C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A leaked render of Meta’s budget-friendly VR headset has surfaced on-line.
- The render lacks the entrance passthrough digicam array from the Quest 3.
- The headset is rumored to be known as Quest 3 Lite.
This yr may be the yr AR/VR headsets lastly break into the mainstream. Whereas Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional provided a glimpse of a futuristic combined actuality (MR) world — at an especially excessive value — Meta appears to be targeted on making VR extra accessible as it really works on what might be its most inexpensive Quest headset but. A brand new render could have simply proven us the design of this cheaper headset.
As reported by The Verge final yr, Meta’s VR vp, Mark Rabkin, spoke about plans to launch a extra inexpensive headset in 2024. Internally generally known as Ventura, Rabkin mentioned the corporate was aiming to “pack the largest punch on the most engaging value level within the VR shopper market.” For months, rumors have been swirling about this headset. Now, we’d have our first take a look at it.
A current leak on X (previously Twitter) by VR accent vendor VRpanda could have revealed the doable design for the upcoming headset. The put up provides that this new headset might be known as the Meta Quest 3 Lite.
Whereas it resembles previous Meta Quest fashions, the render appears to lack the passthrough digicam array of the pricier Quest 3. An inexpensive “lite” model of the Quest 3 would want to chop corners someplace to convey the value down. Nonetheless, we don’t anticipate that that is the best way that Meta would attempt to save a little bit cash.
When it comes all the way down to it, the price of the headset is extra related to the expensive chip processing the large quantity of pixels per body moderately than the cameras. A number of dependable sources prior to now have claimed that the upcoming Quest Lite headset will use the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset because the pricier Quest 3. Actuality Labs Director of Engineering for XR Tech, Paul Furgale additionally hinted in a weblog put up that “Passthrough and MR can be a typical function on all future headsets” after the Quest 3.
Furthermore, the element contradicts some earlier studies. So we’d advocate taking this render with a wholesome dose of skepticism. It’s at present unclear the place Meta will attempt to lower prices, however rumors have urged that the headset might come with out controllers.
