Meta Quest 3 review

Trade in Meta Quest 3

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The Meta Quest 3 stands out as the best VR headset we have ever tested. This is the foremost and crucial insight from our extended testing period.

The headset is significantly slimmer due to the use of pancake optics, making it markedly more comfortable to wear. These pancake optics also enhance the Quest 3’s display resolution beyond that of any previous Quest headset. While it hasn’t yet reached PC VR graphics levels, it is approaching that standard. The display itself is certainly not to blame.

Moreover, the upgrades extend further. The Touch Plus controllers are perfectly contoured to your hands, the full-color video passthrough is impressive, and the ever-expanding app and game library offers a wealth of activities—substantially more than what is currently available on the Apple Vision Pro.

Initially, when we began reviewing this headset in October 2023, we were somewhat disappointed by the unmet expectations of a mixed reality headset. However, numerous software updates have dramatically enhanced this aspect, including the much-praised Travel Mode.

In conclusion, the Quest 3 is evolving into an excellent VR/AR headset, despite occasional letdowns in hand tracking and battery life. Continue reading to discover why this headset is still a superior choice despite its minor flaws.

META QUEST 3: SPECS

META QUEST 3: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

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The Meta Quest 3 can be purchased globally from Meta’s web store and selected retailers, such as Best Buy in the U.S., depending on your region.

There are two models of the Quest 3. The one I tested features 128GB of storage and is priced at $499 / £479 / €549 / AU$799. For those needing more storage, the 512GB model is available for $649 / £619 / €699 / AU$949.

META QUEST 3: DESIGN

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The Meta Quest 3 is noticeably slimmer, especially compared to the Meta Quest 2. According to Meta, the visual interface (the visor) is 40% slimmer than its predecessor, and having worn both, I can definitely attest to this.

This redesign makes the Quest 3 more ergonomically balanced to wear. While I can’t say that I completely forgot I was wearing a headset, I did feel a significant improvement over the top-heavy Quest 2.

Thanks to the slimmer design, Meta was able to eliminate the need for a spacer for users like me who wear glasses. Instead, you can adjust the facial interface to create more space if needed, using two black buttons inside the headset. Additionally, there is a new IPD wheel for adjusting the distance between the lenses. Personally, I found that the default settings allowed me to wear the Quest 3 with my glasses comfortably, but making adjustments was straightforward.

META QUEST 3: DISPLAY

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The slimming of the Quest 3 visor is partly due to the use of pancake optics. Also known as pancake lenses, these work by layering thin lenses to reproduce images in a smaller space. Additionally, the displays offer a higher resolution than those of the Quest 2.

Meta refers to the new displays on the Quest 3 as the 4K+ Infinite Display because the two LCD displays combine for a 4K resolution. Each eye has a resolution of 2,064 x 2,208 pixels, providing 25 pixels per degree (PPD) in virtual reality and a pixel density of 1,218 pixels per inch (PPI). In comparison, the Meta Quest 2 has a resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye.

The displays have a native refresh rate of 90Hz, although Meta says developers can opt for an experimental refresh rate of 120Hz.

These improvements are noticeable. Colors on the Quest 3 are more vibrant than on the Quest 2, and despite being powered by a mobile chipset, the graphics are quite impressive. While it doesn’t match the quality of a PC VR headset, I found it more than satisfactory.

One area where graphical fidelity drops is in the video passthrough. PPD decreases from 25 to 18, and there is some judder when looking at your arms and hands. However, the augmented reality holographic overlays maintain their stunning visuals in passthrough mode, so even if your surroundings appear in lower fidelity, your game will not.

To see the difference for yourself, I recommend trying out “First Encounters,” a demo found under “Get started with Meta Quest” in your Explore tab, where little alien puffs invade your room, and you must capture them. While your room may not look great, the game’s graphics remain visually impressive.

