The Meta Quest 3 has been available for about three months now. This review explores its capabilities for both work and play, highlighting its strengths and areas needing improvement. This review is based on the basic model.
Setup and Spatial Awareness
LiDAR Scanning and Room Mapping
The Quest 3 utilizes a LiDAR scanner, allowing users to scan their environment simply by looking around. This is a very cool feature, but there are some drawbacks. Currently, the device struggles when moving between different spaces, such as different rooms in a house, as it cannot remember the scanned environments.
Cloud-Based Room Scan Updates
An upcoming update promises to address this limitation by uploading room scans to the cloud. This will enable the Quest 3 to recognize the user's location and download the corresponding room scan, eliminating the need to rescan when moving between frequently used locations like home and the studio.
Productivity and Virtual Workspaces
Virtual Screens and Color Pass-through
The Quest 3 offers the ability to create virtual screens for work. Users can have one, two, or even three screens. The color pass-through has improved significantly, providing a near-accurate representation of the surrounding environment. However, reading text on real-world screens, particularly on mobile phones, remains challenging.
Mixed Reality Functionality
The pass-through mode allows users to easily interact with their physical surroundings while wearing the headset. Walking around the house, making a drink, or performing other simple tasks is possible, though the view may be slightly warped. The virtual screens remain anchored in their positions even while moving around. Hand tracking capabilities are now available, but can be buggy at times.
Key Improvements and Persistent Issues
Enhanced Image Quality and Spatial Awareness
Compared to previous Quest models, the Quest 3 boasts significantly improved image quality and clarity. The device's spatial awareness allows users to position virtual windows realistically.
Hand Tracking Problems
Despite advancements, hand tracking remains a major weakness. The device frequently loses track of hands, even with deliberate movements. This can be frustrating, especially when interacting with virtual elements.
Physical Fatigue
Prolonged use can lead to fatigue due to the headset's weight. Upgrading to the elite strap or a third-party alternative is recommended for extended wear.
Productivity Apps: Meta's App vs. Immersed
Meta's Virtual Office
Meta's own app allows users to create a virtual office with one to three screens and allows you to tap the side of the headset to change from being in 100% virtual reality to a mixed reality environment. The virtual screen quality is generally good, with clear and readable text. The app also supports virtual meetings with spatial audio and a shared whiteboard. Users without a Quest headset can join via video link while still benefiting from spatial audio.
Immersed: The Virtual Starbucks
Immersed offers a more social virtual working experience. Users can create screens of any size and resolution and join public virtual spaces, fostering a sense of community. This can be a good solution for those who are used to working with others in real life.
Immersed Drawbacks
However, Immersed's screen quality may not be as good as Meta's app, although it offers more customization options. The app also suffers from the same hand-tracking issues.
Gaming and Entertainment
Xbox Cloud Gaming on Quest 3
Xbox's wireless cloud gaming is available on the Quest 3, providing access to a large virtual screen for gaming. While the experience can be immersive, the graphics are limited to around 1080p and there is noticeable input lag.
Virtual Screen Size Options
The Quest 3 offers various virtual screen sizes, ranging from 77 inches to an impressive 134 inches. However, the graphics quality and input lag can detract from the experience, especially in fast-paced games.
Controller Recommendations
Due to the potential for accidental controller drops, hand straps are highly recommended.
Content Consumption
Watching movies and other content on the Quest 3 is generally a positive experience, with good picture and audio quality. However, wearing the headset while doing chores or interacting with others can be awkward.
Apple Vision Pro: A Glimpse into the Future?
The upcoming Apple Vision Pro has generated significant excitement due to Apple's history of refining existing technologies. Its approach to external display is different, and it remains to be seen what it will look like in reality.
Half-Life Alyx: A VR Masterpiece
Playing Half-Life Alyx on the Quest 3 via Steam Link is an incredible experience. The game's immersive graphics and sound design create a truly terrifying and exciting VR experience.
Areas for Improvement
Size, Weight, and Pass-through Clarity
The headset's size and weight remain significant drawbacks, limiting its comfort for extended use. The pass-through image clarity needs further improvement, particularly for reading text up close.
Battery Life
Battery life is also a concern, with the headset typically lasting only about an hour of use. An extended battery or head strap with integrated battery is recommended.