The Meta Quest Professional is lastly right here! Launched as Challenge Cambria at Meta Join 2021, the momentous livestream occasion when the social media large introduced that it is swapping “Fb” for “Meta,” the corporate introduced that it deliberate on rolling out a brand new, high-end headset.
Nevertheless, after we heard “excessive finish,” we had been pondering that it might be near $1,000, but it surely by no means crossed our minds that Meta would tack on an additional $500 to that estimate. The Meta Quest Professional is a whopping $1,500! Whew! Entry to the metaverse ain’t low-cost!
That being mentioned, we will pit the Quest Professional towards the Meta Quest 2. This, after all, is not to find out which VR headset is healthier (the Quest Professional is the apparent winner right here), however whether or not the Quest Professional is price spending an additional $1,100!
Be aware: This face-off is growing as we accumulate extra information concerning the Quest Professional.
| Meta Quest Professional | Meta Quest 2 | |
| Beginning worth | $1,500 | $399 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Storage | 256GB of storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| RAM | 12GB | 6GB |
| Show decision | 2,160 x 2,160 pixels per eye | 1,832 x 1920 pixels per eye |
| Lenses | Twin Tianjin-3 QLED panels | Single LCD |
| Monitoring | 10 sensors plus an IR depth projector for mixed-reality | Inside-out monitoring through 4 cameras |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 3,640 mAh |
The Quest 2 debuted in 2020 with an extremely budget-friendly worth of $299, making VR headsets extra accessible to the typical client. Nevertheless, earlier this yr, Meta introduced that its plans to extend the worth of the Quest 2 by $100. As such, its new beginning worth is $399.
A $399 Quest 2 headset, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G chip, will get you 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. If choose a headset with 256GB of storage, you possibly can seize the $499 configuration as a substitute. In my expertise, the 128GB variant is ample sufficient to carry, on the very least, 50 video games and apps.
The Quest 2 is at present out there for buy on Meta’s official web site.
The Quest Professional is Meta’s latest mixed-reality headset darling, but it surely prices a fairly penny: a whopping $1,500! This unhealthy boy options the identical chipset because the Quest 2 (Snapdragon XR2 5G), however comes with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.
The Quest Professional begins transport on Oct. 25.
Winner: Meta Quest 2
The Quest 2 stands out with its all-white aesthetic with a plastic, matte physique. Within the entrance a part of the headset, there are 4 indented areas that characteristic inside-out trackers (one on every nook). On the highest of the headset, there is a quantity rocker. On the appropriate facet, you will discover an motion button (that is for turning the headset on and off). To safe the head-mounted show to your head, there are straps made of soppy, pliable material, however remember that as a result of they’re white, they’ll begin to look filthy in case you do not clear them recurrently.
You will additionally spot a black foam lining that surrounds the Quest 2; that is the realm that can sit in your face, framing your eyebrows and eyes. It can accumulate a whole lot of sweat and different nasties that accumulate in your face. Fortuitously, the Quest 2 ships with a silicon cowl that, after all, covers the froth lining, making it simpler to wash between periods.
The Quest 2’s internal goggles have three IPD adjustment ranges. In different phrases, you possibly can transfer the goggles nearer collectively, or aside, at three presets. It is as much as you to mess around with these ranges to find out which is less complicated in your eyes for the sharpest visible expertise.
I extremely recommend that customers buy the Quest 2 with the elective $59.99 Elite Strap. That is an adjunct you possibly can add to the Quest 2 to make sure that it sits higher in your head (it replaces the material straps). When you’re taking part in any lively, high-movement Quest 2 video games, you will recognize the Elite Strap as a result of it encompasses a match wheel that tightens the headset to your head for higher weight distribution. With out it, the headset could slide up and down in your head as you progress, particularly in case you’re sweaty.
The Quest Professional, alternatively, options the Elite Strap in its design. It has a built-in match wheel that allows you to regulate the headset’s tightness to your liking. It cradles the again of your head whereas preserving the entrance of your head safe. In contrast to the Quest 2, the Quest Professional has an all-black physique — hallelujah!
It is also extra light-weight; it has a futuristic ski-mask vibe! On high of the ski-mask design is a hooded extension made to cowl your brow; this retains you absolutely immersed into the headset, blocking any exterior visible distractions.
Bear in mind after I mentioned that the Quest 2 has triple-tier IPD adjustment? Fortuitously, the Quest Professional’s goggles makes use of a slider as a substitute of limiting presets, so you possibly can extra precisely pinpoint your “visible candy spot.”
Probably the most conspicuous elements of the Quest Professional are the cyclops-looking “eyes” which can be featured on the entrance of the head-mounted show. The 2 backside “eyes” are 1,280 x 1,080-pixel Lumor sensors that facilitate passthrough and stereoscopy in addition to constellation monitoring and hand monitoring. The “third eye” encompasses a mixture of a 16MP colour digital camera and a depth projector.
Each the Meta Quest Professional and Quest 2 characteristic a USB-C port for charging and transferring knowledge.
