The Meta Quest 3 vs 2: which Meta headset is right for you?
Meta’s latest offering in the extended reality headset market has finally arrived, and consumers from all environments are understandably excited. The latest Meta Quest 3 headset promises to offer a range of improvements over its predecessor, valuable for consumers and business users alike.
With this new headset, users won’t just be able to explore more advanced virtual worlds. Including mixed reality features means you can also blend real and digital landscapes.
Moreover, the new offering has a more powerful chipset, an updated display, and even a unique set of sleek, ergonomic controllers.
But how exactly does the Quest 3 compare to the Quest 2?
Here’s everything you need to know if you’re considering buying a Meta headset this year.
Meta Quest 3 vs 2: The Quick Overview
Before we dive into the details of our Meta Quest 3 vs 2 comparison, it’s worth noting there are some similarities between the two headsets. You can access the same games and apps on the Quest 3 that you’d use on the Quest 2. However, Meta is investing in developing more specific solutions for the Quest 3, leveraging its unique features.
Both tools offer virtual reality experiences, with powerful graphics and immersive solutions like hand tracking. They’re also relatively lightweight and inexpensive compared to other VR headsets. Of course, there are some significant differences to consider, too.
Here’s a quick spec run-down to help you start your comparison.
| Specs | Meta Quest 2 | Meta Quest 3 |
| Price | Starting at $299 | Starting at $499 |
| Display | LCD 1382 x 1920 pixels per eye (single element Fresnel) | LCD 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye (pancake lenses) |
| Refresh rate | 60 to 120 Hz | 90 to 120 Hz |
| Chip | Snapdragon XR2 | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 |
| RAM | 6GB | 8GB |
| Battery life | 2-3 hours | 2-3 hours |
| Storage | 128GB, or 256GB | 128GB or 512 GB |
| Mixed reality | Black and white passthrough | Full-color pass through with mixed reality features |
| Field of view | 96 x 96 | 110 x 96 |
| Tracking | Inside out tracking with eye and hand tracking | Inside out tracking, with eye tracking and full-body tracking to come |
What’s New for the Quest 3?
While the Quest 2 and Quest 3 may look similar on the surface, Meta has made a number of improvements to its latest headset. The Quest 3 can do everything the Quest 2 does, but better. For instance, the lenses are slimmer and capable of higher levels of visual accuracy.
Even in passthrough mode, the Quest 3 delivers ten times more pixels than the Quest 2 and three times more than the Quest Pro. Even the audio is better, with the Quest 3 offering 40% louder sound.
Plus, the Quest 3 uses the latest Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm. This GPU is twice as fast and is better equipped to deliver highly detailed visual experiences.
Moreover, the Quest 3 expands into the world of mixed reality, offering full-color passthrough with minimal distortion. Compared to the Quest 2, the Quest 3 is better at mapping room spaces and has more advanced tracking solutions built into its controllers.
Let’s take a deeper look at the differences between the two headsets.
Meta Quest 3 vs 2: Price and Availability
One of the most significant differences you’ll notice in any Meta Quest 3 vs 2 comparison revolves around the pricing. The Quest 2 is much cheaper, starting at $299 for the 128GB model. There’s always a chance Meta could decrease this price even further following the Meta Quest 3 launch, too.
The Quest 3, however, starts at $499 for the 128GB model. It costs almost double the predecessor’s price, though it’s still much cheaper than other MR headsets, like the Apple Vision Pro.
Both devices are available in around 23 countries worldwide. You can purchase them directly through the Meta website or through a partner retailer, such as Amazon.
Meta Quest 3 vs 2: The Design and Displays
At a glance, the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 2 don’t look too different. They share a similar aesthetic and the same color palette. However, looking a little closer, you’ll notice some significant differences. For instance, the Quest 3 is 40% slimmer than the Quest 2, thanks to pancake optics.
The Quest 3 also includes a new camera array on the front of the visor. This array features dual RGB color cameras and a depth sensor. The new features allow for more accurate and immersive full-color video passthrough (something you don’t get in the Quest 2).
