Meta Quest 3 Review: Is This VR Headset Worth Buying?

When it comes to the mobile VR gaming landscape, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Meta’s VR headsets have really dominated the market. Since the launch of Oculus Quests 1 and 2 (later changed to Meta Quests 1 and 2 when Meta purchased Oculus), their headsets have steadily grown into the most popular consumer-friendly mobile VR headsets in the world. And now, with the release of the much-anticipated Meta Quest 3, we can finally take a look at what Meta believes to be their most immersive and revolutionary VR headset yet.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Meta Quest 3 is Meta’s most powerful “virtual reality headset. However, we need to know just how good it is and if it makes a sufficient jump from the previous generation to warrant its substantial next-gen price bump.

Well, to answer all of these questions and more, I will have to review the Meta Quest 3 and give you a fully in-depth analysis of it, just to see how good it is. So, if you want to know more about the Meta Quest 3, just sit tight and enjoy this review.

Pros and Cons of the Meta Quest 3

Pros

• With colour pass-through cameras, you can view your surroundings vividly.
• It produces high-quality images
• Powerful processor
• Pleasant style.

Cons

• Short battery life
• Lacks eye-tracking tech.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Given that the Meta Quest 3 retails for about $500 in the US, I expected the unboxing experience to be filled with a lot of bells and whistles. However, in an ironic twist, Meta has decided to go with a minimalist approach.

The box itself is a simple brown cardboard box with Meta’s logo on the top, and that’s all you get. However, when I opened the box, the content was very much what I expected to see. Inside it, you get the Meta Quest 3 headset, which looks exactly like its predecessor; however, Meta has included two brand-new “touch plus” controllers with their wrist straps already installed (more on the controllers later). You also get two sets of “AA” batteries, an 18-watt power adapter, a USB-C charging cable, the usual set of user manuals, and some legal documents. Once you’re done with the content of the box, you will find out there’s nothing else in it, not even a Meta sticker.

Technical Specifications

Display quality and resolution

The Meta Quest 3 comes with dual 2064 x 2208 LCD eye displays that provide 30% more pixel density than the Quest 2. This 30% increase results in a far improved visual experience for Quest 3 users. You can see it most clearly with textural elements like in-game HUDs, menus, and virtual browsers. 

Also, with more technically demanding games like Mircosoft Flight Simulator, you will absolutely feel like you’re in the cockpit of an F12 fighter jet. However, you will still have to plug it into your PC so that it can do a lot of the heavy lifting, but you will still enjoy the experience. 

One of the major complaints most Meta Quest 2 fans had with the optical display was its narrow pixel density. Most gamers called it the “narrow sweet spot”. This made the centre of the display look sharper than the edges, and this made players wear the headset almost perfectly to get it focused. Much of this was down to the “Fresno lenses” found on the Quest 2. Fortunately, the Meta Quest 3 solves this problem by doing away with the “Fresno lenses” and adopting the “Pancake lenses” first seen on the Quest Pro. 

Aside from a slimmer display, the Quest 3 also boasts uniform edge clarity and less lens glare. It also includes a wider 120-degree field of view for better immersion, which means less tunnel vision relative to the Quest 2’s 90-degree field of view. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate at launch, which means that you will get way higher frame rates on fast-moving games like “Beat Sabre”.

Processor and performance metrics

What sets the Meta Quest 3 and all of its predecessors apart from other VR headsets on the market is their ability to play games on their own without relying on a PC or console to play games like the PSVR 2. This is all down to Meta’s expert optimisation techniques, and the powerful chips they install onto their headsets, and the Quest 3 is no different. 

The new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 CPU, which powers the Meta Quest 3, is said by Meta to provide twice the graphics processing capacity of the Quest 2. Additionally, you receive 8GB of RAM as opposed to the Quest 2’s 6GB.

I have no benchmark testing to support Meta’s assertion, but in practice, I thought the headset was very responsive. The Quest 3 never slowed down for me when I was playing Samba de Amigo, Pistol Whip, or First Encounters, a mixed reality game. This also happened when I had background app downloads going on.

