Meta Quest Pro

The Meta Quest Pro is the latest generation virtual reality headset from parent company Meta. Originally rumoured to be called ‘Project Cambria’, the headset is officially named ‘Quest Pro’. The Quest Pro is a unique virtual reality headset. At first glance, it doesn't resemble its predecessor, the Quest 2, but is more akin to the Microsoft HoloLens 2 in design. The HoloLens is an augmented reality headset, meaning it merges the physical world with the digital world by displaying holograms on the screen in front of the user's eyes. The Quest Pro, however, is not an augmented reality headset but a mixed reality headset. This means it does not display holograms, but can show virtual 3D images. Thanks to the built-in cameras on the front of the headset, you can see the actual physical world around you while 3D images are integrated into it. For example, you can look at an empty table through the headset and see a digital ball bouncing up and down on it.

The Meta Quest Pro is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ processor. This is a tweaked version of the Snapdragon XR2 processor found in the Meta Quest 2, albeit slightly more powerful. This extra power is necessary to support the high resolution and the processing demands that come with it. The Quest Pro has a display resolution of 1800 x 1920 pixels per eye. On paper, this is the same as the Meta Quest 2, but due to the upgraded lenses, images appear even sharper.

The design of the Quest Pro resembles that of the HoloLens 2. It initially appears more like a screen hanging in front of the eyes, rather than a traditional VR headset like the Quest 2. This design has a distinct advantage and disadvantage: the advantage is that you can easily see the outside world when using the headset for mixed reality applications. The disadvantage is that when using the headset for pure virtual reality (i.e., a solely virtual environment), a lot of light leaks in from the sides. Fortunately, there is an additional face shieldadditional face shield available for purchase, which blocks light from the sides.

The battery of the Quest Pro lasts about 1 to 3 hours while the headset is on, depending on usage. To compensate for this relatively short battery life, a charging station is included with the Quest Pro. If needed, a special compact version of this chargercompact version of this charger is also available for purchase, allowing you to charge the headset and controllers on the go. The Quest Pro headset can be charged using a cable, and the controllers have two connection points for the charging station.

The Meta Quest Pro is available from €1799.99. At this price, the Quest Pro is in the same league as VR headsets like the Varjo Aero and the soon-to-be-released Pimax Crystal. Other headsets, such as the Pico 4 and the Meta Quest 2, are at a lower price point but are aimed at entirely different markets. The Quest Pro can be considered a business headset for companies and organisations looking for innovation. In particular, the extensive developer features offer many possibilities for creating new applications and use cases.

The Meta Quest Pro is expected at the end of October 2022 and is now available for pre-order at Unbound XR. Want to know more about the Quest Pro? Contact us via our contact form.