Meta Connect took place this week and CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a lot of fantastic news to share with XR (Extended Reality) enthusiasts. For example, the Meta Quest 4 is now a reality.
Well…sort of. It’s not exactly called the Quest 4, and neither is it marketed as such, but it definitely serves as a spiritual — and much more capable — successor.
Say hello to the Meta VR Glasses
Like the Vision Pro, the Meta VR Glasses have a separate puck. | Image by Meta
Wait, doesn’t Meta already make glasses with Ray-Ban and Oakley? They do, but those aren’t fully capable of true VR yet. Even the Meta Ray-Ban Display, that’s literally the name, only has a very simple display for carrying out basic tasks.
So the name “Meta VR Glasses” must have been reserved for a big moment. This is that big moment. In fact, as Zuckerberg put it, this is finally a new breakthrough in VR technology.
Which headset would you rather have had Meta release?
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What is it, and is it really the Quest 4?
The Meta VR Glasses are not shaped like previous headsets from the company, but they’re not really a pair of glasses, either. This is a very, very lightweight headset — literally only about 100 grams, five times lighter than the Quest 3 — which is, as Meta puts it, a cinema, a computer, and a console.
Like the Apple Vision Pro, the Meta VR Glasses come with a separate puck that you can clip on to yourself. The puck handles computing, battery, and storage. Unfortunately, there was no major battery breakthrough and estimated screen-on time for “continuous high-resolution media playback” is only around three hours.
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On the productivity side, the Meta VR Glasses excel at providing you with anything you might need to speed up and improve your work. For starters, you have Meta’s AI agent Muse, which the company announced some time ago. Muse can handle multiple complicated instructions at once and takes proactive action like a real assistant.
The Meta VR Glasses can also display numerous virtual screens in 3D space and are capable of switching between a serious work environment and a round of Beat Saber in an instant with just a verbal command. You also get a projected keyboard on any surface, with the glasses reading your typing intelligently enough to allow you to write at impressive speeds.
The good and the bad
Work is going to feel so futuristic with these. | Image by Meta
Meta is working towards some fantastic ideas for the glasses. The company is partnering with multiple sports institutions to provide over a hundred live sporting events in VR each year, and you’ll have the best seats in the house.
You’ll also soon be able to watch select movies in the IMAX aspect ratio. Meta will also keep adding to a library of movies that you can buy or rent and even watch in 3D, just like if you were in a cinema.
One of the most impressive things that Meta showed off was its holograms. Using AI, the Meta VR Glasses are able to display a lifelike version of the person you’re in a call with. Said person will appear in your Mixed Reality world as if they were standing right there, complete with hand gestures and realistic facial expressions.
There are a number of other nice-to-haves as well, but the Meta VR Glasses aren’t perfect. For example, their form factor means that you will never be completely immersed in the virtual world.
Though VR games that run on Quest headsets are also supported here, you will always be aware of your real-world surroundings because, being that these are glasses, your peripheral vision will not be covered.
In addition, something that might be the biggest dealbreaker for people who want a headset for gaming is the fact that the glasses have a much narrower FOV (Field Of View). One user made a visual comparison that makes it very easy to visualize the difference between the Meta VR Glasses and the Quest 3.
The Meta VR Glasses have a very narrow field of view. | Image by Reddit
Fortunately, existing Meta Quest Touch Plus Controllers are supported. Meta is actually launching multiple titles with hands-only gameplay support, further emphasizing that this headset wouldn’t be the best choice for people who only care about having the most immersive VR gaming experience.
“VR gaming is alive and well on Meta VR Glasses”
That's not Boz in the room, that's a hologram in a call. | Image by Meta
Andrew “Boz” Bosworth of Meta said that VR gaming was alive and well on the Meta VR glasses. Considering the myriad of ways and the sheer number of games you can play on the glasses, I would generally agree with Boz.
But the lack of total isolation from the real world is, for me, a no-go. The Meta VR Glasses are fantastic for what they offer, and they’re truly a marvel of engineering, but I would stick with the Quest 3 if VR gaming is my main concern.
Though I did very much enjoy it when Zuckerberg called out the Apple Vision Pro by name and compared its weight with the Meta VR Glasses. Meta has made something spectacular (if you’re okay with the $1,300 price tag), I just hope that their commitment to privacy isn’t just for show this time around. Hundredth time’s a charm?
You can grab a headset when it launches in spring of next year.
Meta has been busy in the world of XR, but it hasn't all been good news:
On the Visible+ Pro plan, you get access to 5G Ultra Wideband data on Verizon's fastest network. Along with unlimited roaming across Mexico and Canada, 2 days of Global Pass per month, 3x hotspot speeds, 4K streaming, and Smartwatch service.
Abdullah loves smartphones, Virtual Reality, and audio gear. Though he covers a wide range of news his favorite is always when he gets to talk about the newest VR venture or when Apple sets the industry ablaze with another phenomenal release.
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