However, all that power comes with a slight caveat. At launch, most of the older games and games released at launch aren’t able to take advantage of the extra resources and power on the Quest 3 unless developers release an optimisation update. 

Although the graphics are still not ultra-realistic, they are unquestionably better than those in some of the previous Meta Quest 2 titles. The Quest 2 graphics gave me the impression of being in an outdated arcade game, but the NFL Pro Era app functioned flawlessly.

Controllers 

The new “Touch Plus” controllers are the best part of the Meta Quest 3, and that is saying something considering how good the headset is, but hear me out. The most obvious change Meta has made to these controllers is the removal of the bulky IR rings seen on previous Quest controllers, and from an ergonomic standpoint, this was the right move from Meta. 

Without the “rings,” the new controllers are now lighter and no longer feel very top-heavy and unbalanced in the hands. They now feel almost perfect. However, how has the tracking precision been affected since the “rings” were removed? Well, in short, they are no longer needed. 

The new “Touch Plus” controllers on the Quest 3 use a combination of infrared LEDs from the cameras on the visor itself, and the AI hand-tracking technology in use on the controllers is now more accurate than the IR rings used previously, according to Meta.

Battery life and charging

According to Meta, the Quest 3 and Quest 2 have “about the same” battery life. Although the overall battery life is rated for 2.2 hours of use on average, actual usage and device settings may affect that figure.

For my part, it took me 1 hour and 57 minutes to get the Quest from 100% battery life to nothing. I used the Pluto TV app to view about 30 minutes of District 9 and played a few Quest 3 and Quest 2 games during this time. The Quest 3 can be charged in roughly two hours after it dies.

Storage options

With 8GB of RAM, the Meta Quest 3 headset has more RAM than the Quest 2’s (6GB), but less than the Quest Pro’s (12GB). There are also two storage options for the Quest 3: 128GB ($499) and 512GB ($649).

Design and Ergonomics

In this section, I’ll be taking a deep dive into the design and ergonomic functions of the Meta Quest 3. I’ll be talking about all of the impressive quality-of-life improvements Meta has made to the Quest 3, and I’ll also be talking about some of their less impressive design choices. 

Physical appearance and build quality

At first glance, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any differences between the Quest 3 and the Quest 2, and that’s by design because Meta is a firm believer in the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Aside from the very obvious 3-camera punch out on the face of the Quest 3, there aren’t a lot of changes made by Meta to augment the design of the Meta Quest 3. However, one of the major things I noticed about the Quest 3 was its increased weight. The Quest 3 feels substantially heavier than the Quest 2 and Quest Pro versions. 

While Meta hasn’t made a lot of substantial changes to the design of the Meta Quest 3, Meta has made a lot of quality-of-life improvements to make the Quest 3 an overall better device, and there are a good number of them.

Adjustability and fit

The soft cloth head strap has been redesigned so that it is easier to adjust and keep your head firmly in place without applying too much pressure, even during intense gaming sessions. However, if you want to replace the cloth strap with a more robust hard plastic alternative, then you should go for the elite strap, but it will cost you a further $70. 

The Quest 3 also offers continuous IPD adjusters that range from 58mm to 70mm. This can easily be manipulated by a little rotary dial on the bottom of the visor. The Quest 3 also allows you to adjust the depth of the facial interface. This means you can now adjust how far from your face the screen is, and for those who wear glasses, the extra space would be much appreciated.

However, the aggressively curved facial interface means that there is also an increased amount of light spilling in from the nose bridge, and that can be a bit distracting for a player when a beam of light streams through when gaming. The facial interface is also pressed against your temples and cheeks, and that can be quite uncomfortable for most gamers, especially when compared to the facial interface on the PSVR 2’s visor. 

