It appears likely that a Meta Quest 3 Lite, or at least a less expensive Quest 3, will release. Even if the Meta Quest 3 is among the most well-liked headsets for both consumers and corporate users, Meta appears eager to grow its market share.
The Quest 3 is, in my opinion, one of the best-looking, most reasonably priced mixed reality headsets available. It is significantly less expensive than the rival Apple Vision Pro. Still, some newcomers to the XR market may find the $500 price tag to be prohibitively expensive. For this reason, Meta appears to be considering other options.
The top XR manufacturer has not yet made any formal announcements regarding a future, less expensive Quest 3 model. But a lot of leaks and speculations indicate that something is most likely in the works. I’ve gathered all the rumors and news I can locate to provide you with an in-depth summary of all the information at our disposal.
Is a Meta Quest 3 Lite Coming?
Prominent manufacturers such as Apple and Meta aren’t always transparent about what they plan to release. The Apple Vision Pro was the subject of months of speculation before it was officially revealed. Likewise, we are forced to conjecture once more over Meta’s possible “Quest 3 Lite.”
The majority of analysts concur that Meta is most likely working on something more affordable even in the absence of any formal declarations or comments.
The Vice President for VR stated at an internal meeting that was leaked from Meta that a more “accessible headset” would be available by 2024, according to information obtained by The Verge. In other places, images and design concepts for two other, less expensive iterations of the Meta Quest headgear have been released by tech enthusiasts. The Quest 3S and the Meta Quest 3 Lite.
Furthermore, the price of Meta Quest 2 has been steadily declining, which can mean that Meta and its partner shops are attempting to get rid of extra inventory before a replacement product is released.
The price and release date of Meta Quest 3 Lite
It is impossible to predict when Meta will issue a less expensive edition of the Meta Quest 3. If the previously mentioned leaked meeting notes are any indication, the solution might be revealed this year.
This year, Meta may unveil the headset at its Meta Quest Gaming Showcase. Meta often announces new hardware in October, just in time for the holidays.
Again, we’re left to conjecture about the price. It’s likely that the device will cost about the same as a last-generation headset, based on reports and prior hardware launches. It will cost less than the Quest 3, but given the additional capabilities, it might cost a little more than the Quest 2. This would imply a price of between $299 and $399.
The Lite Headset’s design: How Will It Look?
Although we haven’t seen much information about the Meta Quest 3 Lite, even from industry analysts, many emerging leaks have focused on the headset’s potential design. The most significant factor that most leaks draw attention to is that the Lite headset will likely use the Fresnel lens system of Quest 2 rather than the pancake lenses of Quest 3.
Fresnel lenses are far less expensive, which makes it easier for Meta to lower the price of their “affordable” device; but, the headset might become a little thicker as a result. “Front-facing cameras” in presentation photos that were obtained on social media are marginally bigger than those on the Quest 2.
Given their different designs, it’s possible that the Quest 3 Lite’s cameras are superior to those of the Quest 2, which would explain the choice to keep full-color passthrough in the less expensive headset. The Director of Engineering for XR tech at Meta has stated that he is confident passthrough and mixed reality would be standard on future headsets, while there is no guarantee this functionality will materialize.
In an Instagram AMA, Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, added that mixed reality features will remain “the same” throughout headset generations.
Nevertheless, it’s likely that depth monitoring and other more sophisticated MR functions won’t be available with the headgear. The specifications are probably not very extensive. However, we should anticipate a certain type of “mixed reality headset,” like the Quest 2 and Quest 3 in terms of appearance and design.
Meta Quest 3 Light: The Possible Specifications
Although our understanding of the Meta Quest 3’s possible specifications is limited, researchers have gained some insight from a leaked Zoom presentation that shows off a “Meta Quest 3S.” The leaked photos show that the Quest 3 will have a slightly higher display resolution (1832 x 1920) than the Lite version of the headset. This indicates that it will line up with the Quest 2’s display.
Additionally, it is expected that the Quest 3 will have up to 512 GB of storage, while the Lite will only have up to 256 GB. The chipset of the gadget is one specific specification that is still pending confirmation. According to some analysts, the Quest 3 Lite will use the Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. This could indicate that, despite its cost-cutting measures, Meta is still eager to provide users with the same internal features as the headset that comes with a higher price tag.
If the Meta Quest 3 Lite has similar mixed reality capabilities and the same chip as the Quest 3, it may have access to similar software (everything on the Quest store). If the specs are significantly worse, we might see Meta launching content on the Quest store exclusive to the Quest 3 and higher-tier devices. Interestingly, some analysts believe the Meta Quest 3 Lite will come without controllers to lower the price point. Although Meta has improved the hand tracking capabilities over the years, a lack of controllers may still be a problem, depending on the Quest 3 Lite’s mixed reality functionality.
The Cheaper Quest 3: Our Expectations
Everyone is currently confused by the absence of official information regarding the Meta Quest 3 Lite. It’s hard to know what to expect when all we have to go on is rumors. In order to provide a genuinely beneficial alternative, Meta would need to maintain the Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and premium specifications.
If not, it would just be a copy of Quest 2. The business will need to come up with alternate strategies to enhance the user experience if it decides to forgo pancake lenses in favor of Fresnel lenses and lower resolution. This might entail keeping features like Quest 3’s full-color passthrough.
Additionally, if the corporation decides to take controllers out of the Quest 3 Lite bundle, we’ll need sophisticated hand-tracking features.
With its reasonably priced headset, I’m also hopeful Meta will solve some of the Meta Quest 2’s comfort difficulties. The heavy head strap and lack of IPD adjustment options plagued the Quest 2. With increased weight, comfort, and customization options, Meta’s Lite headset could appeal to a wider user base.
