Meta Reveals $299 Quest 3S VR Headset and Orion AR Glasses Prototype
Meta Platforms Inc. made a significant announcement during the Acquired LIVE event at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, presented the latest developments from the company’s Reality Labs division, including the unveiling of the Quest 3S virtual reality headset and a prototype of Orion AR glasses.
Quest 3S VR Headset:
The Quest 3S is Meta’s newest addition to its virtual reality headset lineup. Priced at $299, the Quest 3S is a more affordable option compared to its predecessor, the Quest 3, which retailed for $499. Set to go on sale on October 15, the Quest 3S offers a range of features, including the ability to watch movies, run VR fitness apps, and engage in gaming activities. Meta positioned the headset as a multitasking computer, directly competing with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which comes with a price tag of $3,499.
The Quest 3S boasts improved “passthrough” technology, allowing users to see real-time video feeds from the outside world within the headset. This feature enhances the user experience by enabling interaction with the surroundings while wearing the device. Additionally, the Quest 3S can run multiple apps simultaneously, providing a versatile computing experience for users.
Meta also announced a price reduction for the previous year’s Quest 3, bringing the cost of the 512GB version down to $499. The Quest 3 offers advanced lenses and a higher-resolution screen compared to the Quest 3S, catering to users looking for enhanced visual quality in their VR experiences. Furthermore, Meta revealed its decision to discontinue the Quest Pro and Quest 2 headsets, streamlining its product offerings in the VR space.
Orion AR Glasses Prototype:
In addition to the Quest 3S, Meta showcased its latest prototype of augmented reality smart glasses, named Orion. While the Orion glasses are not yet available for consumer purchase, they represent Meta’s progress towards developing lightweight, transparent AR glasses that overlay computer graphics and information onto the real world. The Orion prototype features a wireless connection to a small “puck” and utilizes neural signals picked up by a wristband component for controlling the glasses through brain commands.
Meta envisions the Orion glasses evolving into a consumer-ready AR product in the future, serving as the company’s initial foray into the AR glasses market. With functionalities like gaming, multitasking, and videoconferencing, the Orion glasses aim to revolutionize how users interact with digital content in the physical world.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses:
Meta’s collaboration with EssilorLuxottica has resulted in the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which incorporate a built-in camera and voice assistant capabilities. Priced at $299, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses offer unique features such as language translation, QR code scanning, and information extraction from images. The glasses have garnered over 730,000 sales within their first three quarters, signaling a positive reception from consumers.
Meta AI Enhancements:
Meta introduced enhancements to its Meta AI chatbot, enabling users to interact with it through voice commands in addition to text input. By incorporating computer-generated voices from celebrities like Awkwafina, Judi Dench, and John Cena, Meta aims to enhance the conversational experience with its AI chatbot. The new voice feature will be available for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger platforms.
The Meta AI chatbot, powered by the Llama 3.2 AI model, can now understand both images and text, improving its responsiveness to user queries and prompts. These advancements reflect Meta’s commitment to enhancing user engagement and interaction through AI technology.
Conclusion:
Meta’s unveiling of the Quest 3S VR headset and Orion AR glasses prototype signifies the company’s ongoing innovation in the virtual and augmented reality space. With a focus on affordability, functionality, and user experience, Meta continues to push the boundaries of immersive technology. As the industry evolves, Meta’s investments in hardware and software lay the groundwork for future advancements in VR and AR, ultimately shaping the way we perceive and interact with digital content in the physical world.
