A brand new Meta Quest 3 lite is reportedly on the way in which, and this new leak provides us our first have a look at what to anticipate. The thought of a brand new, cheaper Quest headset is nothing new, however that is the primary time we’ve seen specs listed, and it appears to be like like extra of a Quest 2 alternative than a Quest 3 competitor.
As the very best VR headset presently out there, the Meta Quest 3 units a excessive bar for standalone high quality. In the end, although, Meta now seems to be attempting to keep away from embroiling itself in a clumsy battle the place a less expensive headset probably threatens the Quest 3. As a substitute, this new Quest 3 lite seems to be a Quest 2 with an improved SoC and colour passthrough system.
Tech leaker Luna (Lunayian on X) has posted a abstract of what they’re assured they’ve discovered in regards to the new Meta Quest 3 lite, though they consider its preliminary title is the Meta Quest 3s.
Among the many main modifications are a diminished per-eye decision from 2,064 x 2,208 to 1,832 x 1,920. On the plus facet, it appears to be like as if the refresh fee may also hit the identical 90Hz/120Hz because the Quest 3. There’s no point out of whether or not the rumored Meta Quest 3s may also be capable of run at 72Hz and 80Hz, just like the Quest 3, though there’s no purpose why this wouldn’t even be potential.
Lastly, the pancake lenses are being swapped out for fresnel ones and there’ll solely be three fastened IPD settings as a substitute of the 22mm vary on the Quest 3. That is regarding as a result of the final picture high quality of pancake lenses is a lot better, with an improved candy spot and fewer picture stretching across the edges of the lens.
This will not be an issue for anybody upgrading from the Quest 2, however if you happen to’ve skilled gameplay on a Quest 3, will probably be a substantial downgrade. On prime of the lens modifications, the glasses spacer can be reverting to the Quest 2 answer, a detachable fixed-distance plastic body, which is much worse for bespectacled VR fans like myself.
There’s no point out of any DRAM modifications, and it seems that the full-color passthrough cameras will make their manner over to the Quest 3s as effectively, though in a barely totally different configuration primarily based on the picture supplied by Luna.
These modifications ought to cut back the value considerably, hopefully serving to the Quest 3s meet the unique $299 MSRP of the Quest 2 and even its present $199 worth. Both manner, these financial savings can be probably big in comparison with the $499 beginning worth of the 128GB Quest 3. Storage choices for the Quest 3s aren’t talked about, however we might see a return to a 64GB base mannequin. Nevertheless, I really feel it’s extra probably that 128GB will stay the smallest storage possibility.
The trade-off for this cheaper price is the actual fact you’re getting a headset that can pale compared to the ability and high quality of the Meta Quest 3. Despite the fact that it makes use of the identical Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 SoC, every part else is a downgrade, and the VR expertise of each headsets is prone to differ consequently.
Whereas it could carry the Quest 3 branding, this lite mannequin appears to be like extra like a mid-generation Quest 2 improve to me. I’d argue {that a} flat MSRP discount on the Quest 3 can be a far smarter transfer than releasing this probably complicated product into the market.
If you have already got Meta’s newest headset, you possibly can try our picks for the very best Meta Quest 3 video games, that are all hand-picked and examined so you recognize they’re nice.
