Everything we know about the Meta Quest 3 Lite

Everything We Know about the Meta Quest 3 Lite

The arrival of a Meta Quest 3 Lite, or at least a cheaper version of the Quest 3, seems likely. While the Meta Quest 3 is one of the most popular headsets for both professional users and consumers, Meta seems keen to increase its market share.

We consider the Quest 3 one of the most affordable and high-performing headsets for mixed reality capabilities. It is much cheaper than the competing Apple Vision Pro.

Edit as of 30/05/2024: The name could be "Meta Quest 3 S".

Will There Be a Meta Quest 3 Lite?

Major manufacturers like Meta and Apple are not always transparent about their future products. We spent months speculating about the Apple Vision Pro before it was finally announced. Similarly, we are again left to speculate about Meta's potential "Quest 3 Lite".

Despite no official announcements or statements, most analysts agree that Meta is probably working on something more affordable.

The Verge published details of an internal meeting leaked from Meta, in which the Vice President for VR claimed that a more "accessible" headset would be arriving in 2024. Elsewhere, tech enthusiasts have leaked renders and design concepts for two different, cheaper versions of the Meta Quest headset: the Meta Quest 3 Lite and the Quest 3S.

Moreover, the price of the Meta Quest 2 has been consistently dropping, which could indicate that Meta and its partner retailers are trying to clear out remaining stock before a new solution arrives.

Meta Quest 3 Lite Release Date and Pricing

If Meta were to release a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3, it is impossible to know when it will be available. If the leaked meeting notes mentioned above are anything to go by, we could see this solution in 2024.

Meta often releases new hardware in October, in time for the holiday season, and the company could announce the headset during its Meta Quest Gaming Showcase this year.

In terms of pricing, we can only speculate. Based on rumors and previous hardware releases, there is a good chance that we can expect the device to be priced similarly to a previous generation headset. It will be cheaper than the Quest 3, but depending on the new features, it could be slightly more expensive than the Quest 2.

The Design: What Will the Lite Headset Look Like?

Although we haven't seen much information about the Meta Quest 3 Lite, even from industry analysts, many emerging leaks have focused on the headset's potential design. The most significant factor that most leaks highlight is that the Lite headset will likely use the Fresnel lens system of the Quest 2 rather than the pancake lenses of the Quest 3.

Fresnel lenses are much cheaper, allowing Meta to reduce the cost of its "affordable" device, but they can make the headset a bit bulkier. Presentation images leaked on social media include "front-facing cameras" that are slightly larger than those on the Quest 2.

This design difference could mean that the Quest 3 Lite has better cameras than the Quest 2, which would align with a decision to maintain full-color passthrough on the cheaper headset. Although there is no guarantee that this feature will appear, the Director of Engineering for XR tech at Meta has said that he is convinced passthrough and mixed reality will become standard on future headsets.

However, there is a good chance that the headset will not allow for depth tracking and more advanced MR features. The specs are likely to be somewhat limited. Nevertheless, we should expect some flavor of "mixed reality headset," similar in design and style to the Quest 3 and the Quest 2.

Meta Quest 3 Lite: The Potential Specs

We have limited information on the potential specs for the Meta Quest 3 Lite, but a leaked Zoom presentation showcasing a "Meta Quest 3S" has given analysts some insights. 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. This means it will match the display of the Quest 2.

The Lite will likely also come with up to 256 GB of storage, while the Quest 3 offers up to 512 GB. One particular spec that has not yet been fully confirmed is the device's chipset. Some analysts believe that the Quest 3 Lite will sport the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset as the Quest 3. This could mean that while Meta is cutting costs in various areas, it still wants to offer users the same internal functionality as the full-priced headset.

If the Meta Quest 3 Lite has similar mixed reality capabilities and the same chipset as the Quest 3, it may have access to similar software (everything on the Quest store). If the specs are significantly worse, we might see Meta launching content on the Quest store exclusive to the Quest 3 and higher-tier devices.

Interestingly, some analysts believe that the Meta Quest 3 Lite will be shipped without controllers to lower the price. Although Meta has improved hand tracking capabilities over the years, the lack of controllers may still be a problem, depending on the mixed reality capabilities of the Quest 3 Lite.

The Cheaper Quest 3: What We Hope to See

Right now, the lack of official information about the Meta Quest 3 Lite leaves everyone confused. When all we have are rumors, it's hard to know what to expect. To deliver a truly valuable solution, Meta should retain the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset in the Quest 3 and maintain high-quality specs.

Otherwise, it would simply replicate 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. This could mean retaining features like full-color passthrough from the Quest 3.

Additionally, we will need advanced hand tracking capabilities if the company plans to remove controllers from the Quest 3 Lite bundle.

I also hope Meta addresses some of the comfort issues of the Meta Quest 2 with its affordable headset. The Quest 2 struggled with limited IPD adjustment options and a bulky head strap. If Meta can make its Lite headset lighter, more comfortable, and customizable, it will likely appeal to a broader range of users.