Meta has officially unveiled Quest 3, its latest next-generation virtual and mixed reality headset

The upcoming Meta Quest 3 headset is set to launch in the fall, and it will have a starting price of $499.99 for the 128GB version. There will also be an option for additional storage capacity.

Meta Quest 3 boasts several advancements, including higher resolution, improved performance, revolutionary Meta Reality technology, and a sleeker, more comfortable design.

In addition, Meta has announced a price reduction for the Quest 2 headset. Starting from June 4, the Quest 2 with 128GB of storage will be priced at $299.99, which is the same as its pre-August 2022 price before a $100 increase. The 256GB version will also see a price reduction to $349.99.

One of the key features of the Quest 3 is its utilization of a next-generation Snapdragon chipset developed in collaboration with Qualcomm. This chipset delivers more than double the graphical performance compared to the GPU found in the Quest 2.

The Quest 3 headset is 40% slimmer in terms of its optic profile compared to the Quest 2. Additionally, the Touch Plus controllers have undergone a redesign, resulting in a more streamlined and ergonomic form.

Meta has also confirmed that hand tracking will be supported out of the box, allowing users to navigate the virtual world without the need for controllers. This is made possible by Direct Touch technology, which enables interaction with virtual objects using only the user's hands.

Quest 3 will maintain compatibility with the extensive library of over 500 VR games, apps, and experiences available for the Quest 2. Meta will be hosting a Meta Quest Gaming Showcase, where they will offer a glimpse of new games coming to their headsets, including a sneak peek at the highly anticipated "AAA flagship adventure" for Quest 3.

Meta claims that their cutting-edge Meta Reality technology seamlessly blends the physical and virtual worlds on the Quest 3. This next-level mixed reality experience intelligently understands and responds to objects in the user's physical space, allowing for natural and intuitive navigation that was previously nearly impossible.

With features such as high-fidelity color Passthrough, innovative machine learning, and spatial understanding, users can interact with both virtual content and the physical world simultaneously. This opens up limitless possibilities for exploration, enabling activities like playing virtual board games on a kitchen table using Demeo, decorating living rooms with virtual art through Painting VR, or immersing oneself in a fully immersive world to accomplish things that were previously out of reach.

Meta plans to reveal further details about the Quest 3 headset during their annual Meta Connect conference, scheduled for September 27.