Finally, the facial interface in the Meta Quest 3 is lined with foam padding, which makes it very comfortable to wear, but it also means that it will absorb more sweat when gaming. The padding isn’t removable, so your only solution is to either live with it or purchase the silicone interface, which is easier to clean but costs an extra $30. All in all, I can appreciate the impressive quality of life improvements Meta has made to the Quest 3, but I also feel they could have done a lot better with the overall design of it. 

User Experience: Deep Dive

In this section, I’ll be taking a deep dive into the user experience, how the device can be set up and some useful day-to-day use tips.

Initial setup and ease of use

Setting up your Meta Quest without using Facebook is a straightforward process. To start, you’ll need to download the Oculus mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. Once installed, open the app and begin the pairing process by following the on-screen instructions.

During the pairing process, you will be prompted to enter a unique code displayed on your Meta Quest headset. This code ensures that only you can pair your device with your Meta account.

Instead of using a Facebook account, you can choose to create a Meta account using your email address. This alternative login option allows you to enjoy all the features and benefits of the Meta Quest without the need for social media.

After creating your Meta account, you can personalise your profile by setting up a display name and username and even uploading a profile picture. Additionally, you have full control over your privacy settings, allowing you to customise who can view your social profile and social media posts.

The Meta Quest 3 is rather easy to set up. Simply take out the headset, turn it on, and it will walk you through the steps, which include connecting the Quest 3 to your phone’s Meta Quest app. With the headset’s full-colour passthrough powered by two RGB cameras and a depth projector on the front of the visor, you can even connect it to your home Wi-Fi network using a QR code on your phone.

When arranging your play area, these cameras and the Quest 3’s passthrough are very helpful. Roomscale and stationery are your two virtual reality operating options. With the passthrough images of your room, Roomscale creates a recommended playspace that you may modify with your controllers. Stationary is best used when seated because it provides you with essentially a circle to work with when utilising the Quest 3. 

To be honest, I always needed to use my controls to make minor adjustments when setting up the room-scale limit. Additionally, I discovered that taking a few short strolls around the space you’re creating for your activity helped the automatic boundary be set at the appropriate distances.

The passthrough even takes things a step further by playing in mixed reality rather than virtual reality. You’ll be required to use the controller to construct or highlight the walls in your room throughout the setup process for your first mixed-reality encounter. Following that, you’ll be prompted to gaze around the space so that the headset can detect any furniture. Your furniture will be covered in polygons or a virtual mesh. You’re ready to start playing mixed reality after that.

Interface and navigation

The user interface on the Meta Quest 3 is very similar to the Quest 2, with a few changes here and there. If you are unfamiliar with how Meta sets up their UI, just look at your Facebook account, and you should be able to understand how the UI works and looks. As for navigating on the Meta Quest 3, you’ll be impressed by how intuitive the navigation system is. 

Everything is tied to the controllers, so all you have to do is point at something and click the right trigger to select it. You can also swipe through by holding the right trigger and then swiping your hand in the direction you want.

Aside from the “Touch Plus” controllers, hand tracking may be used to navigate the Quest 3’s screens and even in select games and apps. By double-tapping the sides of your controllers and placing them down, you can convert to hand tracking. 

This is referred to as a feature by Meta as “Direct Touch”, and using it made me miss my “Touch Plus” controllers and haptic feedback. I enjoy the notion of hand tracking, especially if I’m just going to surf the web or watch movies on the headset, and there’s clearly some promise, but I’ve never found the implementation to be compelling enough to justify ditching my controllers.

Personal anecdotes of day-to-day use

I’ve enjoyed using the Meta Quest 3, and while I haven’t gotten around to playing all of the games from my previous Quest headset, the ones I have played ran extremely well and ran very smoothly without a lot of stress. 

The Quest 3 has a lot of good things going for it, and I’ve enjoyed using the pass-through mode a lot because it allows me to interact with the rest of my surroundings. I get to read text on my phone and even use my laptop while the headset is in pass-through mode. 

So, I can quite easily get through most of my day-to-day activities while also playing games on the Quest headset, all without having to take it off. However, given its minimal battery life, my day-to-day activities consisted of playing games a little, then answering some text, and then the batteries were dead.

