What’s Meta Quest?
It would sound like an uncommon query in a world the place the adoption of digital actuality and prolonged actuality options is exploding.
As of 2023, round 171 million persons are utilizing VR headsets worldwide. Most individuals have already heard of each “Meta”, the world-leading know-how firm, and the “Quest” line of VR headsets.
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless loads of individuals confused about what “Quest” really is. In any case, whereas Meta may be an enormous within the prolonged actuality panorama right now, it’s nonetheless a comparatively “new” model.
For those who’re confused in regards to the Quest product line, this entire information ought to reply all of the questions you could have.
What’s Meta Quest? The Fundamentals
Meta Quest is an prolonged actuality product line created by Meta Platforms, previously referred to as Fb Inc. In 2021, Fb was finest referred to as a social media large liable for options like Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
After some enterprise points, together with a handful of scandals, the CEO of Fb, Mark Zuckerberg, introduced an entire rebrand for the “Fb” firm. The brand new identify “Meta” was chosen to symbolize a brand new deal with immersive actuality and the “metaverse.”
Whereas lots of Fb’s properties retained their unique branding, the “Oculus” model, beforehand acquired by Fb in 2014, adopted the brand new identify.
The transition to the brand new branding paved the best way for Fb to dive deeper into the world of immersive applied sciences.
The primary “Meta Quest” headset launched in 2019, adopted by the much more highly effective Meta Quest 2 in 2020.
Is Meta Quest the Identical as Oculus Quest?
Oculus was initially based in 2012 by a bunch of impartial builders and {hardware} lovers. It was funded by a Kickstarter marketing campaign and quickly grew to lift $921 million throughout a number of funding rounds.
In 2014, Fb acquired Oculus for a large $2 billion. Initially, Oculus was recognized for headsets just like the Oculus Rift, adopted by the Oculus Go and Oculus Quest.
When the Fb model advanced into Meta, the Oculus “Quest” headsets turned the “Meta Quest” headsets. In 2020, the tech firm even launched a brand new “Actuality Labs” unit. Actuality Labs turned liable for the entire model’s VR and AR {hardware} and software program initiatives, from the brand new Quest gadgets to Horizon Worlds.
Now, the time period “Meta Quest” refers to an entire household of immersive headsets constructed to ship interactive “3D” experiences to varied customers.
The Product Assortment
Like many XR innovators, Meta has made a number of updates to its product portfolio lately. When the primary Quest was launched, world VR utilization was but to realize momentum. Oculus was among the many few leaders in a yet-to-mature market.
After unveiling its rebrand, Meta dedicated to turning into a pacesetter within the prolonged actuality and “metaverse” house. Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the varied merchandise which have appeared within the assortment through the years.
What’s the Meta Quest? The First Quest Headset
The primary Meta Quest headset, launched in 2019, was a rebranded model of the Oculus with the identical identify. On the time, it was probably the most thrilling consumer-ready VR headsets out there. It featured the identical performance the Oculus VR firm designed for his or her Quest assortment.
The preliminary headset addressed among the points Oculus had beforehand had with the “Oculus Go,” one of many first standalone VR headsets that didn’t require a tethered console or PC. Although the gadget was a pioneer, it had restricted positional monitoring and controller performance.
This led the Meta group to develop their model of the Quest, which launched in 2019 with six levels of freedom, positional monitoring, and intuitive hand controls. Sadly, this model of the Quest is not out there from Meta.
What’s Meta Quest 2?
In 2020, Meta launched their new model of Quest, which launched a large improve to the earlier VR headset. Although the Quest 2 shared the standalone design of the unique Quest, it featured a variety of recent parts, such because the Snapdragon XR2 platform for processing energy.
The Meta Quest 2 can deal with extra superior apps and video games and encompasses a a lot greater decision per eye than the earlier mannequin. It additionally consists of an possibility or the next refresh price, creating smoother, extra real looking digital experiences.
The Quest 2 even got here with passthroughough choices for security, superior hand monitoring, and strong built-in sensors.
What’s Meta Quest 3?
At present, the most recent model of the Meta Quest headset (on the time of writing), this new headset was unveiled by Actuality Labs in June 2023, and launched in October 2023. Although it seems to be just like the Quest 2, the Meta Quest 3 additionally encompasses a host of upgrades.
It comes with glossy, ergonomic controllers with out the monitoring rings used on earlier gadgets. It additionally comes with a 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye show, in comparison with the predecessor’s 1382 x 1920 pixel lenses. Meta up to date their single-element Fresnel lenses to pancake lenses, upgraded their refresh price, and up to date the Snapdragon XR2 processor to its “Gen 2” model.
Plus, in contrast to the Meta Quest 2, which solely permits black and white, the most recent model helps full-color passthrough for blended actuality. The tech firm is planning on upgrading the Quest 3 with extra options, corresponding to full physique monitoring.
What’s Meta Quest Professional?
The Meta Quest Professional is the model of Meta’s Quest headset particularly designed for enterprise customers. Just like the Quest 3, it options full-color passthroughough, pancake optics, and superior inward-facing cameras for eye, face, and hand monitoring.
The Quest Professional outperforms the Quest 2 headset with a 75% better coloration distinction expertise, TruTouch haptics for digital interactions, and new sensors, like an ambient mild sensor. Nonetheless, it’s not fairly as superior because the Quest 3 when it comes to show decision.
Nonetheless, Meta has mentioned each the Quest 2 and Quest Professional will obtain a large efficiency increase to assist align them with the Quest 3.
The Wider Ecosystem
The Meta Quest ecosystem doesn’t simply consist of assorted {hardware} choices. It additionally entails all of the apps and experiences created by the Actuality Labs group. The Meta Quest Apps lab is now residence to greater than 1,000 completely different purposes for gaming, collaboration, and extra.
The ecosystem additionally consists of the “Quest Developer Heart,” with entry to hubs, dashboards, and companion instruments that streamline the creation of the XR expertise. Meta even has its personal “Presence Platform” for builders involved in blended actuality.
Plus, builders can entry instruments like WebXR to create immersive content material for net, cell, and VR gadgets and PWA for 2D VR purposes.
What’s Subsequent? The Way forward for VR
Ever since Fb reworked into “Meta,” the Meta Quest ecosystem has advanced at an unbelievable price. Though the tech large has skilled points with its XR imaginative and prescient, shedding staff at Actuality Labs and lowering its deal with the metaverse, the Quest lineup continues to evolve.
Rumors recommend Meta plans to launch its first set of good glasses in 2025, alongside a smartwatch with a neural interface.
For now, insights into the longer term roadmap of the Quest ecosystem stay restricted. Though Meta has informed shoppers that it plans on upgrading its present gadgets with new software program and patches within the years forward, it’s troublesome to know what is going to come subsequent.
The long run may embody all the things from new headsets just like the “Quest 4” and “Quest 5” to new AR glasses and progressive software program options. Meta is already engaged on creating extra superior avatars for metaverse experiences and apps that can enable individuals to collaborate and talk extra successfully in prolonged actuality.
