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 centered on making VR extra accessible as it really works on what could possibly be its most inexpensive Quest headset but. A brand new render might have simply proven us the design of this cheaper headset.
As reported by The Verge final yr, Meta’s VR vice chairman, Mark Rabkin, spoke about plans to launch a extra inexpensive headset in 2024. Internally generally known as Ventura, Rabkin stated the corporate was aiming to “pack the most important 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 might have revealed the attainable design for the upcoming headset. The publish provides that this new headset could possibly 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 wish to chop corners someplace to convey the worth down. Nonetheless, we don’t anticipate that that is the way in which that Meta would attempt to save just a little cash.
When it comes right down to it, the price of the headset is extra related to the expensive chip processing the huge quantity of pixels per body slightly than the cameras. A number of dependable sources up 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 publish that “Passthrough and MR might be an ordinary characteristic on all future headsets” after the Quest 3.
Furthermore, the element contradicts some earlier studies. So we might suggest taking this render with a wholesome dose of skepticism. It’s presently unclear the place Meta will attempt to lower prices, however rumors have prompt that the headset may come with out controllers.