The whole headset, though, is a hair heavier than its predecessor at 515 grams. The headband splits the top strap into two to better distribute weight. The hardware has been significantly updated, with a new headband strap and a slimmer headset shape. Apple's Vision Pro headset won't go on sale until next year, and costs significantly more than Meta's headsets, starting at $3,499.ĬNBC was able to try out the Quest 3 for about an hourlong demo ahead of its launch Wednesday that included game playing and being walked through a few programs that showed off the company's hardware. Its Quest 2 is by far the bestselling VR headset, with nearly 10 million units sold last year, slightly down from a pandemic peak, according to an industry estimate. So far Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has a head start. Many in the technology industry believe Apple's entrance could expand the total market and create new winners, similar to how the iPhone jump-started the smartphone market.

The release of Meta's latest VR headset comes as a battle looms with Apple in virtual reality.

Other improvements include 'pancake lenses,' a kind of optic first used on Meta's $1,499 Quest Pro that make images sharper and allows for higher resolution. When in an app on the Quest 3, double-tapping any part of the headset brings you out of a virtual world and into 'passthrough' mode. The defining feature of the Quest 3 headset is the ability to quickly see the world outside the headset, which will make the device less isolating and thus more comfortable to use for long periods. Preorders open on Wednesday and it ships on Oct. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower

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