The concept of a face-computing metaverse has yet to break into the mainstream, but this isn’t halting Meta’s endeavors to bring it to the fore.
Today, Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive of Meta, unveiled comprehensive details regarding two novel hardware products: a revamped virtual reality Quest headset and a fresh pair of Meta-powered smart glasses, crafted by Ray-Ban. These announcements marked the beginning of the company’s annual Meta Connect developer conference.
The most recent addition to Meta’s VR lineup is the Quest 3. Similar to its forerunners, the Quest 3 envelops the user’s eyes and the sides of their face, akin to ski goggles. This design has been a significant hurdle to its widespread acceptance, as the majority would prefer engaging with the screens in our hands rather than restricting our vision with a comprehensive face computer. However, this latest Quest— a technological innovation stemming from Meta’s acquisition of Oculus nearly ten years ago—leans more towards mixed reality. This suggests that the future of head-mounted computers might see an enhanced integration with the real world.
During his keynote address, Zuckerberg underscored his vision of the future of computing as a seamless blend of the physical and digital worlds. He also dubbed the Quest 3 as the industry’s inaugural “mainstream reality headset.”
“The world around us is remarkable. Exploring the outdoors is one of life’s profound pleasures,” he articulated. “However, our industry has been concurrently developing this digital realm. There’s a notion that ‘The digital world isn’t the real world,’ but we firmly believe that reality is a fusion of the physical world we reside in and the digital world we are constructing.”
Meta has been hinting at the Quest 3 through preliminary announcements since the summer, aiming to generate anticipation around the product. It has now been revealed that it will commence shipping on October 10, with the base model, equipped with 128 gigabytes of internal storage, priced at $500, and the 512-GB model available for $650.
The newly unveiled Meta Quest 3 boasts a lighter and sleeker design and enhanced memory compared to the Meta Quest 2—qualities anticipated from a “new” and upgraded gadget. It operates on Snapdragon’s XR2 Gen 2 chipset, enabling superior graphics performance.
The optics of the device have also undergone enhancements, a crucial development for the mixed-reality experience, which allows users to perceive the real world around them through pass-through video. Unlike the grayscale pass-through video on the Meta Quest 2, the Quest 3 offers this feature in full color. (It’s worth noting that the Meta Quest Pro also has color pass-through, but it is a pricier product.) The field of view provided by the Quest 3 is marginally broader than that of its predecessor, the Quest 2. Additionally, a new 4K “infinite display” augments the resolution by nearly 30 percent. The spatial audio of the headset has been amplified, and the accompanying Touch Controllers, now devoid of their plastic rings, are reported to have enhanced haptic feedback.
In summary, the Meta Quest 3 has ascended to a Pro level.
Meta has invested heavily in the development of the metaverse, even rebranding the company to align with this futuristic vision for computing. The term “metaverse,” initially coined by Neal Stephenson in the 1990s, now encompasses interconnected, social experiences in a 3D computing environment. Numerous tech giants are competing in this domain, presenting diverse visions, some hardware-dependent, while others argue the metaverse already exists in mobile games and AR apps.
Since the launch of the Quest in 2019, Meta has been a leading seller of VR headsets, with around 20 million devices sold. However, it faces competition from Apple’s Vision Pro headset, releasing next year. Priced at $3,500, it is significantly more expensive than Meta’s $1,000 Quest Pro but promises an integrated mixed-reality experience. The possibility of a more affordable model from Apple remains uncertain.
Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies revealed that a survey indicated varying consumer willingness to spend on VR headsets, with 20% open to investing $1,000 or more. Travel, entertainment, and gaming apps are popular VR experiences. Meta has also acknowledged the popularity of games on Meta Quest, with 100 new games, many utilizing mixed reality, coming to the Quest store.
During a press briefing, Meta demonstrated several virtual games and experiences on the new Quest 3, including mixed reality apps like BAM, a Stranger Things-themed Netflix experience, and First Encounters. These experiences allowed for awareness of the surrounding environment, suggesting broader appeal for headsets blending real-world visibility with engaging games.
Additionally, Meta introduced the latest version of its video-capturing smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Ray-Ban. The original Ray-Ban Stories, launched in September 2021, featured cameras, speakers, and microphones but raised privacy concerns. Despite limited use and privacy issues, Meta has released a new design.
The latest models from Meta and Ray-Ban include sunglasses and clear-lens glasses, available with prescription lenses, in two frame styles—Wayfarer and Headliner—with various finish and color options.
Meta has introduced enhancements to its new smart glasses, highlighting their lighter weight, improved weight distribution, and an enlarged touchpad on the right temple. The upgraded glasses boast the ability to record 1080p HD video and capture 12-megapixel still images. Additionally, they feature louder speakers, and according to the company, an extra microphone incorporated into the nose bridge of the frames enhances voice audio clarity.
Furthermore, the integrated microphones and speakers enable users to interact with a newly unveiled AI-powered chatbot assistant, which Meta debuted at the Connect event. Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the pivotal role of AI-driven conversational interactions in the adoption of such products, stating during his keynote, “I think the AI part of this is going to be just as important in smart glasses being adopted as the augmented reality features.”
Ahead of Meta Connect, during a press event, the company revealed that the size of the LED light indicating recording status on the glasses has been doubled. Li-Chen Miller, Vice President of Product for Meta’s smart glasses and AI divisions, expressed enthusiasm about this update, saying, “We’ve had users tell us that they love the glasses, but they want people to know that they are smart glasses.” She emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency, although some observations suggest the enlarged LED light might not be significantly more noticeable.
The release of the new smart glasses is scheduled for October 17, with pricing starting at $299 for regular lenses, $379 for transition lenses, and potentially higher for prescription lenses.
A team from Wired.com had the opportunity to briefly test the transparent Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses ahead of their release. They sat comfortably on their face and could easily pass for regular glasses, which could be seen as either a positive or a negative. The glasses connect wirelessly to a Meta app named Meta View, where captured photos and videos are transmitted. Utilizing voice commands, they were able to take photos and videos and share them on Meta apps like Instagram and Messenger. They even made a call to a Meta employee via WhatsApp, although he remained tight-lipped about Meta’s confidential information. Meta is emphasizing the suitability of the glasses for sports activities due to their enhanced water resistance, though they haven’t had the chance to verify this feature.
A notable update is the ability for wearers to livestream directly to Instagram from the glasses. However, this feature also necessitates the use of a smartphone to access the Instagram app, initiate the livestream, and switch viewpoints between selfie mode and the glasses’ perspective during the broadcast. The feature performed as expected during the demonstration, although their livestream was only accessible on an internal test app. In practical scenarios, users would be able to vocally interact with their audience.
Both of Meta’s newly unveiled hardware products, the Quest 3 and the Ray-Ban glasses, provide an enhanced glimpse into the real world. However, this “real world” view is still significantly intertwined with a plethora of Meta applications.