Software Ecosystem

In this section, I’ll be going through some of the more software-oriented side of the headset; this includes gaming and user software, among other interesting software options.

Overview of the Quest 3’s software library

One funny thing most people who don’t own Quest headsets mostly say about them is that it’s just a gaming headset, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Meta Quest headsets are fully realised social and work devices that allow users to browse the web, develop games, and even use social media apps like VR chat to hang out with their friends in the Metaverse. Some of the major interactive software products on the Meta Store include the Oculus app for Windows, Horizon Workrooms, Meta Horizon Worlds, Xtadium, and Virtual Reality Chat.

Standout apps and games

The launch library for the Meta Quest software has grown to include productivity and fitness applications in addition to an amazing array of fully developed and captivating games. Moreover, you may launch SteamVR games with a tethered connection to your PC by utilising the $79.99 optional Link Cable. 

The Quest 3’s native games ran smoothly, and I was happy with the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2’s performance. However, the Quest 3 is also backwards compatible with all Quest 2 games and apps, thus expanding the library of games and apps to well over 500.

Games like “Samba de Aminga”, which is a rhythm-based game where you shake maracas to the beat of the music to score points, advance to the next level, and win the game. You can also play “Islander”, which is a simple yet deceptively addictive Island City builder that will keep you playing it forever.

One of the several “boomer shooters” developed by New Blood Interactive that pays homage to the early days of 3D first-person shooters is Amid Evil. It pays particular respect to the fantasy-horror scenario of Heretic, casting you in the role of a warrior-wizard charged with defending odd planets against demonic forces. 

Similar to the non-VR version, the VR edition has a long campaign that includes exploring and mutilating objects in a retro-blocky setting. Using the touch controllers is like using a gamepad to play any first-person shooter; it’s a comfortable and effective experience, but it’s not quite as good for accurate aim as using a mouse and keyboard.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission VR has considerably wider historical roots. Similar to the 1987 original, it is a rail shooter but with updated controls and visuals. Operation Wolf Returns makes you physically aim your guns by moving the motion controllers, as opposed to locking them to the centre of your screen like in Amid Evil. 

While the other controller stabilises and modifies your aim, one controller acts as the trigger hand. It’s an enjoyable and demanding shooter, but you have to be careful because attackers can attack from behind as well as the front.

The Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 performed wonderfully when it came to handling the numerous apps and games that I tested. I could swiftly go between the main Quest display and an active program because of the software’s quick loading speed. Although it took a while for certain games to load, switching between levels was quick. Surprisingly, Meta Horizon Worlds performed the worst in testing, even though they were largely vacant. 

Integration with other platforms or devices

While the Meta Quest 3 isn’t integrated with a lot of other devices, it does have integration with other apps like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and more, all of which can be used via the VR theatre app.

Mixed Reality and Interactivity

In this section, I’ll be taking a look at the mixed reality and pass-through mode of the Quest 3 headset. 

Detailed exploration of mixed reality capabilities

The Meta Quest 3 comes with two 4MP RGB cameras and a depth sensor embedded into the front of the visor that allows for the much-touted full-colour pass-through mode, or mixed reality mode for short. This feature allows you to flow seamlessly between the mixed-reality and augmented-reality sections of the headset. 

This mixed reality section is a vast improvement over the Quest 2’s monochrome muddiness. In good lighting conditions, images are brighter and clearer with accurate, true-to-life colours, which allows you to read texts on your phone and even browse the web with the headsets on.

Quality and realism of passthrough mode

I hardly ever found myself experimenting with mixed reality, but during my tests, I did live in mixed reality, where I began in the video passthrough that replicates your environment by default. 

While this was good for watching films or TV episodes, I wish more games truly made use of the ability to interact with the environment. Even with the improvements, the majority of the games simply remained basic virtual reality games without a lot of extended reality features

Interactive features and enhancements

The limited time I spent playing mixed-reality games was enjoyable. Destructible walls are a great way for First Encounters to incorporate your surroundings into the gameplay. Additionally, it was more pleasant to enjoy Lego Bricktales on a tabletop rather than in a virtual environment. 

