but there’s still room for the Meta Quest 3 to deliver improvements. Here’s what we’d like to see:

Meta Quest 3 could bring in improved movement tracking

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Rechargeable controllers: The Quest 2’s controllers relied on a single AA battery each, which delivered around 30 hours of juice. That’s not bad, but we feel a USB-C rechargeable battery pack would be a boon, as well as more environmentally friendly. Making the Quest 3 potentially compatible with the Meta Quest Pro's charging dock could signal this is coming.

Boosted hand-tracking controls: Improved hand-tracking would be appreciated in Quest 3, as we found that in Quest 2 it could be a little finickity and not hugely intuitive. 

Even higher refresh rate: A 120Hz refresh rate is great, but a 144Hz or higher refresh rate for super-smooth VR games and experiences is on our wish list. 

More Oculus apps: The Oculus Store (no name change here) is not short on VR apps and games, but we’re always keen to see more. Games that really deliver immersive VR experiences, rather than more arcade-like action, could help the Quest 3 stand apart from its predecessor. 

Improved battery life: This would be a huge boost over the Quest 2. We would also like to see a cable bundled into the box, rather than as an expensive optional extra. That way you can plug the Quest 3 directly into a gaming PC.

Meta Quest 3 outlook 

A CAD rendering of the Meta Quest 3.

(Image credit: SadlyItsBradley/YouTube)

The success of the Meta Quest 2 means Meta can simply refine the Meta Quest 3 and have a winner. However, it seems they may be pushing further by transitioning into mixed reality. 

VR and mixed reality are still relatively novel arenas with niche appeal. If Meta offers can deliver truly immersive virtual experiences, we could then see the worlds of virtual reality, mixed reality and even augmented reality become increasingly mainstream. That should give us more apps and games to feed our greedy eyes and hands. 

Read next: 7 Meta Quest 2 games you should play first.

Malcolm McMillan
A/V, AI and VR Writer

Malcolm McMillan is a staff writer for Tom's Guide, writing about the latest in tech, gaming and entertainment with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-based tools like ChatGPT. He has written up much of our coverage on the latest AI tools including ChatGPT, the new GPT-powered Bing and Google Bard. He also covers A/V tech such as televisions, soundbars and more, in addition to covering VR headsets from the Meta Quest 3 to the PS VR2.


Before writing for Tom's Guide, Malcolm worked as a fantasy football analyst writing for several sites and also had a brief stint working for Microsoft selling laptops, Xbox products and even the ill-fated Windows phone. He is passionate about video games and sports, though both cause him to yell at the TV frequently. He proudly sports many tattoos, including an Arsenal tattoo, in honor of the team that causes him to yell at the TV the most.

With contributions from
  • sheriffbullock
    Please, no more rechargeable controllers. I have too many cables and devices that need to be plugged in using said cables. I prefer the convenience of removable batteries over built-in battery packs. Besides, rechargeable battery packs are no more environmentally-friendly than rechargeable AAs.
    Reply
  • anscarlett
    Higher resolution displays, uhd for each eye and a wider hFoV. 120hz is fine, no need to go over that. Flexible oled would be nice to curve them around your head.
    Faster cpu/gpu.
    Wifi 6e.
    Magnetic pogo cables and a dock for headset and controllers. Please no more plug and socket charging cables!
    Thunderbolt 4 for pcvr
    Eye tracking.
    Auxiliary usb c for additional accessories.
    Wide angle stereoscopic front passthrough cameras.
    Better controllers, grip sensors, more solid wrist straps
    Please offer a dark grey or black option.
    Reply
  • LunaticMS
    I think there's exactly ONE feature that will absolutely make the next Quest the undisputed king of VR, and that's built-in (or otherwise easy) wireless streaming of games from a PC. Basically the only objective downside to the Quest over a wired headset is that the quest can't play all VR games onboard, and can only play certain ones via a special cord connected to your PC. The HTC Vive has an adapter to make it wireless, but it requires an expensive accessory that requires you to plug a card into your computer's motherboard, which not everyone can afford/use. A completely standalone headset that can be used anywhere AND can play high-quality games wirelessly from a PC in the room would basically be the best of all worlds, with the only advantage of other headsets being minor incremental improvements like FOV, refresh rate, eye tracking, better audio delivery, and more specialized controllers, none of which have proven essential for the most popular VR games, and basically all of which are currently trumped by the Quest's portability, ease of use, and price point.

