Meta Quest 3 Review – A Masterful VR Journey

Many people out there aren’t big into VR. However, it is one of the many ways I enjoy gaming among other activities. I got my Meta Quest 3 in August, and today we will talk about that masterful VR journey.

Enhance Visuals and Display

Each iteration of the Meta Quest adds something useful to the overall experience. The Meta Quest 3 is all about adding that extra tech prowess and it shows. The higher resolution on the Meta Quest 3 compared to its predecessor is noticeable. Especially, noticeable in the game I played back on the Meta Quest 2. When I was playing the critically acclaimed VR game Demeo, the visuals were way sharper and more lifelike. Making the overall experience more immersive. This upgrade reduces the “screen-door” effect, where the individual pixels were noticeable in past iterations. Due to this, it made my experience way more seamless.

The lenses that it uses are “pancake lenses” which provided me with a wider field of view. In addition, I felt visuals on the Meta Quest 3 were a lot clearer which reduced the blurriness and enhanced the depth perception better than the Meta Quest 2. I can say this clarity contributes to a more immersive VR experience, especially for detailed environments and realistic textures.

Heat Management and Performance

Something I remember from the Meta Quest 2 was that sometimes it could get hot. I would play Demeo sometimes for 2-6 hours at a time. During that playtime, I would have to use the cord to charge occasionally, but at times it would get hot. Meta Quest 3 is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. The chip here is designed to manage heat better, preventing discomfort during long sessions and ensuring that the device maintains peak performance.

In my experience with my Meta Quest 3, I can say I haven’t felt heat or it getting hot once. By using this chip too it offered faster processing and enhanced graphics. Which you guessed it, means the gameplay I experienced was much better. In addition to that frame rates I could tell were higher and latency was reduced making the experience much better.

Mixed Reality

Meta Quest 3 also provides the addition of Mixed Reality which adds to the experience. The Quest 3 introduces color passthrough capabilities. It allows for an immersive mixed-reality experience where digital elements are superimposed on your real environment. There were moments when I was watching YouTube on my TV while playing Demeo right in front of me. Nothing better than listening to the latest gaming podcasts while slaying the Rat King!

Thanks to advanced sensors and cameras, it can map physical spaces. This allows for a more intuitive boundary system and opens the door for spatial Mixed Reality applications like fitness or design software. Where I live now there are multiple rooms where I use the Meta Quest 3, so it’s very useful to map those locations. Then when I need to switch rooms, it’s already mapped and I don’t have to do that multiple times.

Comfortable Design

Thanks to the Meta Quest 3 being slimmer and lighter it’s way more comfortable than the Quest 2. The Quest 2 always just felt so heavy at times. I don’t feel like that when I use the Quest 3. Which is great for my prolonged use, because I like to play for long periods. The heaviness of the headset feels like it is better distributed. Due to this, I felt the fit of the headset was better and it reduced the strain on my neck and face. The adjustable straps ensure that the headset can be comfortably worn by users with different head shapes and sizes.

Enhanced Controller Design

With the way these controllers are designed, I felt they fit better and my hands. They are upgraded with TruTouch haptics for more precise and responsive feedback, adding to the immersion. I especially felt this experience and immersion in interactive VR environments. They also feature improved tracking with fewer blind spots, so gestures and motions translate accurately without the need for external sensors. I felt “head tracking” in different instances was great and it was cool to control stuff with the head movements.

Plenty Of Games

Thanks to the fact that the Meta Quest 3 is backward compatible I was able to have access to all my games from the Meta Quest 2. Additionally, every day it seemed like there was something new in the store and we even heard about more games coming. We even got the Meta Quest 3 exclusive Batman Arkham: VR game recently which seems to be popular. There is even the “Game Pass” or “PS Plus” like subscription called “Meta Quest+.”

The service provides games and some that continue to rotate in and out. I felt it provided a good mixture, but in an era where I pay for these other services too, I don’t feel it was necessary. I’d also be remiss if I failed to mention that it also connects to the PC. This provides access to way more games, so the “Steam Link” will definitely come in handy for games like Skyrim VR among others. Games like Blade and Sorcery where you clang swords and feel it take advantage of the tech. Don’t forget about MudRunner VR where you are driving through a big pothole or mud hole and can feel the vehicle struggling and shaking trying to get through it providing immersive experiences.

Pricing & Battery Life

Now this is the only area I’m not sure how I feel. I got my Meta Quest 3 for $499.99 before taxes. While it is the same price as a console it does offer excellent value compared to high-end VR headsets. Especially since the ones that require a powerful PC. This device doesn’t require anything, but the purchase of the device. It offers many of the same advanced features at a fraction of the cost of other high-performance VR systems. I will say it’s too expensive for some, but others won’t mind. I am indifferent when it comes to pricing, and I would still recommend it at the $499.99 price point

I didn’t have many gripes about the experience at all. However, when it comes to battery life it lasts mostly in my experience 2-3 hours most of the time. Obviously, that’s based on what app or game you are using. So if you are playing a very graphically intensive game you might find yourself having to charge it more often or even purchase and use a battery pack. Despite this, it wasn’t enough of a detractor for me not to recommend it to everyone.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I felt the Meta Quest 3 brings together enhanced visuals, powerful performance, and improved comfort. Thus making it one of the most accessible and impressive standalone VR experiences currently available. Its balance of features and performance makes it a compelling choice for both VR enthusiasts and newcomers. However, some newcomers into the VR space might not enjoy the “console price point,” but like I said I’m indifferent when it comes to that. I really enjoy the VR experience and my time with Quest 3 so far. Let me know what you think about the Meta Quest 3 and the overall VR experience!

Meta Quest 3 Final Score: 10/10

Pros

• Enhanced Visuals & Display
• Performance
• Heat Management
• Mixed Reality
• Comfortable Design
• Controllers
• Plenty of Games

Cons

• Battery Life
• Price for Newcomers