META QUEST 3: CONTROLLERS

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The new Touch Plus controllers might be my favorite feature of the Meta Quest 3. At first glance, they don’t look drastically different, aside from the noticeable absence of the tracking ring from the Quest 2’s Touch controllers. Instead, they adopt the ringless design of the Touch Pro.

However, they fit perfectly in your hand, which is a significant improvement from the Quest 2, even though the Touch controllers were not ergonomically bad. Every time I pick them up, I marvel at the design.

Despite losing the tracking ring, the Touch Plus controllers still manage 6DoF tracking, allowing you to move around your playspace with no issues. The Touch Plus controllers also use TruTouch Haptics, providing resistance for better feedback and immersion. Personally, I wish the feedback was a bit stronger and more nuanced, as I often found myself forgetting it was even there. Nevertheless, it’s still a nice addition.

In addition to using the Touch Plus controllers, you can also use hand tracking to navigate the Quest 3’s screens and even in certain games and apps. You can switch to hand tracking by double-tapping the sides of your controllers and setting them down.

Meta calls this feature Direct Touch. Using it, even briefly, had me longing for my Touch Plus controllers and their haptic feedback. While I like the idea of hand tracking, especially for browsing or watching videos on the headset, I never found the execution compelling enough to ditch my controllers.

META QUEST 3 HANDS-ON REVIEW: SETTING UP

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Setting up the Meta Quest 3 is pretty straightforward. Just pull out the headset, power it on, and the headset will guide you through the process, including pairing it with the Meta Quest app on your phone. You can even connect the headset to your home Wi-Fi network using a QR code on your phone, thanks to the headset’s full-color passthrough powered by two RGB cameras and a depth projector on the front of the visor.

These cameras and the Quest 3’s passthrough are also useful when setting up your play space. You have two options for operating in virtual reality: Roomscale and Stationary. Roomscale pulls in the visuals of your room from the passthrough and provides a suggested playspace that you can adjust with your controllers. Stationary offers a circular space, ideal for seated use.

Full disclosure — when setting up the Roomscale boundary, I always needed to use my controllers to make some adjustments. I also found that walking around the room you’re establishing as your play space helped the automatic boundary set at the right limits.

The passthrough feature goes a step further for mixed reality. During the setup for your first mixed reality experience, you’ll be asked to highlight or create your room’s walls using the controller. After that, you’ll be asked to look around the room so the headset can scan for any furniture. You’ll see a virtual mesh or polygons covering your furniture. Once that’s done, you’re good to go for playing in mixed reality.

META QUEST 3: PERFORMANCE

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Under the hood, the Meta Quest 3 is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, which Meta claims provides the Quest 3 with twice the graphics processing power of the Quest 2. Additionally, it comes with 8GB of RAM, compared to the 6GB on the Quest 2.

While I don’t have benchmark tests to validate Meta’s claim, I found the headset to be responsive in practical use. Whether playing games like Samba de Amigo and Pistol Whip, or experiencing mixed reality apps like First Encounters, the Quest 3 never lagged, even while downloading apps in the background.

Although you’re still not getting hyper-realistic graphics, it’s definitely a step up from the graphics on older Meta Quest 2 games. For instance, the NFL Pro Era app ran smoothly, but the Quest 2 graphics felt reminiscent of stepping into an old arcade game.

META QUEST 3: GAMES

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The Quest 3 gives you access to a vast array of games—over 500 titles from the Quest 2 catalog, along with new Quest 3 games. It also enhances select Quest 2 games to leverage the Quest 3’s superior performance.

While I haven’t tried everything available on the Quest 3, I have experienced a good variety of titles. Classic Quest 2 games like NFL Pro Era and Superhot VR remain as enjoyable as ever, with Pistol Whip benefiting from the improved graphics of the Quest 3. Native Quest 3 games, such as Assassin’s Creed Nexus, are visually impressive as well.

