It is been two years now since CTO John Carmack just lately advised a Meta Attach target audience about his imaginative and prescient for a high-end VR headset that got here in at $250 and 250 grams. “We are not making headphones these days, however I am making an attempt,” Carmack stated angrily on the time. At 1/2 the cost of the equation, the just lately launched Quest 3S headset is set to reside as much as Carmack’s hopes and goals. The brand new $299 Meta headset is a vital drop from the $499 Quest 3 and the most affordable value for a Meta VR headset for the reason that corporate raised the cost of the getting older Quest 2 to $400 in the summertime of 2022. In the event you depend a couple of years. factoring in inflation, the Quest 3S is with reference to the $250 mark Carmack sees.
A brand new button at the backside of the Quest 3S lets you skip any time. Credit score: Kyle Orland A brand new button at the backside of the Quest 3S lets you skip any time. Credit score: Kyle Orland Sadly, the Meta nonetheless has to handle the “250 grams” a part of Carmack’s imaginative and prescient. The 514g Quest 3S feels simply as in-your-face because the 515g Quest 3, and each are nonetheless a ways from the “lightest consoles” Carmack envisions. Upload in all of the compromises Meta made to get the Quest 3S to this kind of low value, and you have got an reasonably priced, half-assed headset that we will suggest to critical VR consumers. Meta Quest 2 Plus iFixit’s contemporary teardown of the Quest 3S presentations that this new headset is extra than simply a religious successor to the inexpensive and extra in style Quest 2. In reality, iFixit discovered that the Quest 3S optical stack makes use of the similar elements because the Quest. 2, right down to LCD panels and fresnel lenses.
Fresnel glass housing at the Meta Quest 3S. Kyle Orland The fresnel lens housing at the Meta Quest 3S. Kyle Orlando
Pancake lens housing on Meta Quest 3. Kyle Orland Pancake lens housing on Meta Quest 3. Kyle Orland Fresnel lens housing on Meta Quest 3S. Kyle Orland Pancake lens housing on Meta Quest 3. Kyle Orland In 2020, the solution of 1832 × 1920 in keeping with eye equipped through the visual stack represented a vital improve from what got here earlier than, particularly at an excessively low value. As of late, the newest era provides an immediate comparability with the 2604 × 2208 in keeping with eye on closing yr’s Quest 3. from 25 pixels in keeping with level to only 20.