There are a few more subtle tweaks in the design, too. The top strap on the Quest 3 is a Y-shape, allowing for a more secure fit, and hard straps are also available. Additionally, the Quest 3 comes with a wheel to help you adjust IPD.
The speakers have also been altered to move sound downwards, instead of towards the user, and the headset has a 40% louder audio range.
There are major differences in the displays, too.
Though the Meta Quest 2’s display is impressive for its price, it doesn’t compete with the latest solutions on the market. The 1832 x 1920 per eye resolution even lags behind the PSVR 2. The Quest 3, however, features a massive boost in resolution.
The headset features a display of 2065 X 2207 pixels per eye, with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.
Meta Quest 3 vs 2: The Controllers
With the Meta Quest 3 and the Quest 2, you don’t always need controllers to interact with content. Both solutions feature hand-tracking capabilities for hands-free functionality. However, it’s worth noting the Quest 3 doesn’t offer eye tracking.
Meta says inside-out upper body tracking will be implemented into the headset later this year, allowing the system to track more of your arms and torso without additional cameras. This feature isn’t offered at launch, however.
If you use controllers to interact with content, the Meta Quest 3 features new “Plus controllers.” These controllers are similar in style to the Quest Pro’s controllers and don’t feature the tracking ring on the Quest 2 controllers. These devices move the IR LEDs from the tracking rings onto the controller’s faceplate, allowing for a sleeker, more ergonomic experience.
The haptic feedback has also been upgraded for the Quest 3 controllers, although it’s not quite as advanced as the haptic technology offered by the Quest Pro. One slight issue is that the Quest 3 controllers will rely on disposable or rechargeable batteries.
Performance and Battery Life
If you’re basing your choice of the Meta Quest 3 vs 2 on battery life, there’s not much difference between the two models. The Quest 2 can deliver 2-3 hours of battery life, depending on your activity. The Quest 3, according to Meta, will offer “about the same” experience.
However, the Quest 3 is more powerful and faster than its predecessor overall, thanks to the new chipset. The chipset delivers twice the graphical performance as the previous GPU in the Quest 2. An upcoming software update is set to boost the Quest 2 chipset with a maximum 26% increase in CPU performance. This will enable dynamic resolution scaling for the Quest 2 and future Quest 2 apps.
The additional power in the new device will no doubt be helpful for the Quest 3’s new mixed-reality capabilities. You should be able to access much higher levels of visual clarity in passthrough mode. However, keep in mind the pixel density does drop to around 18PPD (rather than 25PPD) in mixed reality mode.
Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 2: Apps and Mixed Reality
Gamers and everyday consumers will be pleased to know that Quest 3 will be backward-compatible with the entire Quest 2 games library. You can access more than 500 Quest 2 games on the platform, and new apps are also being released specifically for Quest 3.
These new solutions will likely take advantage of the new mixed reality capabilities of the Quest 3, which weren’t available on the previous device. While the Quest 2 has black-and-white passthrough functionality, it’s very limited compared to what you get on the Quest 3.
The Quest 3’s new camera array and depth sensor make it easier for the device to understand the space you’re in. The cameras even have ten times the pixels of the Quest 2 black and white cameras. The XR2 Gen 2 chip also offers a fantastic pass-through latency of only 12 milliseconds.
With the Quest 3, users can move back and forth between mixed and virtual reality experiences. There’s also a “Dynamic Occlusion” feature upgrade coming in the future, which should help to enhance the natural blend of digital and real-world visuals.
The Meta Quest 3 vs 2: Which Should You Choose?
Ultimately, a close look at the Meta Quest 3 vs 2 shows the new device has a lot of benefits to offer over its predecessor. It provides more ways to interact with virtual content, greater visual fidelity, improved audio, and a more ergonomic wearing experience.
If you want the best possible performance and display Meta offers, the Quest 3 is the obvious choice. The new chipset and updated optic lenses make for a far more immersive experience in both virtual and mixed reality.
However, it’s worth remembering the Quest 3 does cost a lot more than the Quest 2. If you’re looking to save money or just exploring the world of VR for the first time, the Quest 2 might be an ideal solution. Though it doesn’t offer mixed reality, it’s still one of the most user-friendly and powerful devices for budget-conscious buyers.