One thing that didn’t impress me was Xtadium, Meta’s app for viewing sporting events in VR. Maybe it’s because I could only view highlights, but it felt like a poor non-HD video feed superimposed over a backdrop, rather than watching from an HD or 4K 180-degree or 360-degree camera. My hope is that once this feature includes live NBA games, the quality will improve, because as it stands, I wouldn’t choose it over my TV, let alone a live game.

META QUEST 3: MIXED REALITY FEATURES

Our biggest criticism of the Quest 3 over the past few months has been that it doesn’t really feel like a mixed reality headset. However, we always added “yet” because Meta committed to providing plenty of updates to truly enhance this aspect.

Now, nearly a year later, we can see the results of the company’s efforts. Mixed reality experiences, such as using your headset as a laptop remote display and augmenting your surroundings with interactive elements, are becoming more readily available. Additionally, hand tracking is gradually improving, though more work is needed to address challenging lighting conditions.

Then there’s the new Travel Mode—tweaking algorithms in the immediate boundary around you to handle even the more challenging moments of in-flight turbulence. The ability to use split-screen apps while 30,000 feet in the air is seriously impressive and makes any journey fly by.

The only outstanding issue is gaming, which remains firmly in the VR space. That’s not to say some mixed reality experiences don’t exist. First Encounters does a good job of integrating your environment into gameplay with destructible walls, and Lego Bricktales offers a nice tabletop experience that feels more engaging in your surroundings than in a virtual world. Most tabletop experiences, like Bricktales and Demeo, benefit from mixed reality as they don’t require a full departure from reality to be enjoyable.

However, we are still waiting for more games that fully utilize the Quest 3’s video passthrough, which did impress me when I got to use it.

META QUEST 3: AUDIO

Meta claims that the audio range for the Quest 3 is 40% louder than that of the Quest 2, and that it produces 3D spatial audio with improved clarity and bass. In my testing, I found the volume sufficient without needing to max it out.

In fact, the volume was so loud that it could be easily heard if you were in the room with me. For privacy, you can connect wired earbuds via the 3.5 mm headphone jack. However, most wireless earbuds cannot be connected due to latency issues, despite Bluetooth 5.2 support. Instead, options like the Soundcore VR P10 wireless earbuds, which use a USB-C dongle to mitigate latency, are recommended.

I also noticed the effectiveness of the spatial audio. It was particularly useful in games like First Encounters and Dungeons of Eternity, aiding in identifying enemy positions. In music-driven rhythm games such as Samba de Amigo and Pistol Whip, the audio quality enhances the immersive experience, but for me, the real advantage came in games where spatial awareness of surroundings is crucial.

META QUEST 3: BATTERY LIFE

Meta states that the Quest 3 has “about the same” battery life as the Quest 2. The overall battery life is rated for approximately 2.2 hours of average use, though this can vary based on device usage and settings.

In my personal testing, I was able to deplete the Quest from 100% battery to empty in 1 hour and 57 minutes. During this time, I played several Quest 3 and Quest 2 games, and also watched approximately 30 minutes of District 9 using the Pluto TV app. Once the battery was depleted, I found that charging the Quest 3 took about 2 hours.

META QUEST 3 REVIEW: VERDICT

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The Meta Quest 3 represents a significant upgrade from the Quest 2 as a VR headset rather than a groundbreaking mixed reality device. It’s noticeably thinner, lighter, and more comfortable to wear and use than its predecessor, with a clear improvement in display resolution. While it delivers impressive full-color video passthrough, opportunities to fully utilize this feature are limited.

If someone asked me to recommend a VR headset, the Quest 3 would be my top choice without hesitation. It offers standalone functionality and can also connect to a PC for access to nearly all top VR games with optional accessories like the Link cable or Air Link. This versatility sets it apart from PC VR headsets and the PSVR 2. However, it doesn’t significantly change my overall recommendation for VR headsets compared to the Quest 2, which is a bit disappointing.

Despite this, if you’re looking for the best VR headset available, the Quest 3 is undoubtedly it.

Source: Tom’s Guide