Having played two in Bricktales and Demeo, I would contend that mixed reality enhances most tabletop experiences. It’s good to stay somewhat grounded when playing them because you don’t have to completely escape reality to do so.

I’m hoping that as time goes on, more apps will be released that properly utilise the video passthrough feature of Quest 3, which impressed me when I was able to utilise it because the potential is there. But up until then, the mixed reality features of Quest 3 have been a letdown.

Potential applications beyond gaming

Some of the potential applications of mixed reality that I can see include having meetings in your home with all of your team members coming into your home. I can also see applications like VR theatre taking over your home and turning it into a theatre.

 I can even see a situation where you can use it to redesign your home by swapping out furniture pieces to see what works. To be honest, I think the possibilities are endless as long as the creator’s imagination is let loose.

Social and Collaborative Features

In this section, I’ll be taking a look at some of the social and collaborative features of the Meta Quest 3

Analysis of Horizon Workrooms, Meta Horizon Worlds, and other social platforms

Meta Horizon Worlds

When I last tested Meta Horizon Worlds a year ago, there weren’t many other people online. I loaded the identical program for Quest 3, and there was no increase in population. There were only two or fewer users in each of the highlighted experiences. 

In comparison, VRChat boasted hundreds or thousands of members across numerous trending realms. There were so many people that it took dozens of instances (each holding between twenty and eighty thousand users) to accommodate everyone. I walked inside a virtual theatre full of individuals watching YouTube videos together in an environment similar to a screening room.

Oculus App for Windows

There are two connection possibilities provided by Meta itself to access your PC via Quest 3, but neither is ideal. The first is a direct connection made with the Oculus app for Windows via the Quest menu system. 

This is a cumbersome procedure because of annoying design features. After the connection, you’re in a virtual area with a taskbar and a semicircular control panel around you. There are buttons on just one sliding row to open the desktop on your PC and open separate windows for different apps. 

Opening browser windows was easy for me, but the desktop view didn’t function. The primary Quest interface buttons, which enable you to open apps and browse the store, are likewise located on the control panel. Those are superfluous options when you specifically want to work with your computer and not deal with anything on the VR headset.

Potential for virtual meetings, collaborations, and social interactions

Another virtual desktop alternative for the Quest 3 is Horizon Workrooms. It’s a more user-friendly experience that lets you work without typing aimlessly by pairing it with a suitable wireless keyboard or displaying an augmented reality desk. 

Unfortunately, it’s hidden away under an app that prioritises group work over solo work and has features like virtual meetings through shareable workrooms. Either these two features should have been divided up into distinct apps, or the Quest 3’s system should have merged them both fully.

User testimonials on social experiences

NBCUniversal’s Halloween Horror Nights, an expansion of Universal Studios’ well-liked Halloween event, remained essentially empty in the middle of the spooky season. The one other user, whose voice suggested they could be six years old, informed me that the experience wasn’t ready—two weeks before Halloween—and there was nothing there at all. I heard a middle-aged man express his dissatisfaction with his health coverage while playing the first-person shooter Action Island, which has eighteen players. 

Safety and Privacy

In this section, I will take a look at some of the safety and privacy features of the Meta Quest 3.

Built-in safety features 

As far as built-in safety features are concerned, Meta has designed the boundary system, which is designed to keep players, their belongings, and those within their vicinity safe. This virtual boundary will help you stay within your activity space and avoid collisions with objects in the physical world while you’re in your virtual environment. The boundary will appear in your VR experience when you’re near or touching its edge.

Privacy concerns

Your biggest concern as a Meta Quest 3 user is the fact that you had to scan your living area to allow the pass-through mode to create a 3D representation of your living space or bedroom. If you have fears of hackers having access to images of your home, you may want to remove anything that could directly link the images shot using the Meta Quest 3 to your home. 

