It seems likely that we'll see a Meta Quest 3 Lite, or at least a cheaper version of the Quest 3. The Meta Quest 3 is one of the most popular headsets among business and consumer users alike, but it seems Meta is eager to expand its market share.
I believe the Quest 3 is one of the most affordable high-performance headsets with mixed reality capabilities, and it's much cheaper than its competitor, the Apple Vision Pro. However, the $500 price tag may still be too steep for those new to the XR market, which is why Meta seems to be considering alternatives.
The major XR manufacturers haven't released any official information about the upcoming budget version of the Quest 3. However, a number of rumors and leaks suggest that something is in the works. I've compiled all the news and rumors I could find to put together a comprehensive rundown of everything we know.
Will there be a Meta Quest 3 Lite?
Major vendors like Meta and Apple aren't always so forthcoming about new products. The Apple Vision Pro was speculated about for months before it was finally announced. Similarly, we're once again left guessing about a possible Meta “Quest 3 Lite.”
Though there has been no official announcement or statement, most analysts agree that Meta is probably working on something more budget-friendly.
The Verge has published leaked details of an internal meeting from Meta, in which the VP of VR claimed that a more “accessible headset” is on the way sometime in 2024. A tech enthusiast has also leaked renderings and design concepts for two different, cheaper versions of the Meta Quest headset: the Meta Quest 3 Lite and Quest 3S.
Additionally, the price of the Meta Quest 2 has been dropping consistently, which could indicate that Meta and its partner retailers are trying to clear out remaining stock before the new solution arrives.
Meta Quest 3 Lite release date and price
It's unclear when, if at all, Meta will release a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3. Based on the leaked meeting notes mentioned above, a solution may come this year.
Meta often releases new hardware around October to coincide with the holidays, and the company is likely to unveil the headset at this year's Meta Quest Gaming Showcase.
As for pricing, again, we can only speculate. Based on rumors and past hardware releases, we can expect the device to be priced in line with previous generation headsets — cheaper than the Quest 3, but potentially slightly more expensive than the Quest 2 given the new features. This suggests a price range of around $299 to $399.
Design: What will the Lite headset look like?
Not much information has been released about the Meta Quest 3 Lite from industry analysts, but many leaks have focused on the headset's potential design. The most important element noted in most leaks is that the Lite headset will likely use the Quest 2's Fresnel lens system instead of the Quest 3's pancake lens.
Fresnel lenses are much cheaper, which could help Meta cut costs for an “affordable” device, but it might make the headset a bit bulkier. Presentation images leaked on social media show a “front-facing camera” that's slightly larger than the one on the Quest 2.
This design difference could mean that the Quest 3 Lite has a better camera than the Quest 2, which would line up with the decision to keep full-color pass-through on the cheaper headset. While there's no guarantee the feature will appear, Meta's director of XR technical engineering said he believes pass-through and mixed reality will become standard on future headsets.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth also said in an Instagram AMA that mixed reality features will be “the same” across headset generations.
However, this headset likely won't enable depth tracking or more advanced MR features, and specs may be somewhat limited. Still, we can expect some sort of “mixed reality headset” similar in design and style to the Quest 3 and Quest 2.
Meta Quest 3 Lite: Potential Specifications
We've only had limited exposure to the Meta Quest 3's potential specs so far, but a leaked Zoom presentation showcasing the “Meta Quest 3S” has given analysts some tidbits of information. According to the leaked images, the Lite version of the headset will have a slightly lower display resolution (1832 x 1920) than the Quest 3, meaning it will match the display on the Quest 2.
The Lite will likely come with up to 256GB of storage, while the Quest 3 will have up to 512GB. One particular spec that has yet to be fully confirmed is the device's chipset. Some analysts believe that the Quest 3 Lite will feature the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset as the Quest 3. This means that while Meta is cutting costs in various areas, it is still keen to give users the same internal features as its full-price headsets.
If the Meta Quest 3 Lite has similar mixed reality features and chips as the Quest 3, it may have access to similar software (everything that's in the Quest store). If it has significantly inferior specs, Meta may release content in the Quest store that's exclusive to the Quest 3 and higher-end devices.
Interestingly, some analysts believe the Meta Quest 3 Lite will launch without a controller to bring the price down, and while Meta has improved its hand tracking capabilities over the years, the lack of a controller could still be an issue depending on the Quest 3 Lite's mixed reality features.
Cheaper Quest 3: What to expect
Currently, there is a lack of official information about the Meta Quest 3 Lite, leaving everyone confused. With only rumors, it is hard to know what to expect. To truly offer a worthwhile solution, Meta needs to maintain the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset in the Quest 3 and maintain the high-quality specifications.
Otherwise, it would be a direct replica of the Quest 2. If the company chooses to use Fresnel lenses instead of pancake lenses and reduce the resolution, it will need to find other ways to improve the user experience, which could mean retaining things like the Quest 3's full-color passthrough.
Additionally, advanced hand tracking capabilities would be required if the company plans to remove the controller from the Quest 3 Lite bundle.
We'd also like to see Meta address some of the comfort issues of the Meta Quest 2 with an affordable headset. The Quest 2 struggled with a lack of IPD adjustment options and a bulky head strap. If Meta can make the Lite headset lighter, more comfortable, and customizable, it could appeal to a wider range of users.