Key Points:
- Compared to the $400 Quest 2 headset, Meta’s new headset costs $1,100 more.
- There are some mixed reality technologies integrated into Meta Quest Pro.
- Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed bringing Teams to virtual reality.
A new virtual reality headset from Facebook, the Meta Quest Pro, will cost $1,500 and start shipping on Oct. 25. At Meta Connect, a conference geared towards VR and augmented reality developers, Zuckerberg unveiled the device.
New technologies such as an advanced mobile Snapdragon computer chip, developed with Qualcomm, are included in the new headset that costs $1,100 more than Meta’s Quest 2 headset.
As a result, the device is able to produce more advanced graphics.
In addition to the new touch controllers, the Quest Pro has improved lenses for improved reading and embedded sensors for better hand tracking.
The new headset contains some mixed-reality features that can blend elements of the virtual world with the physical world. Zuckerberg has touted that as an important feature in the creation of the metaverse, which refers to digital worlds that people can access via VR and AR headsets.
CEO Satya Nadella also appeared during the online event and discussed a partnership with Meta intended to bring some of his company’s work-collaboration apps to Quest VR devices.
“You will be able to play 2D games with your Xbox controller projected on a massive screen on Quest,” Nadella said. “It’s early days, but we’re excited for what’s to come.”
Some Microsoft apps that people will be able to access with a Quest device include the Team’s chat app, the Microsoft 365 suite of work software, and the company’s Xbox cloud gaming service.
