See the new Meta VR headset teased ahead of October 11
Meta Connect conference will be the first time we see the VR headset in full
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: Meta Connect
🥽 Zuckerberg teased the new Meta Oculus Connect VR headset
🔦 I reduced the photo’s shadows to show more of the headset
📆 First look at the Meta Connect conference on October 11
📈 It’ll be more powerful and expensive vs the Oculus Quest 2
🤼 Rivals: Sony’s PSVR 2 & Apple’s rumored Reality One headsets
Mark Zuckerberg has teased Meta’s new Oculus VR headset at the same time the Facebook parent company announced its Meta Connect conference will take place next month. We’re finally going to see “Project Cambria” in action. We just have to get through the iPhone 14 release date and Google Pixel 7 launch event first.
Until then, I’ve reduced the shadows of the teaser image Zuckerberg posted on his verified Facebook page (Zuck’s more shadowy original image is below). The image above offers a better look at the headset design, including the goggles and adjustable head strap. It’ll be interesting to see how Meta addresses light leakage given the design pictured here (you can see Zuckerberg’s left eye in the picture).
My guess is that this is just a staged photo and there will be material to seal the gap in the final version. The new headset’s rumored mini LED display – with a 2,160 x 2,160 resolution – is said to be brighter than the $399 Meta Quest 2, but VR really requires darkness from all sides, otherwise, it’s a big distraction. Given the fact that the Meta Quest 2 went up in price by $100 on August 1, expect a much higher price tag given the rumored “Meta Quest Pro” specs.
Meta VR head-set-and-match
Everything in the enhanced teaser image matches the Meta Cambria renders made by XR hardware analyst Brad Lynch. Back in April, Lynch gave us a preview of what the final headset may look like based on supply chain sources and someone who tried the device. He also hinted that it may be extremely light and we know that unlike Sony’s PSVR 2 VR headset, it’ll be completely wireless.
This should be the new VR headset will see unveiled on Tuesday, October 11 at 1pm ET. Zuckerberg already promised that the headset would appear at the Meta Connect conference, and now we have an official date and time for the live stream. The Shortcut will cover the play-by-play action of the Connect conference when it happens.
The Meta CEO and Facebook founder also revealed that the new headset will have next-generation eye and facial tracking as well as color passthrough cameras (currently, the Quest 2 has a black-and-white passthrough image for mixed reality, meaning developers use it in very limited ways). These features, along with a powerful new Qualcomm chipset, could be game changers for Zuckerberg’s metaworld vision.
Meta’s serious competition ahead
Meta, despite investing billions into its version of the metaverse, won’t automatically win over virtual-reality-ready consumers. Its Horizon Worlds platform and VR headset hardware will face serious competition in the coming months.
Sony’s PSVR 2 and Apple’s rumored Reality One VR/AR headset are poised to launch in 2023 with hundreds of millions and over one billion active users on their respctive ecosystems.
Sony recently confirmed that its PlayStation VR 2 launch date is in “early 2023” and we’re tracking the PSVR 2 pre-order date. PSVR 2 pre-orders may not start on October 11, but I would keep an eye out for Sony to either tease out the pre-order date or offer some additional PSVR 2 news around that time.