Quest 3 vs Quest 2: Most important differences

Below we will outline the most important differences between the best-selling headset Meta Quest 2 (former Oculus Quest 2) recently announced Meta Quest 3. 

Specifications comparison of Quest 3 vs Quest 2

OLED panels instead of LCD on Quest 3 vs Quest 2

Meta has forged a long-term partnership with Qualcomm to incorporate its Snapdragon chipsets. Specifically, Meta’s new Quest Pro is the first VR headset to showcase the new Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 processor. Moreover, the forthcoming Meta Quest 3 will go a step further by integrating the upcoming Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 SoC chipset, coupled with the new Adreno 740 GPU.

For context, these enhanced computing specifications are expected to deliver double the graphical fidelity and 2.5 times the processing speed of the Quest 2. Essentially, we are on the brink of witnessing a significant transformation in the quality of standalone VR games.

Slightly Better Display on Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 2

The field of view (FoV) on the upcoming Meta Quest 3 is said to be identical to the Oculus Quest 2. Which means a visible FoV of 97º horizontal. Consequently, the new Meta Quest 3 like the Quest 2 will produce a ‘movie theater’ effect. Yet, a visible FoV of almost 100 degrees is enough to cover the human’s eyesight’s optimal eye rotation.

Both Meta headsets also utilize a single LCD, but the Meta Quest 3 boasts a resolution that’s approximately 30% superior to the Oculus Quest 2. Specifically, it offers 2064 by 2208 pixels per eye, compared to 1832 by 1920 pixels per eye on the Quest 2.

We can then calculate the visual crispness in pixels per degree to be 19.8 PPD, compared to 17.6 on the Quest 2. Therefore, the difference in display quality between the two Meta headsets is minor, even for the most meticulous observers.

What will genuinely distinguish the two headsets is not pixel density, but rather the quality of the graphics, as outlined in the previous section.

More Powerful processor in Quest 3 vs Quest 2

Meta’s hardware strategy is to offer premium VR headsets in addition to consumer VR headsets with an affordable price tag. The top-of-the-line VR hardware is used to patent innovative solutions and distill some of its features down to its more affordable headsets.

In this context, Meta Quest 3 will have substantially better mixed reality and video passthrough compared to Oculus Quest 2. Where Quest 2 has a greyscale passthrough, Quest 3 will have a full-color passthrough. Furthermore, the Meta Quest 3 will replicate natural vision with two cameras for stereoscopic passthrough, delivering a robust mixed reality experience via a dedicated LiDAR depth sensor for spatial mapping. Such a sensor, usually seen in augmented reality, will vastly improve interaction with 3D objects in mixed reality, as currently, the Meta Quest Pro’s mixed reality jiggers when interacting with digital objects.

Meta Quest 3 is the Modern Quest 2

In some ways, the updates added to the Meta Quest 3 compared to the Quest 2 are incremental. The display performance has received only a slight upgrade, and the tracking features have remained consistent between the two Meta headsets. The Quest 3, however, introduces a new pancake lens that provides superior visual clarity and a significantly reduced size.

Even so, the enhancements Meta chose to focus on are significant for its consumers: VR gaming. Therefore, the Meta Quest 3 will be equipped with a substantially improved processing infrastructure capable of delivering twice the immersion compared to the Quest 2. In addition, the Meta Quest 3 will mirror other new VR headsets and deliver a robust mixed reality performance.