So, anything with your house address should be removed before capturing. Also, if you live close to any specific landmarks, please close your windows and curtains so as to not allow such images to be seen. Finally, if your privacy is such a prominent concern to you, it would be wise to read Meta’s privacy guidelines and information about how they share and store your data. 

If that does not satisfy you, you can also opt out of using the pass-through mode entirely. Also, if you believe your credit card is not safe, you should check Meta’s policy on user data, information, and financial details to get a better sense of what you may be vulnerable to, as well as potential exploits or loopholes you may be exposed to, as well as any liability on the company’s part.

Recommendations for safe use

Your safety is very important, and it is useful to know some helpful tips when using the Meta Quest 3.

• Take frequent breaks in between play sessions. It is important to know your limitations and how long you can play for to not suffer fatigue and drowsiness, which is why it is important to take regular long breaks while playing with the Meta Quest 3. 
• Maintain a safe distance from other individuals and breakable items when playing with the headset to avoid harming yourself or a loved one.
• It is also important to take precautions when capturing your living space; make sure to remove or cover things that may leave you exposed in the event of a hack. So, remove pictures and addresses and cover all notable landmarks visible from your house.

Long-Term Use Insights

In this section, we will look at long-term usage considerations like durability, performance, and battery life over time.

Durability and wear-and-tear over time

Given that this device was released very recently, long-term usage has not yet had an impact on the overall build and design of the device. However, given that the Quest 3 is very similar to the Quest 2, it is very possible to infer that the device is very durable and will last you for a very long time. 

However, it is important to note that the device’s soft material parts will take on considerable wear and tear over time. To mitigate this, it is important to practise preventive maintenance on the visor and the straps by cleaning them consistently and very well.

Performance consistency

Again, since this is a recent release, there isn’t enough data to consider how long-term use will affect the performance of the device. However, given that the device is similar to the Quest 2, it is plausible to conclude that the performance of the Meta Quest 3 will last a very long time.

Battery longevity and potential degradation

Considering that the Meta Quest 3 battery life is not very strong, degradation of battery life will happen rapidly. Meanwhile, Meta has not provided an official statement concerning the battery life of the device. I suspect that the battery health of the Quest 3 will hit 50% after 500 charge cycles. A charge cycle is the number of times a device charges from 0-100. This also includes interim charging sections.

Community Feedback and Perspectives

In this section, I’ll be taking a look at community feedback on the Meta Quest 3 to see how the general reception has been.

Opinions from diverse users: beginners, VR enthusiasts, gamers, professionals

Beginners: Lovepuppys31 on Reddit said, “Credit where credit is due. Zuckerberg is the only one in the VR space putting in an actual significant amount of their war chest cash reserves into the VR markets, while other VR companies are just putting in their couch “pennies”.”

That being said, the VR market needle hasn’t moved much, and I don’t see it moving much unless we get that next watershed VR tech breakthrough where it feels like you’re almost there and not staring at an OLED screen 2 inches in front of your face using magic tricks into your brain, thinking its a 3-dimensional space.

VR Enthusiasts: Misterflames on Reddit said, “PSVR2 is technically a margin better than the Quest 2. But VR technology is improving rapidly right now, and we already see how big the leap will be in the coming year. There is no time left for PSVR to break through in this generation. And the PS-exclusive devs haven’t figured out a formula for VR games with longevity yet”.

Gamers: Routine-Yak-5704 on Reddit said, “I have a PS5. And…a PSVR2 I bought directly from Sony at the release date… Still in its shipping box, lol. I’m told it’s quite impressive (I’ve been having a lot of migraines lately, so I’m not ready to give my own opinion, much less put the headset on to trigger my headaches)”. 

Professionals: Will Greenwald from PC MAG said, “The Meta Quest 3 is the gold standard for standalone VR headsets thanks to its swift processor, high resolution, and colour pass-through cameras that enable high-quality augmented reality.”

