Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has released a new elevated mixed reality headgear called the Quest Pro. This represents a departure from more conventional forms of virtual worlds and a move toward a hybrid of V.R. and A.R.
The Quest Pro, unveiled at the Meta Connect 2022 event, aims to incorporate reality into the digital rather than isolate the user from it.
Unfortunately, it won't be cheap. The Quest Pro is one of the most costly VR/MR headgear at $1,499. Even though the HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit costs $1,399, this headset is still the most expensive in the mass market.
In contrast to enterprise-focused headsets like Microsoft's HoloLens 2, the Quest Pro's focus on consumers isn't entirely cosmetic.
Furthermore, current reports about Meta Quest 3 suggest that to appeal to the broadest potential audience, Meta Quest always strives to offer both a basic and a premium tier of the game. Due to the Quest Pro's compatibility with older systems, the Meta Quest 2 will not be phased out.
Virtual Reality Game Meta Quest Pro
The Quest Pro's primary draw is its pioneering role in mixed reality, which combines the immersive nature of V.R. with the more supplementary nature of A.R. pioneered by devices like Google Glass. This is made possible by the Quest Pro's "Full Color Mixed Reality," which uses external cameras to render a faithful representation of your physical surroundings on the headset's screen.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hinted at the headset's interactive virtual capabilities during Project Cambria's reveal (the Quest Pro's original name).
To paraphrase what Zuckerberg said, "Picture yourself working at your virtual desk with many screens while seeing your real desk so clearly that you can pick up a pen and write notes without putting your headset off." Or, "you're working out with a virtual teacher in the comfort of your own home."
Given these features, it seems likely to rival the anticipated Apple augmented-reality headgear, Apple Glasses, and the speculated Google augmented-reality headset.
On camera, Zuckerberg tested out the Quest Pro headgear. Although the headset was obscured, he demonstrated the passthrough system's ability to transpose vivid, colourful augmented reality pictures over the physical world.
What was The Release Schedule For Meta Quest Pro?
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and France are just a few of the 22 countries where you can order the Quest Pro from the Meta Store. In those four countries, you can also order the headset on Amazon.
Orders from the remaining 18 countries, including Australia, must be placed directly through Meta's website. Orders placed before October 25, 2022, will begin to be fulfilled.
Orders for the Quest Pro can be placed at Best Buy stores and on their website in the United States. In the U.K., orders will be accepted in-store and online at Argos and Curry's. You may order items from FNAC and Boulanger in France.
If Canadian buyers don't want to buy the device from Amazon or Meta's online shop, they can also buy it from Best Buy.
Price Of Metaquest Pro
In the United States, Quest Pro costs $1,499, whereas, in the United Kingdom, it costs £1,499. The European Union price is €1,799, about $2,371 in Australia. A 256GB model is the only one currently on sale.
The Quest Pro may be customized with a few different add-ons. Separately, you can pay $79 (£89), €99 (EUR), or roughly AU$124 for the Quest Pro Compact Charging Dock (all prices in U.S. dollars). Each Meta Quest USB-C headset and controller may be charged using this dock. The Quest Pro V.R. Earphones can be had for $49 (£49), €49 (€49), or approximately AU$77 (about £46), and they block out background noise and improve immersion. The two augmentations can be pre-ordered now and delivered to consumers on October 25.
The entire light blocker for the Quest Pro can be purchased separately at the same price (about $49, £49, €49, or AU$77). It's currently accepting pre-orders and will start shipping on November 22, 2022. As of now, we haven't heard anything concrete from Meta, but there is a possibility that the Quest Pro's mixed-reality capabilities will be compromised if you use the Full Light Blocker.
Quest Pro Specifications
There is a single Quest Pro available. The headset's Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Plus chipset is a step up over the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 seen in the Meta Quest 2. With improved thermal dissipation, the Quest Pro, as per Meta, will be significantly more potent and provide far higher performance.
The Quest Pro's additional hardware consists of 12 G.B. of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The virtual reality/augmented reality headgear features ten sensors dispersed throughout the device, including spatial audio.
Battery life is a major letdown with the Quest Pro. The Quest Pro's battery lasts only about two to three hours on a single charge. Though the improved technology may be to blame, this reduces the Meta Quest 2's battery life by a few hours. You may charge the Quest Pro in two hours with the help of the 45W rapid charging dock, or you can use the 6.5-foot (two-meter) charging cord to charge the headset while it is in use.
Quest Pro Design
Meta claims that the Quest Pro's sleek design and high-quality counter-balanced ergonomics make it an exceptional product. Aside from the marketing speak, the curved battery pack at the back of the Quest Pro appears to be a contributing factor to the headset's well-balanced design. The Quest Pro is 1.59 ounces (722 grams) heavier than the Quest 2 and the PICO 4; however, this could help compensate for the weight difference.
It's encouraging to see that Meta is making good use of the room she has aboard the Quest Pro. Wi-Fi 6E technology allows transmission of up to 1.6 Gbps over half the usual distance using tiny Wi-Fi antennae. Meta asserts that with these upgraded antennae, P.C. V.R. users can finally cut the cable.
Pancake Optics allows Meta to appreciate the cabin of the Quest Pro. Pancake optics, first seen on the PICO 4 headset, have been widely rumoured to debut in the next iteration of the Quest Pro. This technology is perfect for smartphones since it can display more information in the same space thanks to the display's thin layers. The Quest Pro's two shows offer a higher combined resolution of 3200 by 1920 pixels, although it only occupies 60% of the space a Meta Quest 2 would. The enhancements are not negligible, either; the resolution is 37% better per inch and 10% better per degree than in Quest 2.
While it's evident that Meta intended for the Quest Pro to be usable by many people, it's not a product for everyone. The Quest Pro may be designed with the office and teamwork in mind, but it will feel right at home in the hands of anyone who uses a headset for gaming, exercise, or leisure.
Until the rumoured Meta Quest 3 is out, hopefully, next year, the Quest 2 is the best gadget for you unless you have a pressing need for the Quest Pro's mixed reality features.