Meta Quest Pro

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Meta Quest Pro
Mixed reality technology shown thirty years apart (cropped).jpg
Man wearing a Meta Quest Pro and holding its controllers
Developer Reality Labs
Type Virtual reality headset
Release dateOctober 25, 2022
Lifespan2022-present
Introductory price US$1,499.99 [1]
Operating system Meta Horizon OS
System on a chip Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 [1]
Memory12 GB LPDDR5 [1]
Storage256 GB [1]
Display2x MiniLED LCD w/ Quantum Dot layer + >500 zone FALD, 1800 x 1920 per eye @ 72 - 90 Hz [1] [2]
Graphics Adreno 650 @ 587 MHz (Up to 902 GFLOPS FP32) [3] [4] [5]
Controller input Touch Pro [1]
Connectivity Wi-Fi 6E
Online servicesMeta Quest Store
Mass722 g (25.5 oz) [1]
Website Official website

The Meta Quest Pro is a mixed reality (MR) headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms.

Contents

Unveiled on October 11, 2022, it is a high-end headset designed for mixed reality and virtual reality applications, targeting business and enthusiast users. It is differentiated from the Quest 2 by a thinner form factor leveraging pancake lenses, high resolution cameras for MR, integrated face and eye tracking, and updated controllers with on-board motion tracking.

The Quest Pro received mixed reviews, with critics praising its display and controllers, but criticizing its mixed reality cameras for having a grainy appearance and limited usefulness in its software at launch, and for its high price.

Development

Prior to Facebook Connect in October 2021 (during which Facebook, Inc. announced its rebranding as "Meta" to emphasize its development of "metaverse"-related technologies), [6] [7] CEO Mark Zuckerberg and CTO Andrew Bosworth posted photos of themselves testing prototype headsets, which they stated to have "Retina resolution" displays (alluding to the Apple Inc. trademark for high-resolution displays), [8] while leaked demo videos and references to an "Oculus Pro" headset were also discovered on the Oculus website and unreleased system software. [9] During the event, Zuckerberg officially announced that the company was developing a headset codenamed "Project Cambria" as part of the Oculus Quest line of products, which would be a high-end product aimed at mixed reality applications, and feature a slimmer design, high-resolution color passthrough cameras, infrared depth sensors, and eye tracking. [10] [11]

The product was officially revealed as Meta Quest Pro during Connect in October 2022 for a release on October 25; [12] Zuckerberg told the media that the Quest Pro would target "people who just want the highest-end VR device – enthusiast, prosumer folks – or people who are trying to get work done", [12] and would be sold in parallel with the Quest 2 (which is aimed primarily at the consumer market). [13] Bosworth stated that the Quest Pro would "take existing experiences that people are having today in VR and make them better." [12] The planned depth sensor was dropped from the final hardware due to cost and weight concerns. [14] [11]

Specifications

Hardware

The Quest Pro more closely resembles AR headsets such as Microsoft's HoloLens rather than other VR headsets, with a thinner lens enclosure, and a more visor-like form factor that does not obscure the entirety of the user's peripheral vision; "peripheral blinders" are included as an accessory, with a "full light blocker" attachment sold separately. [15] [16] The lenses can be adjusted for interpupillary distance, and moved forwards and backwards. [12] It uses LCD quantum dot displays with a per-eye resolution of 1800×1920, viewed through pancake lenses that allow for its enclosure to be 40% thinner in comparison to the Quest 2. Meta stated that the displays supported a wider color gamut than the Quest 2, and had improved contrast via "local dimming". [15] [16] The Quest Pro's battery is built into the back of its head strap for better weight distribution; Meta rated it as lasting 1 to 2 hours on a single charge. [15] [12]

For its mixed reality functions, the Quest Pro uses high-resolution color cameras, as opposed to the lower-resolution, grayscale cameras on the Quest. [15] The headset also contains internal sensors that are used for eye and face tracking, primarily for use with avatars. [15] [12] The Quest Pro uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ system-on-chip with 12 GB of RAM, which Meta stated had "50% more power" than the Quest 2's Snapdragon XR. [15] [12]

The Quest Pro uses Touch Pro controllers, a significant update to the Oculus Touch controllers used by prior Quest and Rift products. They have a more compact design with upgraded haptics, and replace the infrared sensor ring (which were tracked by the headset's cameras) with on-board motion tracking using embedded cameras and Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processors. The controllers are also rechargeable via the headset's charging dock, have a new pressure sensor for pinch gestures, and have pressure-sensitive stylus tip accessories that can be attached to the bottoms of their handles for drawing and writing. The Quest Pro controllers are also sold separately as an accessory for Quest 2 and newer. [12] [15]

