we knew that Facebook’s mother company meta was working on a new high-end VR/AR headset, but a few new reports reveal both the name – Meta Quest Pro – and more about what to expect.
The broad specifications for the combined virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headset seems close to what has been reported for the upcoming Apple headset…
Facebook virtual reality headsets
Facebook launched its first virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift, in 2016. This was a mid-priced device, at $600, and had to be tethered to a PC. It was followed by an updated version, the Rift S.
VR got a lot easier and cheaper with the launch of the Oculus Go by Facebook in 2018, with prices starting at $199. This fully self-contained unit sold over two million units in its first year or so and was discontinued in 2020.
The Go evolved into the Oculus Quest, another standalone VR headset, although a later software update made it compatible with Rift games in tethered mode. Prices for this and the subsequent Quest 2 ranged from $299 to $499.
Late last year, Meta announced that it is working on a new high-end headset codenamed Cambria. Developer Steve Moser has now found a reference to: the name of the product in the iOS app.
The code string indicating the product’s name, which was found by developer Steve Moser and shared with Bloomberg News, refers to pairing the device with a controller. The code reads: “Pair Meta Quest Pro right controller.”
The Bloomberg The report makes the Quest Pro look broadly similar to what we’ve heard so far about the upcoming Apple Headset.
The new Meta headset will have much better graphics processing and power compared to the regular Meta Quest headset. It will also include high-resolution external cameras to simulate AR in color, eye-tracking, more storage space, new controllers and high-resolution displays for virtual reality […]
It will cost more than $1,000, according to a person with knowledge of the case who asked not to be identified because the details are not yet public.
Apple Headset Agreements
The Apple Headset team was reported to have demonstrated the device to the company’s board of directors, implying that it has reached an advanced stage of development.
[The report] said Apple has been working on augmented reality versions of the main iPhone apps for use on the headset, as well as new apps “that can handle tasks like streaming immersive content and holding virtual meetings.”
The first version of the headset is expected to be a relatively bulky and expensive device, with high-resolution screens, a powerful chip and advanced sensors. Some previous reports have put the headset at a price well above $1000. It may be primarily aimed at enthusiasts and the developer community.
This suggests that the two headsets will have a lot in common:
- Standalone device
- High resolution images
- External cameras
- Mix of virtual reality and augmented reality
- Four digit price tag
However, the price is a potential difference. Some Apple Headset reports have suggested it would be “well above $1,000”, and the price is estimated at $3,000.
However, the price is probably a significant difference. While Meta is likely aiming as close to $1,000 as possible, the Apple Headset will reportedly be priced “well above $1,000,” with some suggesting as much as $3,000. It is believed that Meta is selling its headsets at cost or even at a loss in an effort to monetize app sales — something Apple would never do.
Meta can beat Apple in the market. The company has said the launch will be this year, with October a likely guess, based on previous headset launches. The Apple Headset is not expected see you early next year† maybe in Q2 following a potential announcement in January†
The VR headset is already experiencing strong growth, but the upcoming Apple and Meta headsets are expected to give the market a turbo boost. Some have suggested that Meta .’s strategy is not sustainable†
Image: Pxhere
FTC: We use auto affiliate links that generate revenue. More.