Comparison with Competitors

In this section, I’ll be comparing the Meta Quest 3 to other VR headsets:

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2

In this case, the Meat Quest 3 is by far the better device, with better graphics, a 120Hz display, more power, improved design, and a boost to older games. The Meta Quest 3 is just a better device.

 However, one area where the headsets differ greatly is in their prices. The 128GB version of the Meta Quest 3 costs $499. On the other hand, there has been a significant price drop for the Quest 2. The good news is that Meta seems to genuinely want to continue offering the Quest 2 as a VR headset in its lineup. 

Now that the Meta Quest 2 is only $299 and software upgrades are still being released to enhance performance, purchasing the Quest 2 won’t be a bad investment. It doesn’t appear like Meta will set it aside for the Quest 3 anytime soon, even though that day is coming.

However, the Meta Quest 3 seems to be the obvious choice if you’re looking for a headset that allows you to switch between virtual reality and the real world. When the headset first comes out, its $499 starting price may not seem like a great deal, but if developers create games and apps that utilise the Quest 3’s mixed reality features, it might end up being the greatest VR gear for the majority of users.

Meta Quest 3 vs  PSVR 2

All things considered, the Quest 3 and PSVR 2 both mark significant advancements for stand-alone VR experiences. Every headset has distinct advantages over its predecessor. Thanks to its controller-free input, social connectivity, and cross-compatibility, the Quest 3 excels in versatility, combining gaming with other experiences.

Sony responds with the PSVR 2, which offers the most natural input experiences thanks to finger-tracking Sense controllers, superior industrial design, improved comfort, and the finest audio immersion available. There are trade-offs between the two headsets based on priorities; no one headset can clearly win every category.

Really, it all boils down to personal preference. Quest 3 is more suited for VR fans seeking cross-platform adaptability, while the PSVR 2 is more likely to satisfy die-hard PlayStation fans who have a strong attachment to Sony’s environment.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Quest 3 relative to the market

Strengths:

• With colour pass-through cameras, you can view your surroundings vividly.
• It produces high-quality images
• Powerful processor
• Pleasant style

Weaknesses 

•  Short battery life
• Lacks eye-tracking tech
• A bit pricey.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Not only is the Meta Quest 3 a revolutionary mixed-reality headset, but it is also a far better Quest 2 replacement. Compared to the previous Quest 2, it is an improvement—it is lighter, thinner, more pleasant to wear, and easier to use. Also, there is a discernible improvement in the display resolution. Unfortunately, even though the Quest 3 offers a rather amazing full-colour video passthrough, there aren’t many options to utilise the mixed reality headgear that we were promised.

The Quest 3 is the VR headset that I would choose to purchase myself or suggest to someone else. There is no question about that. I neglected to mention that, even with its stand-alone design, you can use the optional Link cable or Air Bridge adapter to connect it to a PC and play almost all of the top VR games. This alone is a reason to choose the Quest 3 over PC VR headsets or the PSVR 2. 

Overall assessment of the Meta Quest 3

The Meta Quest 3 continues Meta’s legacy of offering a somewhat cost-effective headset that doesn’t require an expensive gaming PC but will still benefit from one if you have one. The Quest 3 also goes even further by offering you a unique ticket into gaming with a full-colour pass-through mode that’s sharp enough to read text and see the world around you. 

It also provides you with light, precisely tracked controllers that will change how controllers are made everywhere. So, whether you’re upgrading from its predecessor or this is your first foray into the world of VR, the Quest 3 is well worth the $500 price increase because it sets a new standard for VR headsets.

Who should consider buying it, and why?

Anyone can buy the Meta Quest 3 because it is a definite upgrade on previous models and is by and large the best mobile gaming headset. If you are thinking of upgrading to the Quest 3 then go for it because it is worth it, and if this is your first time, then you won’t be disappointed with purchasing this VR headset.

The future outlook for the Quest series and VR, in general,

The future for Quest 3 and its series in general, looks bright. I think the sky is the limit for VR headsets because their applications are endless, and as technology improves, so will their uses and power. Thus making them do more things and serve a greater audience.