Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 – specs & more compared

The Meta Quest 3 looks sublime and the Quest 2 is coming down in price, decisions, decisions

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Now that the Meta Quest 3 has been launched, with a release date set for October 10, 2023, we need to start assessing if it is worth the upgrade for those who already own the Meta Quest 2. The Meta Quest 2 was regarded as one of the best VR headsets for its affordability and quality, so a new and improved version has caught the attention of the gaming world once more. Now that the new headset is close to releasing, you may want to find out where to buy Meta Quest 3 already, since pre-orders are ready to go.

The main differences showcased between the two so far are the specs, a higher resolution, better performance, enhanced technology “Meta Reality”, and a more comfortable fit. One things for sure the Meta Quest 3 is more for gaming than the Meta Quest Pro headset. Without further ado, let’s take you through everything you need to know about the Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 specs

Obviously we know all about the Meta Quest 2 specs since it was released back in 2020 (originally as the Oculus Quest 2, before rebranding to Meta Quest 2 in 2022). There has already been plenty of information out there for the Meta Quest 3 too, with more specifics now arriving following the device’s launch. We can have a good look at how these two will match up in terms of their specifications.

	Meta Quest 3	Meta Quest 2
CPU / Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with ‘double the GPU processing power’	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
RAM	8GB	6GB
Storage	128GB / 512GB	128GB / 256GB
Optics	LCD, full-color passthrough cameras for Meta Reality AR	Fast-switch LCD display, glasses compatible
Resolution	2064 x 2208 pixels per eye	1832 x 1920 pixels per eye
Sensors	Integrated insight sensors (no external)	6DOF tracking, no external sensors
Refresh rate	90Hz native, 120Hz experimental	60Hz, 72Hz, 90Hz refresh rate supported
Battery life	Up to 2.2 hours on average – 2.9 average while watching media	2-3 hours
Size & Weight	184 mm x 160 mm x 98 mm, 515 grams, 40% slimmer than Quest 2 (excluding facial interfaces)	8.8″ (224mm) x 17.7″ (450mm) & 1.1lbs

The official introduction video to the Meta Quest 3 provided us with some interesting details to check out. Although not too many specifics were revealed, there were plenty of upgrades mentioned. Not just to the headset either, as the controllers are also being redesigned with TruTouch haptics better supported.

One of the biggest changes to specs is the high-fidelity full-color passthrough which opens up a world of AR possibilities, much more like we see on the upcoming Apple Vision Pro. There are higher resolution displays promised, and the build has been slimmed down a fair amount. The doubled GPU performance also opens up a higher refresh rate than we see on the Quest 2, though this is labelled as ‘experimental’, so sticking to 90Hz may be more stable.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 design & features

One of the Meta Quest 3’s main features is all about comfort and a smaller profile. In fact, it was announced the next gen VR headset features a 40% slimmer optic profile compared to the Quest 2, not bad.

So the Quest 3 headset is going to be sleeker and more comfortable overall but what about the controllers? Meta has redesigned the Touch Plus controllers completely, making them a bit nicer to hold for longer durations.

The new controllers include TruTouch haptics, giving greater feedback to the user, and generally improving immersion while playing games. The main thing you may notice is the lack of rings on these. Rings were used with the Meta Quest 2 for tracking, however, thanks to improvements in the tech, they are no longer needed.

Meta Quest 3 backers will get to to enjoy all the Quest 2 catalog of VR games. Developers stated that they have even more virtual reality and mixed reality titles lined up for the release date. It will be interesting to see how far they can push the AR side of things, given that the design clearly makes the front cameras a prominent feature of the Quest 3.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 price

The Meta Quest 2 128GB storage model launched at an MRSP of $499, which at the time was very reasonable. Good news, Meta announced that they are reducing the cost of the Quest 2 in June to the sound of $299.99, making it a go-to budget option. The 256GB Meta Quest 2 will go down in price to $349.99. While you might think the Meta Quest 3 with all of its upgrades is going to set you back a bit more, it too will retail for $499 USD for the 128GB SKU, this goes up to $649 for the 512GB option.

For those mulling over the idea of a more affordable Quest 2, there is an upcoming software update. Both the Quest 2 and Pro will receive up-to 26% CPU performance increase and up-to 19% GPU speed increase.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 performance

It is hard to gauge performance of the Meta Quest 3 until we start to see demonstrations and eventually industry reviews but Meta state this is its most powerful headset yet. The Quest 3 features a next-gen Snapdragon chipset developed in collaboration with Qualcomm. This device is set to deliver twice the graphical performance of the Quest 2, which feature an older generation Snapdragon GPU.

There is going to be a lot more shared in September as Mark Zuckerberg hopefully delivers the good stuff such as pre orders at Meta Connect this fall. VR hardware for the living room just keeps getting better and better.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 – which should you choose?

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind; the Meta Quest 3 will be an excellent successor to the Quest 2 with plenty of upgrades on board. If you want to know which is better, it has to be the Quest 3 – the showcases so far already tell us that. However, when deciding on which one you choose, that’s more of a weighted question.

Generally though, we’d say that it comes down to your needs and budget. With the Meta Quest 2 receiving a sizeable price drop for both the 128GB and 256GB variants, this will be the best budget option which still holds up today. If you’re looking for budget VR headset without external sensors, Quest 2 is definitely a good choice, and it will still be supported for some time. On the other hand, for a truly high-end gaming experience, both in VR and AR environments, the Meta Quest 3 is what you’ll want.

Meta Quest 3 vs Meta Quest 2 FAQS

Is the Meta Quest 3 out yet?

The Meta Quest 3 will be widely available on October 10, 2023. Meta announced this at their Meta Connect event on September 27, with pre-orders going live that day.

Is the Meta Quest 2 the same as Oculus Quest 2?

Yes, there is no difference between the two, however the original Quest 2 included a Oculus-branded 64GB variant.

The Quest was originally known as the Oculus Quest, before Meta branding was applied to the device. This is why the Meta Quest 2 was previously known as the Oculus Quest 2. For the Quest 3, the Meta branding will continue on.