    And the best part is that people have already done this on the Quest 2, apparently to amazing success (under the right circumstances). From the sound of it, you currently need to sideload some special software and have good internet, delivered from a good router (that may or may not need line of sight to the headset itself). They have been reluctant to endorse this feature since an improper setup can cause lag and motion sickness, but if they can include some additional hardware (either onboard or perhaps a USB-C accessory) to improve the wireless connection to the point of being stable for even most users, I would ditch my Index and buy a Quest 3 in a heartbeat.
    Reply
  • Keng Yuan
    OLED.
    Reply
  • traditional_elk67
    LunaticMS said:
    I think there's exactly ONE feature that will absolutely make the next Quest the undisputed king of VR, and that's built-in (or otherwise easy) wireless streaming of games from a PC. Basically the only objective downside to the Quest over a wired headset is that the quest can't play all VR games onboard, and can only play certain ones via a special cord connected to your PC. The HTC Vive has an adapter to make it wireless, but it requires an expensive accessory that requires you to plug a card into your computer's motherboard, which not everyone can afford/use. A completely standalone headset that can be used anywhere AND can play high-quality games wirelessly from a PC in the room would basically be the best of all worlds, with the only advantage of other headsets being minor incremental improvements like FOV, refresh rate, eye tracking, better audio delivery, and more specialized controllers, none of which have proven essential for the most popular VR games, and basically all of which are currently trumped by the Quest's portability, ease of use, and price point.

    And the best part is that people have already done this on the Quest 2, apparently to amazing success (under the right circumstances). From the sound of it, you currently need to sideload some special software and have good internet, delivered from a good router (that may or may not need line of sight to the headset itself). They have been reluctant to endorse this feature since an improper setup can cause lag and motion sickness, but if they can include some additional hardware (either onboard or perhaps a USB-C accessory) to improve the wireless connection to the point of being stable for even most users, I would ditch my Index and buy a Quest 3 in a heartbeat.

    This is already a feature on the Quest 2. All you have to do is buy the Virtual Desktop app from the Oculus Store and then download the streamer app on your PC. It's simple and easy to do. You don't need a cutting edge WIFI 6 "Gaming" Router. It works with minimal latency on 5ghz wifi. I use a $60 router from Archer and it works fine.

    I've been playing SkyrimVR, Blade and Sorcery, and No Man's Sky VR on my Quest 2 every night wirelessly for the past several months. It's a game changer.
    Reply
  • clampton
    HDR will be impressive in VR... turning away from blinding light will bring massive immersion.
    Reply
  • JunkieXLL
    Wider FoV. This should be a feature paramount to development, yet is often disregarded. The narrow FoV on most headsets is absolutely immersion-breaking and once you experience a wider FoV headset, it's almost impossible to go back to things like the Reverb G2 and Quest 2 etc. even if they have higher resolutions. The Quest 2 is OK, but its narrow FoV and abysmal battery really hold it back. The resolution, refresh rate and XR2 chip is more than enough. If the Q3 comes with 130 hFoV, a battery of at least 50% or higher SoT with better tracking it would be an easy day 1 purchase for me. If the Q3 is still at or similar FOV to the current Q2, it will be a hard pass for me.
    Reply
  • MeditatingHamster
    For me, my essential upgrades would be...

    Larger sweet spot. Quest 2 was a downgrade from the Rift-S in this regard and annoying.
    Granular IPD adjustment, because no one wants their experience tarred by a Jack Sparrow vision simulation.
    Proper head strap. The Quest 2 came with a strap that looked like it came from a sumo wrestlers underpants and was completely inadequate for the job.
    Better quality lenses. The Quest 2 suffers from lens flare and rays in dark scenes in a way that ruined the Big Screen experience for me, and was a step down from the Rift-S in that respect.

    The nice-to-have's would be....

    Access to other marketplaces for android apps such as the Amazon App Store and Google Play store. No one likes being locked out of the apps they use on a daily basis on their phone and tied in to an ecosystem with limited apps.
    Better quality passthrough and a move towards more augmented reality content.
    Eye tracking like PSVR 2 to assist with foveated rending of where your eyes look. PC VR already puts a strain on the GPU, more so with the move to USB C with the Quest 2 instead of the DisplayPort used by the Rift-S. The GPU could do with a helping hand, especially with the direction GPU prices have gone over the past few years.
    Slimmer design, the Quest 2 is currently not comfortable for me over long periods with it being front heavy.
    Wider FOV

    Things to keep would be....

    Keep the AA batteries. Very convenient with a AA battery charger just to swap them out and carry on playing. I really don't want a proprietary battery pack.
    Reply
  • MeditatingHamster
    sheriffbullock said:
    Please, no more rechargeable controllers. I have too many cables and devices that need to be plugged in using said cables. I prefer the convenience of removable batteries over built-in battery packs. Besides, rechargeable battery packs are no more environmentally-friendly than rechargeable AAs.

    I'm with you on that one. I have a AA battery charger that can charge up 4 x AA batteries in 20 minutes. So easy to just swap them out carry on playing!
    Reply