The Quest 2 has a 3.5mm headset jack for connecting your favourite headphones, however from what we are able to see, the Quest Professional doesn’t have one.
Winner: Quest 2
The Quest 2’s show options single, fast-switch LCD binoculars. The Quest Professional, alternatively, sports activities two mini LED binoculars. The Quest 2 is outfitted with Fresnel lenses whereas the Quest Professional comes with Pancake lenses.
The Quest 2’s show has a decision of 1,832 x 1920 pixels per eye. Conversely, the Quest Professional has an upgraded decision of two,160 x 2,160 pixels per eye. The upper decision on the latter means there are extra pixels per inch; consequently, the image high quality must be crisper and sharper with finer particulars. To be particular, Meta claims that the Quest Professional’s show has 37% extra dots per inch (DPI) in comparison with the Quest 2.
The Quest 2 has a refresh price of as much as 120Hz. The Quest Professional is estimated to climb to 90Hz to date, however that may enhance with future upgrades.
It is also price noting that the Quest 2 has fastened foveated rendering whereas the Quest Professional has dynamic foveated rendering. What does this imply? Nicely, let’s begin by fleshing out the definition of foveated rendering — it is a rendering method that preserves sources by prioritizing the image that is inside customers’ line of sight. In different phrases, the main points that matter essentially the most are sharpened and rendered to full decision whereas the less-important particulars are extra blurry.
With fastened foveated rendering, the Quest 2 headset predetermines the “much less vital” areas. However, the Quest Professional options dynamic foveated rendering, which signifies that it renders particulars to full decision relying on the place you are wanting. As a result of the Quest Professional has eye monitoring, it could actually depend on dynamic foveated rendering for a extra smoother visible expertise.
Winner: Quest Professional
Matching the theme of their related headsets, the Quest 2’s third-generation Oculus Contact controllers are white and include a middle-finger and index-finger triggers in addition to a capacitive joystick, touchpad and face buttons.
The Quest Professional’s black controllers are related, however haven’t got the Quest 2’s massive monitoring ring.
It seems to have a extra ergonomic design that molds into the hand’s pure curvatures. Rumor has it that they are additionally barely heavier than the Quest 2’s controllers, however I will should get my arms on them to substantiate that.
Winner: Quest Professional
The Quest Professional and Quest 2 provide two completely different experiences. The previous is a mixed-reality, AR/VR headset. In different phrases, it could actually mix two worlds — the simulated and the bodily planes — collectively. For instance, in case you needed to play AR/VR mini golf, you possibly can see your lounge within the Quest Professional, however you will additionally discover an overlay of VR artifacts, together with the golf ball, golf membership, the opening, and different visible goodies.
The Quest 2 can not accomplish this as a result of it doesn’t have the {hardware} to allow colour passthrough mode. For the uninitiated, passthrough mode merely allows you to see the setting round you without having to take away your headset. The passthrough mode within the Quest 2 is in grayscale. Plus, it is blurry and has poor definition. The Quest Professional must be the exact opposite; passthrough mode must be colourful, sharp and effectively outlined.
As such, with the Quest Professional, you possibly can dive into productiveness apps. For instance, you possibly can see what’s on the laptop computer in entrance of you (in actual life) whereas additionally working with a number of digital screens that characteristic numerous webpages. When you’re doing a analysis paper, you will have the choice to take a look at the knowledge displayed in entrance of you in your laptop computer whereas concurrently wanting on the simulated screens for cross-examination functions.
In comparison with the Quest Professional, there’s extra emphasis on avatars and the way effectively they will mimic your expression. Due to the ten+ trackers and sensors on the Quest Professional, your avatar can precisely recreate your facial and hand expressions within the metaverse. When you crinkle your nostril or wink, that can even be mirrored simulated setting, permitting different customers within the metaverse to see precisely the way you’re reacting in actual life.
Winner: Quest Professional
Outlook
As said on the outset, not like different comparative analyses we have finished, the aim is of this face-off is not to announce a “winner.” The Quest Professional is clearly a forerunner, however the query is, is it price $1,500?
If having augmented-reality experiences intrigues you, in different phrases, interacting with VR artifacts that look like in your bodily aircraft excites you, the Quest Professional is your man. You will have the chance to, for instance, invite a health teacher into your lounge as if they’re a hologram in your presence. You can not do that with the Quest 2; most, if not all, apps and video games are VR-based (versus AR), so there is not any mixed-reality aspect.
The Quest Professional additionally has enhanced monitoring on your face, eyes and arms, so whenever you’re being represented by an avatar in a simulated world, others can learn your micro-expressions, whether or not you are frowning, smiling, or crinkling your nostril in disgust. It additionally has higher show decision, improved spatial audio, an even bigger battery, and a extra snug design. You simply should determine if these upgrades are price an additional $1,100.
As an enormous fan of what Meta has finished with the Quest 2, I personally would snag the Quest Professional in a heartbeat.
