The democratization of virtual reality is something that many users have asked for since the technology made the leap to the market, since its price has always been the main obstacle to get into it. Meta has probably been the company that has invested the most in trying to achieve this goal, especially with Meta Quest 2, its most popular virtual reality headset to date.
Although many of us expected it to continue maintaining the competitive prices that we saw with said viewer stand alone, the truth is that with the launch of Meta Quest 3 the company has made a quantitative leap, both in price and product quality. The new glasses from the company led by Mark Zuckerberg have opted to offer a higher graphic quality, better ergonomics and a better system of trackingamong other things.
However, there are many users who wonder if it is worth making the jump from the Meta Quest 2 to the new model, or if, in the case of not having any virtual reality headset, if the best option is to go straight for the Meta Quest 3 or the previous generation model. In this article I am going to try to clear your doubtsdirectly comparing Meta Quest 3 versus Meta Quest 2highlighting the strong point of each of them.
|
Meta quest 3 |
meta quest 2 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
sOC |
Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 |
Snapdragon XR2 Gen1 |
|
RAM |
8GB |
6GB |
|
Glasses |
Pancake Type |
Fresnel type |
|
Screens |
Two LCDs |
Two LCDs |
|
resolution |
2064 × 2208 pixels per eye Infinite Display 4K+ technology with 25 PPD and 1218 PPI |
1832 × 1920 resolution in each eye 20 PPD |
|
POINT OF VIEW (fov) |
110º horizontal, 96º vertical |
97° horizontal, 93° vertical |
|
Refresh Rate (FPS) |
90 Hz and 120 Hz (experimental) |
60 Hz, 72 Hz and 90 Hz, although 120 Hz is experimental |
|
Cameras |
Two RGB cameras with 18 PPD for mixed reality Four cameras in total for tracking, with 91.79% of useful space |
Four cameras for tracking and mixed reality in black and white, with 89.61% of useful space |
|
Sound |
Integrated speakers with 3D spatial audio and stereo |
Integrated speakers with 3D positional audio |
|
Storage |
128GB / 512GB |
64GB/128GB/256GB |
|
IPD range |
From 58 mm to 71 mm |
58-68mm |
|
Control technology |
TruTouch variable haptics and rimless controls |
Touch controllers with ring |
|
weight |
515 grams |
503 grams |
|
Price |
From 549 euros |
From 249 euros |
Meta Quest 3 — Revolutionary Mixed Reality — Powerful Performance — Asgard's Wrath 2 Bundle
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Meta Quest 2 – Advanced Virtual Reality Glasses, All in One, 128 GB
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Power and technology
One of the main improvements that we can find in the Meta Quest 3 compared to the previous model is the power of its hardware. The company's new virtual reality glasses mount the Snapdragon XR2 Gen2, which offers twice the power of the previous model. In addition, the RAM memory has also undergone an improvement, and although it is only 2 GB more (we went from 6 GB to 8 GB), it will allow more tasks and processes to be executed.
Screen
Another of the big differences that exist between one generation and another of Meta glasses are the lenses they use. While the Meta Quest 2 opted for some fresnel lensthe Meta Quest 3 They opted for the Pancake technology. And what differences are there for practical purposes? Well, the new technology offers greater image sharpness and clarity, thanks to the elimination of the effect glare (glare caused by excessive brightness).
Besides, refresh rate improvement from the basic 60 Hz of the Meta Quest 2 to 90 Hz of the new headset. Of course, the former are also compatible with this rate, as well as with 120 Hz, something that the newer model also offers. The field of vision, aka FOVhas been another of the great improvements in Meta Quest 3, which favors the immersion of our games.
Cameras and controls
The system of tracking of the glasses has also improved considerably in the new generation of Meta. Although in this sense it offers the same number of cameras, the percentage of usable space increases slightly, from 89.61% to 91.79%. Although the real novelty in this sense is the presence of two RGB cameras to offer a color passthroughdesigned to promote the use of mixed reality.
The controls of the Meta Quest 3 have received a total redesign, leaving aside the use of rings, which until now were used to improve the tracking Of the device. However, the new models allow it to be done through other means, which will serve to avoid bumps and maintain the integrity of the device. In addition, a haptic vibration similar to that of the PS5 DualSense has been incorporated.
Storage and video games
As with desktop consoles such as Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, the new generation of virtual reality from Meta has also arrived with a storage improvement. In this case we will have two models, 128 and 512 GBcompared to the three models of 64, 128 and 256 GB of the Meta Quest 2. Logically, this will allow us to have a greater number of games and programs installed simultaneously, one of the main problems of the previous generation.
And speaking of games, currently all Meta Quest 2 games are compatible with Meta Quest 3, and vice versa. However, some exclusive games for the new headset have already been announced, such as the new installment of the Batman Arkham saga, and it is logical to expect that it will be something that happens more regularly soon.
Why choose the Meta Quest 3
The new virtual reality viewer from Meta starts at a price of 549.00 euros for its 128 GB model, and there are a large number of reasons to opt for this instead of the previous generation.
- Power and technologies. The new Meta Quest 3 incorporates a new generation processor and technologies that make it much more powerful, which in the immediate future will translate into exclusive games.
- Screen and cameras. The jump to Pancake viewers represents a considerable improvement in image quality, in addition to having a higher base refresh rate. In addition, the viewer offers a better system of tracking and a much more advanced passthrough.
- Storage. One of the main weaknesses of the early Meta Quest 2 models was their lack of space. With this viewer we will not have this problem even with the cheapest model.
Meta Quest 3 — Revolutionary Mixed Reality — Powerful Performance — Asgard's Wrath 2 Bundle
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
Why choose the Meta Quest 2
Currently, the Meta Quest 2 starts at a price of 249 euros, which can make them a really attractive product, especially considering that it is a device stand alone. The main reasons to opt for it are the following:
- Price. The notable price difference is the main reason for choosing this model. For half the money, we can enjoy this technology, and squeeze it out until we are convinced that we want to continue betting on it.
- Perfect for PC. Although the exclusive developments of Meta Quest 3 will arrive soon, this model is perfect for use through a Gaming PC, to take advantage of them when you stop receiving news in the Meta store.
- Updates. Despite having been behind them for several years, the Meta Quest 2 continue to receive updates that improve the performance of the glasses.
Meta Quest 2 – Advanced Virtual Reality Glasses, All in One, 128 GB
*Some prices may have changed since the last review
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Images | Azwedo L.LC on Unsplash, Meta
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