Software

The Quest Pro was demonstrated to the press with mixed reality versions of software such as Horizon Workrooms (which allows users to attend meetings, and control their computer remotely in VR with a virtual multi-monitor environment), the DJ software Tribe XR, and Painting VR. [15] [12]

Meta announced a partnership with Microsoft to integrate productivity services such as Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and Windows 365 with Meta Quest 2 and Pro, including allowing users to join Teams meetings via Horizon Workrooms, use Microsoft 365 applications, as well as support for management of Quest devices via Intune. [17]

In December 2023, Valve Corporation released Steam Link for Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Quest 3, with OSC support for facial and eye tracking on Quest Pro. [18]

Reception

The Quest Pro received mixed reviews. Ars Technica noted that its design felt less "claustrophobic" and "much more secure and better balanced than previous Quest headsets, especially during extended use", but noting that its narrow field of view was more apparent when using the headset without its light blinder accessories. Its display and lenses were described as being slightly sharper and having more legible text rendering than the Quest 2, making it better-suited for office tasks and using a remote desktop environment in Workrooms. The MR cameras were panned for being grainy and "fuzzy"-looking, while many of the MR features in apps at launch were deemed to be "novelties". It was also criticized for requiring manual room setup, rather than automatically mapping walls. In conclusion, it was felt that "at its current asking price, though, we can only recommend the Quest Pro to mid-level executives who have convinced their superiors to allocate a ridiculous, money-is-no-object budget to ill-defined metaverse projects out of nothing more than a deep sense of FOMO." [19]

Adi Robertson of The Verge described the device as "seemingly launched without plan or purpose, highlighting VR’s persistent drawbacks without making good use of its strengths — and topped off with some irredeemably bad software". The new controllers were praised for being more compact than the previous Oculus Touch design and offering a charging dock with rechargeable batteries (albeit having less battery life than the previous controllers, which used standard AA batteries). The Quest Pro was criticized for having a "uniquely tortuous" strap system that felt worse when using the headset for extended sessions (in comparison to the Quest 2 with its Elite Strap accessory), a "grainy"-looking display and "fuzzy" passthrough visuals that "doesn't look remotely like the real world", and "limited and idiosyncratic" face tracking. The Workrooms app was also criticized for being unreliable, especially for software that was promoted as being one of the key selling points of the Quest Pro. Robertson gave the Quest Pro a 2 out of 5, arguing that it "[offers] technically innovative features without doing a good job of showcasing them", and suggesting that mainstream users wait for an eventual Quest 3 that may incorporate hardware improvements from the Pro at a lower price point. [20]

Sales

In March 2023, Meta lowered the price of Quest Pro to US$1,000, amid reports of "underwhelming" sales. [21]

On July 19, 2023, The Information reported that Meta was in the process of discontinuing production of the Quest Pro, and had scrapped plans for a successor model. [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality</span> Computer-simulated experience

Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs 3D near-eye displays and pose tracking to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment, education and business. VR is one of the key technologies in the reality-virtuality continuum. As such, it is different from other digital visualization solutions, such as augmented virtuality and augmented reality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motion controller</span> Video game controller that tracks motions

In computing, a motion controller is a type of input device that uses accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, or other sensors to track motion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Rift</span> Virtual reality headsets by Oculus VR

Oculus Rift is a discontinued line of virtual reality headsets developed and manufactured by Oculus VR, a virtual reality company founded by Palmer Luckey that is widely credited with reviving the virtual reality industry. It was the first virtual reality headset to provide a realistic experience at an accessible price, utilizing novel technology to increase quality and reduce cost by orders of magnitude compared to earlier systems. The first headset in the line was the Oculus Rift DK1, released on March 28, 2013. The last was the Oculus Rift S, discontinued in April 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reality Labs</span> Virtual and augmented reality products company

Reality Labs, formerly Oculus VR, is a business and research unit of Meta Platforms that produces virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware and software, including virtual reality headsets such as the Quest, and online platforms such as Horizon Worlds. In June 2022, several artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives that were previously a part of Meta AI were transitioned to Reality Labs. This also includes Meta's fundamental AI Research laboratory FAIR which is now part of the Reality Labs - Research (RLR) division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samsung Gear VR</span> Virtual reality headset by Samsung

The Samsung Gear VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with Oculus VR, and manufactured by Samsung. The headset was released on August 21, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Mixed Reality</span> Mixed reality platform

Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) is a discontinued platform by Microsoft which provides augmented reality and virtual reality experiences with compatible head-mounted displays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HTC Vive</span> Virtual reality headset

HTC Vive is a line of virtual and mixed reality headsets produced by HTC Corporation. The brand currently encompasses headsets designed for use with personal computers as well as standalone headsets such as the Vive Focus line, Vive Flow glasses, and the Vive Elite XR mixed reality headset.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virtual reality headset</span> Head-mounted device that provides virtual reality for the wearer

A virtual reality headset is a head-mounted device that uses 3D near-eye displays and positional tracking to provide a virtual reality environment for the user. VR headsets are widely used with VR video games, but they are also used in other applications, including simulators and trainers. VR headsets typically include a stereoscopic display, stereo sound, and sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes for tracking the pose of the user's head to match the orientation of the virtual camera with the user's eye positions in the real world. AR headsets are similar to VR headsets, but AR headsets enable the user to see and interact with the outside world. Examples of AR headsets include the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Go</span> Untethered virtual reality headset by Oculus VR

The Oculus Go is a discontinued, standalone virtual reality headset developed by Meta Reality Labs in partnership with Qualcomm and Xiaomi. It is in the first generation of Facebook Technologies' virtual reality headsets, and the company's first device in the category of standalone VR headsets, which was a new category at the time of the Go's release. The Oculus Go was unveiled on October 11, 2017 during the Oculus Connect developer conference, and released on May 1, 2018. Xiaomi launched their own version of the headset in China as the Mi VR Standalone on May 31, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Quest</span> Virtual reality headset

The first-generation Oculus Quest is a discontinued virtual reality headset developed by Oculus, a brand of Facebook Inc., and released on May 21, 2019. Similar to its predecessor, Oculus Go, it is a standalone device, that can run games and software wirelessly under an Android-based operating system. It supports positional tracking with six degrees of freedom, using internal sensors and an array of cameras in the front of the headset rather than external sensors. The cameras are also used as part of the safety feature "Passthrough", which shows a view from the cameras when the user exits their designated boundary area known as "Guardian". A later software update added "Oculus Link", a feature that allows the Quest to be connected to a computer via USB, enabling use with Oculus Rift-compatible software and games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Rift S</span> Virtual reality head-mounted display

Oculus Rift S is a discontinued virtual reality headset co-developed by Lenovo Technologies and Oculus VR. Announced in March 2019 and released that May, it is a successor to the original Oculus Rift CV1 model, with noted changes including a new "inside-out" positional tracking system with cameras embedded inside the headset unit, a higher-resolution display, and a new "halo" head strap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oculus Rift CV1</span> Virtual reality headset by Oculus VR

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quest 2</span> Virtual reality headset

Quest 2 is a standalone virtual reality headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms. It was unveiled on September 16, 2020, and released on October 13, 2020 as the Oculus Quest 2. It was then rebranded as the Meta Quest 2 in 2022, as part of a company-wide phase-out of the Oculus brand following the rebranding of Facebook, Inc. as Meta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meta Quest</span> Line of virtual reality headsets

The Meta Quest, initially the Oculus Quest until 2022, is a line of virtual reality headsets with augmented reality capabilities developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms. The first-generation Oculus Quest was developed by Oculus and released on May 21, 2019. Since then, Facebook has released new Quest models and Quest OS updates. As of February 2023, over 20 million total Quest headsets have been sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meta Quest 3</span> Mixed reality headset

Meta Quest 3 is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms. It was unveiled on June 1, 2023, and released on October 10, succeeding the Quest 2 as the third generation of the Meta Quest line.

VIVE XR Elite is an extended reality (XR) headset developed and manufactured by HTC. Released in February 2023, the headset combines virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) functionalities.

Meta Horizon OS, previously known informally as Meta Quest Platform or Meta Quest OS, is an extended reality operating system for the Meta Quest line of devices released by Meta Platforms. Initially developed for the embedded operating system on the Oculus Rift and Oculus Rift S, the platform has been based on the Android operating system since the release of the Oculus Go in 2018. It first supported augmented reality via grayscale camera passthrough upon the release of the Oculus Quest in 2019, and has supported color passthrough since the release of the Meta Quest Pro in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meta Quest 3S</span> Mixed reality headset

Meta Quest 3S is a standalone virtual reality (VR) headset developed by Reality Labs, a division of Meta Platforms. It was unveiled on September 25, 2024, and released on October 15, 2024, as part of the third generation of the Meta Quest line, serving as a cheaper option for budget VR players.

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