Facebook parent company Meta released a new virtual reality (VR) headset Meta Quest Pro, priced at $1,500 (about 10,710 yuan), and will start shipping on October 25.
The Meta Quest Pro is still part of the Quest VR family but features a new processor and screen, a vastly redesigned body and controllers, built-in cameras for eye and face tracking, and color video feeds for mixed reality applications.
The new helmet costs $1,100 more than the Meta Quest 2, which will continue to be sold by Meta. The Quest 2's user base likes fitness, gaming, and other recreational activities, while the Quest Pro is aimed at businesses and professionals who can afford higher prices.
Quest Pro is actually a redesigned Quest 2, but with extra features. It uses a thinner lens, which makes it 40% thinner than the Quest 2.
The Quest Pro also features the XR2 Plus, a mobile Snapdragon chip co-developed by Meta and Qualcomm, which helps the device generate more advanced graphics. According to Meta, the XR2 Plus has 50 percent better performance than the XR2 on the Quest 2.
The Meta Quest Pro also has improved touch controllers that include embedded sensors for better hand tracking and new lenses that improve the reading experience.
The Quest Pro's motion controllers have also been completely overhauled. Meta's old helmet tracked the controller with an LED ring on the top, while the new controller has a camera installed. This makes them smaller and less weird looking. The Meta replaces the controller's AA batteries with built-in batteries that can be charged at the base along with the helmet.
The new headset includes a number of mixed-reality features that blend elements of the virtual world with real-world elements. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has touted it as an important feature in creating a "metaverse," the digital world that people can access through VR and AR (augmented reality) devices.
The Quest Pro is basically an upgraded version of the Quest 2, but it has one major shortcoming, namely the drop in battery life from two to three hours of the Quest 2 to one to two hours. The rechargeable controller should last longer than the helmet, but it still won't last like the Quest 2's AA batteries for weeks.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also attended Meta's online launch event and discussed partnerships with the company, including bringing Microsoft's productivity collaboration apps to the Quest VR device.
People can access some Microsoft apps through Quest devices, such as the team chat app Team, the Microsoft 365 office software suite, and the Xbox cloud gaming service. "You can play 2D games with an Xbox controller on the Quest's big screen," Nadella said. "While it's early days, we're excited about what's coming."
At Tuesday's event, Zuckerberg also hinted that Apple is Meta's main competitor in VR and AR. Meta's competitors focus on tight control over VR platforms, locking consumers into specific operating systems, he said.
Zuckerberg explained: "In every generation of computing, there is an open ecosystem and a closed ecosystem, first Windows and Mac, then Android and iOS. Closed ecosystems focus on tight control and integration. , to create unique experiences and lock in users. However, over time, most of the value ends up going to platforms like this.”
Apple has yet to release a VR headset and has never publicly confirmed that it is working on a similar device, but analysts and media reports say the company is preparing to release a VR device capable of streaming video from an external camera to an internal HD in real-time On-screen, this is the same main function as the Quest Pro.
Meta shares were down about 4.5% at $127.85 a share in midday trading on Tuesday, in a sign that investors appeared to have a rather muted reaction to the new VR headset.
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