Meta has been the industry leader in XR hardware since it broke through the adoption barrier with Quest 2, introducing a whole new epoch of computing to millions. This year, Meta moves the category forward with the introduction of Quest 3, improving comfort, resolution, tracking, compute, and content all in a package 40% slimmer and more compact than any Quest before it. Twice the power and nearly half the size, Quest 3 is so much more than a spec bump. With the introduction of new sensors that capture your external environment, Quest 3 unlocks a whole new world of Mixed Reality (MR) applications that provide deeper, richer, and more engaging experiences.

When the Virtual Becomes Real.

We know we've succeeded when someone wearing our technology is so engaged in the experience they forget they are wearing our technology. This is the moment when virtual becomes real. In order to achieve this feeling of engagement and immersion, designers of VR technology need to work on eliminating the things that get in the way.

One aspect of this is eliminating bulk, and this is an area where our Quest 3 controllers are a strong step forward. They fit in the hand comfortably, and by doing so they avoid collisions and interruptions of flow.

Another aspect is developing the contour and comfort of areas that contact and conform to the body. The facial interface has been redesigned with an improved profile and upgraded fabric material to improve comfort, coolness and sweat performance. We added eye relief adjustment (the ability to adjust the distance of the eyecups to the face) into the facial interface itself - ensuring that a good fit is always right there, with no need to find adapters.

We improved our in-box strap to provide improved stability and accommodation for long hair and ponytails. It snaps on via a modular system that supports an extensive 1p and 3p accessory ecosystem providing enhancements to user comfort, device charging and personalization thru color options.

And, of course, we developed our smallest headset yet. No small feat, but a crucial step in advancing the category to be more wearable and versatile.

Introducing Mixed Reality

Quest 3 is the world's first Mixed Reality-capable headset priced for the mainstream consumer. Mixed Reality enables rich, digital interactions to be combined and overlaid with real analog environments to create entirely new experiences. We deliver this by introducing a powerful combination of sensors and software. First, full color cameras are introduced on the front of the headset - skillfully crafted and calibrated to serve as the user's eyes and deliver 3D depth perception of the real world environment. Second, a sophisticated combination of 3D sensors allow the headset to track and map the user's environment, enabling real time overlay of digital elements. Third, utilizing over 50,000 models and simulations, we've trained our system to recognize objects, hands and gestures to deepen interactions and create magical moments where the digital and physical world combine.

Advanced Yet Affordable.

The enhanced resolution of Quest 3 delivers the best experience ever of exclusive content you can only get from the Quest Marketplace. Utilizing the optical design from Quest Pro, Quest 3 enables big gains in form factor and weight, resulting in a headset that is 40% slimmer than its predecessor while being noticeably more comfortable as well. Our controllers have also benefited from a size and weight reduction as we now utilize machine learning and onboard processing on the headset to eliminate the need for bulky tracking loops. The result is one of the most ambitious and capable VR/MR products on the market at a fraction of the price of our competitors.

Made to Move.

As a wearable system, mobility and design for movement is a crucial aspect of the technology. When we cut the cord with Quest in 2019, it ushered in a new era for VR. Untethered movement wasn't just a game changer, it was a life changer for people who discovered Quest as a great way to exercise and improve their health. Now, VR fitness is a growing industry with vibrant communities, filled with inspiring testimonials from people about how movement in VR has made real change for their physical and mental health. We recognize that Quest isn't just another computing device, it's an entirely new way to think about things. Quest 3 was designed with weight, comfort and stability in mind to provide a fit that could be stable without being too tight, that could be worked out in without getting too hot and fogging the lenses, worn with hair tucked out of the way (thanks to our new Y-strap design), and wiped of sweat afterwards.

Connecting People

Meta's vision is ultimately about connecting people. This is an area of exciting growth for Quest as Horizon Worlds expands its user base while hosting music and sports events at Horizon Venues and introducing exciting new games like Super Rumble to the platform. It was a big year for embodiment in VR, as Meta upgraded avatars to have legs and feet - starting to complete the picture and open new doors for expression.

The Embodied Internet

Since the introduction of VR decades ago, people have dreamed about its potential. The internet, as we know it today, is largely a 2D experience playing out on the surfaces of our computer screens and smartphones. And yet, despite its limitations, this 2D technology has evolved to have a complex influence on how we connect, do our work and engage in commerce. We are beginning to see that the internet of the future will be 3 dimensional, capable of enhancing our physical world (through MR and AR experiences) or transporting us into entirely new spatial environments (through VR, immersive experiences). Quest 3 is a strong step toward this future, engaging the senses like never before, setting the stage for Mixed Reality applications in the Quest ecosystem and bringing embodiment to the next level to help people express themselves in entirely new ways.